“I Love My . . .” ESL/ELD Picture Book Series Summaries

These books use colorized text to indicate the vowel sounds.  This color-assonant text is a proven pronunciation and reading aid for those with dyslexia. The rhythmic story is presented in English with Prism Phonics text followed by the story in its associated foreign language(s).
Every story concludes with a felicitous Bible verse.

For Emerging Readers (K-2nd grade)

These first five stories all have the same poetic pattern.

TITLE‍ ‍COUNTRY/LANGUAGE‍ ‍SCRIPTURE‍ ‍ART STYLE

DAD MEXICO/SPANISH EPHESIANS 6:4 2D Cartoon

A four-year old Mexican boy describes how he loves his father. They experience simple pleasures in their modern, modest home in Mexico City. The son shows his father many interesting objects he's found on the ground as they walk to the playground. As they walk along the crosswalk hand in hand, the son escapes his father's grip to run to the playground, but for such dangerous behavior they return home. Before siesta, they enjoy a snack and a Bible story. (Available at Amazon here.)

MOM FRANCE/FRENCH PSALMS 45:9 2D Cartoon + Fantasy

A three-year old black girl in Paris (Val-de-Marne), France describes how she loves her mom and deems her the queen of the castle. The girl has two older brothers who fight each other and slay dragons (dinosaurs). They all play Escargot (hopscotch) on the sidewalk then wash up to eat. The girl sorts colored beads and strings them onto a necklace for her mom, for which she is praised. Then it’s bath time and bed.

SISTER TONGA/TONGAN MATTHEW 12:50 Watercolor

A five-year old Pacific Islander boy describes how he loves his sister, aged 8, and becomes a Christian largely by observing her life. Together they find and clean shells to sell to the tourists at their family booth. He’s baptized in the ocean by his father and warmly embraced by the Christian community. Many of the islands of Oceania are at least 90% Christian, so this story is the most overtly Christian.

BROTHER POLAND/POLISH PROVERBS 18:19 Colored Pencil

A four-year old Polish girl describes how she loves, tolerates, and helps care for 2.5-year old brother. Mom has taken her and her brother to a park. She plays tag with her toddling brother, then helps push him in the swing. She helps change his diaper before they go down the slide together. She builds a sand castle by herself, not wanting to let her crying brother come see and destroy it; but she eventually gives in.

GRANDPARENTS VIETNAM/VIETNAMESE & HMONG PROVERBS 17:6 Wimmelbuch

A five-year old boy is blessed to interact with all four of his grandparents. They help him with reading and math, and teach him skills of swimming and flying a kite. They tell him stories and show him old movies. They encourage him to praise the Lord and apply God’s Word to his life.

For Emerging Readers (3rd-5th grades)

These next five stories all have different poetic patterns.

TITLE‍ ‍COUNTRY/LANGUAGE‍ ‍ SCRIPTURE

LIFESAVER MIDDLE EAST/ARABIC JOHN 3:17

NEIGHBOR USA/SWAHILI JOHN 14:2 & MARK 12:31

SELF USA (OK)/CHEROKEE LEVITICUS 19:18

ENEMY KOREA/KOREAN LUKE 6:27-28

COUNTRY ISRAEL/HEBREW EZEKIEL 36:22-24