The Valentine Children’S Summer Adventures

By Alice Ratterree and Dianne Sibéal Donahoe

Thirty ways to say whats what in another language means more smiles in schools. Double the number and spell them right, and a child has a head start. Double again, and say them aloud the way theyre meant to be said, then picking up a language can be more fun than work. That is the true treasure in Diannes inspired story set long ago and far away in France. As she shares with readers the adventures of the Valentine children and their animal companions, Dianne conjures a tapestry in two languages, weaving into the story words in French that work their own wonder. New words and phrases and names arrive on the page not just with meanings but clear signs on how to say them out loud.

Scene by scene the treasure grows. By the end of the adventures the reader will be familiar not just with magical France but also with over 120 French words for flowers and animals, colors and flavors, good things to eat, family and friendship and everything you need to join the Valentines adventures in a setting outside the true and real, hewn-stone city of Carcassonne.

Dianne brings French out of the classroom and into the home. Relish in the rich imagery of memorable illustrations and use them to fix the French words and names in your head.

Dianne turns a task of learning into an enjoyable experience. This is the first of a trilogy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Feb 3, 2015
• ISBN: 9781480817326

Alice Ratterree

Dianne Sibéal Donahoe has sampled a fascinating variety of cultures and histories through worldwide travel. An avid artist and connoisseur, she lives with her husband in San Francisco and Manhattan. A portion of the proceeds of this work will be donated to the University of Washington’s Educational Unit.

Book preview

Copyright © 2003, 2015 Dianne Sibéal Donahoe.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Archway Publishing

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

1-(888)-242-5904

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4808-1730-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-1731-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-1732-6 (e)

Archway Publishing rev. date: 11/17/2015

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to my beloved husband, Henry,

who introduced me to a very special baby bird.

Many thanks are due to the following children for inspiration:

Adam, Ava, Beatrice, Charlie, Cristina and Jaden.

I would also like to thank the following people for their support:

Colleen Cleary, Ann Donahoe, Emily Ehlers and Kristen Lyons.

And finally to Dominic, who is in heaven.

He guided me throughout the book long before I knew it.

Preface

When a very precious baby bird visited my kitchen window, he would stare at me, and it appeared he was crying. I wanted to be friends with him. After watching him outside my window for some time, I eventually saw the baby bird flying together with his mother.

It was after traveling with my husband to the beautiful, fairy tale city of Carcassonne, France, and seeing its majestic ramparts and cobble-stoned streets that I became inspired to write this book.

I felt that my fantastical experience with the baby bird deserved a story of its own set in Carcassonne. The following pages are my own fairy tale, and they were written with the intention of inspiring children to fall in love with the French language and culture and to excite children to use their own imaginations. Adults and anyone learning French will also enjoy this story.

Contents

1   The Parents

2   The Children

3   The Grandparents

4   The Animals

5   The Missing

6   The Search Party

7   The Lost and the Found

8   The Circus

9   The Farewell

10   All Routes Lead to the Enchanted Cité

French Pronunciation Guide

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