Hop, Skip, and Sing French (Hop Skip & Sing) - Ana Lomba

Advantages: Authentic recordings, good vocabulary
Disadvantages: Grammar not detailed enough

...Whether you are embarking on self-study or a private tuition course in French, The French Experience 1 is worth considering. Writing and grammar are not over-emphasised, but if you wish to speak, understand and read texts, there is a wealth of material here. Each unit focuses on a particular topic such as health, travel, food and drink, professions, holidays and so on, providing useful vocabulary for tourists as well as residents. The CDs contain authentic dialogues and interviews recorded in France; within each unit the recordings concentrate initially on listening and recognising vocabulary, and then on the learner producing similar language through role-play. Four 'étapes' or tests are interspersed throughout the book, allowing self-assessment of cultural knowledge as well as language acquisition. There is a four... Read review

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Advantages: bright pictures, interesting language
Disadvantages: not a great story line

...The Skipping Rope Snake is a picture story book aimed at young children and written by Carol Ann Duffy and illustrated by Lydia Monks. It's based on a fun idea about a little girl who goes walking in the jungle one day looking for a game to play! She tries playing joining the dots by using a leopard's spots, then tries playing snap with a crocodile and pinning the tail on an elephant. None of these really seems to work but finally she spots a snake which she can use as a skipping rope - hence the title! The rest of the story shows her playing with the skipping rope whilst the snake is looking on slightly aghast! The story finishes with the happy girl fast asleep with the snake hanging from a hook in the playroom, talking in his sleep. His last words are the rather corny line - 'Fangs for the Memory'. This is a fairly enjoyable book... Read review

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Advantages: Witty and enjoyable
Disadvantages: Quite short and not expanded enough

...Background: I found this book while wondering aimlessly round the local charity shop. I am not a fan of John Grisham as the books I have read so far by this author have disappointed me. I thought I would try this one though as it sounded different to me. About the author: John Grisham was born in Arkansas in USA on February 8th 1955. Before becoming a writer he worked in a law practice, and this is quite often a theme in some of his bestselling novels. So far he has written 21 successful books of which I am reviewing his 13th, which was written in 2001. Synopsis of the book: Following the departure of their only daughter Blair to Peru for a year Norma and Luther Krank decided to skip Christmas that year. Luther an accountant by trade had totted up the previous one and worked out it would be much cheaper for them both... Read review

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