Books for Children Who Like To Read and for Those Who Don't
really for all ages and stages...
We can all do our part to make the world a better place not only for ourselves, but for all its inhabitants.
Cornelia Funke
What’s Important for Kids
The above quote inspired me to compose this post about Cornelia Funke, who started out as a German social worker, then became an author and illustrator of over 40 books for pre-schoolers through teens. Her books have been translated into many languages. The focus of many of her stories, including The Book No One Ever Read (view and listen to YouTube video above) is fantasy-oriented stories that depict the lives of children faced with adversity. Source: Wikipedia
What’s Important for All Ages
I agree with Cornelia Funke’s view of what’s important in life.
“I delight in bringing together people and ideas to make the world a better place. I believe in the immense potential of all human beings to contribute their unique strengths to the world, no matter how old they are, their level of education, background, and challenges. Sally Gelardin
What’s Important To Teach Children
In addition to being a storyteller and writer, Funke is passionate about music and conservation. She said, “I think that nowadays there are two key educational goals:
Teach children to be open to everything that is ‘foreign’ and show them how much cultural diversity enriches us to combat the alienation of our children from everything that is ‘non-human’ on this planet.
Experiences with nature and with other cultures can help remind us that everything on this planet interacts, and everything is precious.”
Funke has been the official patron of the children's hospice Bethel for dying children since February 2010.[37]Since 2012, she has been one of the German ambassadors of the UN Decade on Biodiversity.[38] Since 2013, she has also been the Official Patron of the charity Ecologia Youth Trust, which helps marginalised children and young people around the world.[39]
Berliner Family Music Concert
“Fabers Schatz,” a Berliner family music concert, which my husband and I watched recently, is based on a children’s book that Funke authored, with the same title. The book has been translated into many languages, including English, as “Faber’s Treasure.”
The story revolves around Faber, who inherits a magical flying carpet from his grandfather. When he meets a girl from Damascus who can read the mysterious writing on the carpet, the magic of the carpet extends beyond his expectations. Source: AI
The concert includes narrators, musicians, artists, a singer, and theatrical performers.
View below a Facebook clip of the sound in the concert, played by Mohammad Reza Mortazavi.
One of the narrators, Rita William, is an Iraqi singer, songwriter, and recording artist who performed vocals and narrated this concert. The other narrator, Rainer Strecker, is an actor and has narrated audiobooks for Cornelia Funke.
Something To Think About
So there we have it: storytelling, music (singing, instramental), fantasy, artwork, theater, children facing adversity. What more could you want for your children to read, watch, listen to, and learn about?
One problem…I couldn’t find the Fabers Schatz book (or Faber’s Treasure, its English translation) in any Bay area library, including on LinkPlus!