The Brothers Grimm

Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales (Grimm's Fairy Tales)

This is a website freely available to all and houses Grimm's Fairy Tales in both the English and German. These stories were compiled, translated, and classified by Professor D.L. Ashliman at University of Pittsburg. Such a valuable resource, I could not pass up sharing it on The Homeschool Philosopher. Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm is a recommended "Good Book" and is suggested for Kindergarten. I like to remind parents and students that Grimm's fairy tales are certainly meant to be read together, and many of them I would not recommend reading until the student is in junior or senior high. As always, parents, please read these stories before your children to prepare yourself for their questions. Many blessings and happy reading!

Click here for link!

A children's Bible auf Deutsch

Die Bibel unserer Kinder (The Bible of our children); Anne de Vries, 252 pages
Publisher: Verlag Katholisches Bibelwerk GmbH, Stuttgart
ISBN: 3-460-32591-7
Price: Euro 14,90 (new)
Level: All levels of German

I am still in the process of finishing this book, so a longer review may come later. For now, this children's version seems to be appropriate for very young children and for older beginners. Enjoy!

Here is a link to the book.

Nikolaustag

Die Erzaehlung vom heiligen Nikolaus (The Story of St. Nikolaus) by Lena Klassen, illustrated by Sabine Waldmann-Brun, 2007, 32 pages

Publisher: Gabriel

ISBN: 978 3 522 30111 4

Price: Euro 11,90

German Level: Intermediate-Native

This charmingly illustrated book tells three tales of wonder from the life of St. Nikolaus, the Wonderworker and Defender of the Faith. The first is the more popular story and is about three maids, whose father cannot afford a dowry for each. The girls are very obedient and continue on with their father. St. Nikolaus, however, thinking of the girls and how they were respectful of their father, tossed bags of gold coins down their chimney in three consecutive nights until each had a purse and thereby a dowry.

The second story is about three sailors who leave on a pilgrimage, but are caught unawares by a storm just off the coast of Myra. St. Nikolaus, because of concern by the villagers, takes a rowboat out to the ship and prays to God for the storm to cease, and it does!

Finally, the third story is about a drought in Myra. The people are all starving and go to St. Nikolaus for help. He prays to God and begs for bread. The next day a merchant ship arrives with grain, but is on its way to the Caesar and thus does not wish to sell any grain in Myra. St. Nikolaus, certain that this is the grain God sent, asks the merchants to give them some from each ship, and he promises that none shall be missing when the merchants reach the Caesar. And so it was the case.

These are only three wonders performed by Saint Nikolaus, but certainly memorable for children and adults alike, especially when illustrated so sweetly and in Myra. I, for my part, do not usually associate St. Nick with the sea and beach.

Wimmelbuch?

Rotraut Susanne Berners Winter-Wimmelbuch (Rotraut Susanne Berner's Winter-Picture book), 2005, 14 pages
Publisher: Gerstenberg Verlag
ISBN: 978-3-8369-5101-2
Price: Euro 12,90
German Level: Beginning-Native
What is a "Wimmelbuch"? I have translated it as "picture book" and this is quite true. This is not, however, what we English speakers think of when we read "picture book". First of all, there are no words. Each set of two pages shows a scene, for example the downtown. Each scene is packed full of people doing daily activities. There are stories expressed through pictures, and you can elaborate on these picture stories as much as your (or your child's) imagination allows. The book contains 7 scenes: the inside of a multi-family home outside of a city, a farm located near an autoshop and gas station, a train station, the downtown kindergarten next to a multi-purpose building, the town square with its seasonal activities, the inside of a shopping center, a lake and park just down the way from a convent.
Berner has four books, one for each season of the year. The same scenes are in each book with the same characters, but the characters' activities change with the seasons. There are so many things for small eyes and fingers to find. For example, where is Niko, the parrot, in scene 1. He is still flying away in scene 4. Will the little girl catch him?
The illustrations are so strikingly German, and the culture is wonderfully reflected in them. These are fun books whether you speak German or not, and a nice way to introduce your children to the images associated with the good ole' wholesome side of Germany.

A Daily Cartoon: Again and Again!

Pettersson und Findus: Alle Abenteuer auf einer DVD. (Peterson and Findus: All Adventures on one DVD), 2001, 170 minutes

We were very fortunate to find this DVD 3 years ago when we were looking for ways to expose our children to German as spoken by Germans, not just Mama. In general, we decided that 10-20 minutes of video per day would be acceptable if this goal was met, so we added a DVD to our collection of books, CDs, and audiostories!

I had only this cover to look at and a few reviews. The artwork appeared natural and beautiful, a good sign. This DVD has 12 approximately 10 minute-long stories about an old man (Peterson) and his cat (Findus) and the adventures they both experience on Peterson's farm. By adventures, I mean camping in the backyard, fishing at the pond, hosting relatives, and other normal occurances. My children love this DVD and watch it again and again. This is no exaggeration! We watch one episode most days of the week, and we have been doing this for about three years now. They each have their favorites and can now repeat phrases verbatim. Since the adventures are indeed ordinary events, they are able to take much of the vocabulary they learn from the cartoons and apply it to our daily conversation.

One Caveat: Yes, studies have shown and are showing that exposure to imagery (this includes picture books) when children are 4 and younger can block their own imagination's natural development. In other words, instead of children developing their own pictures of things they imagine, they are given the pictures first and then base their play around what they've seen. While I acknowledge that this is very likely, I do not as yet believe this to be an absolute. If this were indeed the case, it would seem to say that we are incapable of imagining beyond what we see or have seen once we have seen it. Many a child has invented the most outlandisch fantasies with no apparant relation to anything they have seen or heard and vice versa. Our response concerning this DVD: since the artwork is so natural and beautiful and the episodes are of everyday life, we decided this film would be no great impediment to the children's imaginations. Besides, we still keep our picture books!

TIP: If you are planning to watch this on a computer, be sure to have a computer set to Region 2 or a universal converter to watch films specified for non-American regions.

Wieso? Weshalb? Warum?

Wieso? Weshalb? Warum?: Spielerisch die Welt entdecken. (How so? Wherefore? Why? Playfully discovering the world.) This is a series with many foci, as for example here, "Die Jahreszeiten" (The Seasons), usually about 16 pages
For other titles see our bookstore and www.wiesoweshalbwarum.com
Price: approximately 9 Euros and under
German Level: All ages!
Before I write another negative review, I wanted to take a break and write about a fun series of books. These are sturdy, cardboard books, with a spiral binding. There are fun tabs throughout the book, which children can open to discover new pictures. For example, in the book "Das bin ich und das bist du", you can open a mouth to see a tongue with a vitamen on it. We all know how much toddlers love opening surprise tabs!
I have not reviewed all of them as that would be a very expensive project, but what we do have I like very much. Simple questions are posed at the beginning of a page. For example, what is the mouth for? We can taste with the tongue, we can speak and laugh with our mouth, and we can kiss with our lips. There are fun illustrations and discovery tabs to help illustrate the answers. This has been very helpful to me as a parent learning with my children. The sentences are simple and the vocabulary applicable to my daily life (and my children's daily questions).
In fewer words, I like the realistic and colorful illustrations, many of which are color pencil. The German is kept simple and to the point, answering specific questions about specific topics. There are many books to choose from for what you wish to focus on. Finally, these are certainly not necessary to any curriculum, but a luxury if you can afford them.

Music CD for the Fall?

Herbstleuchten und Laternenfest: Lieder unterm Sternenhimmel (Fall Illuminated and Lantern Festival: Songs under Starry Sky) Mattias Meyer-Goellner, 2006, 16 tracks, 50 minutes and 31 seconds
Publisher: JUMBO
ISBN: 978-3-8337-1648-5
Price: Euro 8,32
German Level: All Levels
In general, I will begin this review by saying that I often decide on a children's CD by how long I can listen to it without getting a headache. That said, this is not one of my favorite CDs. The songs are clearly marked as traditional or other. There are more "other" songs than traditional German songs, these others being written and played by the above artist. The first half of the songs are melodies reminiscent of 80s to 90s pop music that have been given autumnal lyrics for children. The second half is more mellow, but still poppish. (If you dig pop, this might be the CD for you.)
What is most off-putting is that the CD includes songs about a Halloween party and Halloween candy which come across as more American than German. Grant it, I have not lived there in a while, so I would appreciate some input from native Germans on this. I do not recall trick-or-treating as being a part of Halloween in Germany. Is Germany moving in this direction?
In conclusion, the CD makes for a secularized celebration of fall, Halloween, and Saint Martin's.

**There is a book by the same title that is supposed to include craft ideas, stories, and poetry. I am tempted to see if the book is better than the CD, but the CD has not encouraged me to buy the book at this time.

For Saint Martin's Feast

Sankt Martin (Saint Martin) by Rosemarie Kuenzler-Behncke, illustrated by Monika Zuend, 2006, 24 pp

Publisher: Annette Betz Verlag

ISBN: 978-3-219-11264-1

Price: Euro 9,95 (Hardcover)

German Level: Intermediate to Native; Read aloud for children at any age!

Sankt Martin und Laternenfest: Lieder, Gedichte, und Geschichten (Saint Martin and Lantern Feast/Festival: Songs, Poems, and Stories), 2003, 20 tracks

Publisher: Sauerlaender Verlag

ISBN: 978-3-7941-8555-9

Price: Euro 12,95

German Level: All ages!

As you prepare to celebrate the wonderful Saint Martin's Feast, here are two superb sources to consider. The first is a book about Saint Martin, well-illustrated and well-told. The second is a CD with 20 songs, poems, and stories all about Saint Martin and the corresponding Lantern Parade. Children and parents parade through the streets of towns all over Germany to celebrate this feast by carrying their home-made lanterns . Trully, Saint Martin was a light to the world, and from his light came many more. Read more about Saint Martin in the Catholic Encyclopedia by clicking here. This book and CD are sure to prepare you for this wonderful feast!

As always, you may order these through our website by clicking here.

Beatrix Potter's Complete Works

Das grosse Beatrix Potter Geschictenbuch (The big Beatrix Potter Storybook) trans. by Ursula Koesters-Roth, Claudia Schmoelders, and Renate von Toerne, 1992, 384 pp

Publisher: Diogenes Verlag
ISBN: 3-257-00731-0
Price: varies
German Level: Beginning to Native
This is by far my children's favorite book! It contains all 23 of Potter's tales and the original illustrations. The translation is wonderful and will have you scolding your children in the voice of Mrs. Rabbit and in German in no time! You have to buy it used now, so be on the look out for low prices and a good euro-dollar ratio for the best deal. I had to wait a year to get a copy for less than 80 Euro, so be ready to wait a long time.

As always, this is made easier for you at our bookstore. For every order you place through our bookstore, we receive 10%. We would greatly appreciate your ordering through us as this allows us the time to maintain this website.

From the Good Books

Pu der Baer (Winnie the Pooh) by A.A. Milne, trans. by Harry Rowohlt, 1988, 328 pp

Publisher: Cecilie Dressler Verlag

ISBN: 978-3-7915-1324-9 (Hardcover)

Price: Starting at Euro 3,87 used

German Level: Advanced/Native

I absolutely love this book and this translation! John Senior put Milne's Winnie the Pooh books on the Good Books List, and I can certainly see why. The thought processes of Winnie the Pooh are great for getting your toddler or younger child to think about cause and effect and also to express these thoughts in words, in this case German words. It contains the original illustrations by E.H. Shepard, which you are sure to remember from your own childhood, and the two books: Pu der Baer (Winnie the Pooh) and Pu baut ein Haus (Pooh Builds a House).

Mass Guide for Children

Das heilige Messopfer: Messbuch fuer Kinder (The Holy Mass Offering: Mass book for children), German translation 2008, Imprimi potest 1989, 79 pp

Publisher: Sarto Verlag

ISBN: 978-3-932691-40-9

Price: Not availabe at this time. Keep checking!

German Level: Beginning and Up

This German guide to the Latin mass is wonderful for children. The illustrations very clearly show what the priest and altar servers are doing at the key moments of the mass. There is also a simplified prayer for the child to say at each part of the mass. This book has been wonderful at home for explaining what is happening at a mass. My children look long and hard at the pictures and ask me questions. There is also a nice 2 pages at the beginning of the booklet that show pictures of the priest's vestments and also the objects found on the altar. Each picture is labelled with the corresponding German word. There are prayers to say before and after the mass as well, again simple and good for the child to memorize. We also allow our three year old to bring this book to Latin masses. She turns the pages and watches the mass very carefully to follow along. As long as we sit up front, this works very well!

Poetry to Memorize and Sing!

Das grosse Buch der Kinderreime (The big Book of Children's Rhymes) collected and illustrated by Janosch, 2004, 186pp

Publisher: BELTZ & Gelberg

ISBN: 3-407-79882-2 (Hardcover)

Price: Euro 15,90

German Level: Beginning and Up!

This children's poetry book is a wonderful source of old and ancient poems from German culture. Janosch offers fresh and silly illustrations that trully capture the humor in many of the poems, and you will recognize many to be common children's songs as found in "Kinderlieder aus der guten alten Zeit." A must have for teaching your children German poetry!

Pronunciation Help

Warum gaehnt das Nilpferd? (Why does the hippo yawn?) by Eva Morkowska, 2007, 80 pp

Publisher: VERITAS-Verlag

ISBN: 978-3-7058-5510-6

Price: Euro 6,90

German Level: Beginning

Is your child having problems with German pronunciation? Are you helping your German child overcome a tongue-tie or other speech impediment? This is a fun way to work out the kinks! It is essentially a storybook that helps the child exercise his mouth and tongue by imitating various animals. For example, "Can you open your mouth as wide as a crocodile can?" Both parent and child then open their mouths "ganz weit auf" (very wide open). For the more serious parent, this is a great way for your child to see you being silly for a change, and they love trying to copy your movements with the book. For the non-native, it is especially nice as a short story book to work on pronunciation and everyday German vocabulary.

Catholic Bible

Katholische Haus- und Schulbibel (Catholic Home and School Bible) edited by Paul Bergmann, Imprimatur 1928, 368 pp

Publisher: LINS-Verlag, Gebhard und Josef Lins

Price: Euro 10,50

Available from Sarto Verlag

German Level: Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, Native

I love the way this children's bible is put together. Each passage is clearly marked with the actual book and line numbers for cross-referencing, and the chapters are short enough to read to toddlers and older children. We are currently reading the Old Testament, and I am particularly pleased with the footnotes, which offer some commentary on how passages relate to the New Testament. This has been a wonderful resource in finally developing the vocabulary necessary to talk to my children about what is most important: God.

Great for Story Time

Das grosse Buch von Brombeerhag (trans. from The Complete Brambly Hedge) by Jill Barklem, 2001, 248 pp
Publisher: Annette Betz
ISBN: 3-219-10969-1 (Hardcover)
Price: Euro 24, 95
German Level: Advanced - Native for reading aloud to youngters
This is by far one of my favorite children's books, and the illustrations are absolutely beautiful in every detail. Interestingly, I found this book first in German and then later found out it was translated from the English Brambly Hedge series. This translation includes 8 stories: Spring Story, Autumn Story, Summer Story, Winter Story, The Secret Staircase, The High Hills, Sea Story, and Poppy's Babies.
The stories follow the happenings of an entire village of mice who live in Brambly Hedge. The translation is well-done, and the dialogue has been most helpful in our day-to-day German at home. Most helpful have been the descriptive passages of not only the nature around the mice, but the events in their lives (weddings, sailboating, pic-nicing, etc.). These have really given me the necessary vocabulary for answering my 3 year old's question: "aber warum?" But why?

Children's Folk Songs

Kinderlieder aus der guten alten Zeit (Children's songs from the good ole' time) illustrated by Joanna Hegemann, 2007, 147 pp, 144 songs!

Publisher: EDITION XXL, GmbH

ISBN: 978-3-89736-601-5 (Hardcover with CD)

Price: Euro 7,95

German Level: Beginning-Native

If you are looking to learn German through song, this is the book for you! It includes 144 German folk songs with music and words. It also has notes for Guitar. The CD contains 34 of the 144 songs, so you and your children can take the songs on the road or listen to them as you clean up the playroom. We usually listen to this CD during the summer months, and my husband enjoys playing the songs on the guitar as the children dance around.

Picture-Word Books

Kennst du das? (Do you know that?) 34-36 pp.

Publisher: DUDEN

Price: Euro 5,00

German Level: Beginning

These are a great series of books put out by DUDEN. They are divided thematically, so you can easily choose which ones you are interested in. For example, do you want to learn vocabulary by the ABCs? Do you want to learn about shapes? What about the farm? There is a little picture book for all and more. Each little book contains photographs with the German word. There are also short questions such as "Kennst du diese Wuerfel und Quadrate?" (Do you recognize these cubes and squares?). It is especially nice that they are durable cardboard books, so little hands can be left to explore them.

German Prayer Book

Jugendgebetbuch: Leitfaden Christlichen Lebens fuer die Kleinsten bis zu den Erwachsenen (Prayer Book for Children: Guide to Christian Life for the Little Ones and Adults) by P. Raphael Niessner, OSB, 576 pp
Nihil Obstat 1985 Abtei der Benediktiner in Rohr
Publisher: Verlagsbuchhandlung der Benediktiner
ISBN: N/A printed by the publisher for private use
Price: Euro 12,95
German Level: Native or Advanced
It offers prayers for all facets of our lives from morning offerings to evening prayers. The central prayers of the Church are printed in both Latin and German. There are several songs with music as well as inspirational guides for praying in the domestic Church, our homes. This book is not currently offered on Amazon, but you may click on the picture to order from the German website Sarto Verlag. If you need help, feel free to contact Sarto Verlag as they are able to speak English and willing to help. Click here for the link.

A Book for the Season

Das Hausbuch der Weihnachtszeit (The House Book for Christmas Time) by Rotraut Susanne Berner, 2007, 152 pp
Publisher: Gerstenberg Verlag
ISBN: 978-3-8369-5174-6 (Hardcover)
Price: Euro 24,90
German Level: Native, Advanced, and Intermediate
Other: Audio CD also available!
This is much more than another Christmas book. It is a book to carry your family in song, story, and poetry from the beginning of fall to the end of winter. It includes music and words for such classics as "O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum" and "Maria durch ein Dornwald". There are poems, stories, and songs for Halloween, the Feast of St. Martin, the feast of St. Nikolaus, Advent, Christmas, the Feast of the Three Kings, and so on.
The short-stories unfortunately have a clearly secular bent to them and attempt to teach morality without Christianity. This seems entirely out of place given the nature of the rest of the book. It is a useful resource for bringing German culture into your home, but use caution and be sure to offer clearly Catholic readings along side this book.

Good Night Stories and Poems

Das grosse Buch der Gute-Nacht-Geschichten (The Big Book of Good-Night-Stories), 2007, 15 stories
Publisher: Loewe Verlag
ISBN: 978-3-7855-5928-4 (cardboard pages)
Price:
German Level: Beginning-Native
This is a great first book of poetry and short stories. They are whimsical and fantastical. Examples include how lion and bear fall asleep, the poem of the little bat and the dream tree, why ghosts don't spook in the daytime, and so on. Some are poems and some are short stories, both of which your toddler will quickly have memorized. Our two-year-old was reciting "Du kleine liebe Fledermaus" before she could speak in complete sentences!
One caution: There is a poem asking a child's Bear Angel to protect him. This is unfortunate as the poem is very beautiful. I recommend reading it aloud without the mention of the Baer /Baerchen (Bear), or perhaps you can be creative and talk about how the child imagines his stuffed bear is his guardian angel.