Books For Keeps
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • Past Issues
  • Latest Issue
  • Authors and Artists
  • Latest News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
March 4, 2007/in Dual Language, Picture Book 5-8 Infant/Junior /by Angie Hill
BfK Rating:
BfK 163 March 2007
Reviewer: Urmi Chana
ISBN: 978-1844445806
Price: Price not available
Publisher: Mantra Lingua
Genre: Dual Language, Picture Book
Age Range: 5-8 Infant/Junior
Length: 32pp
Buy the Book

Tom and Sofia Start School

Author: Henriette BarkowIllustrator: Priscilla Lamont

The illustrations in this title are colourful and lively, matching the idyllic textual portrayal of Tom and Sofia’s first day at school. The two children (from different families) tell their ‘starting school’ stories side by side on each double page spread with the word ‘Tom’ or ‘Sofia’ provided next to the relevant text. We see a busy time being had by lots of smiling faces and certainly that air of noisy but contained activity is very well captured in these pencil and wash pictures. I find the text less engaging. Part of the problem for me, I think, is the layout of the dual language text in English and Tagalog, which also uses roman script. Tagalog is set noticeably larger in a different font from the English text in order to make it easier to distinguish between the two; interestingly, the English text, though smaller, looks slightly bolder. I’m not sure exactly why the typography is less satisfying – whether it’s that the two fonts don’t sit well together visually or if it’s a case of there being very little white space around the texts. They are so close together that some pages look crowded and I’m afraid to say, off-putting. (Available in 26 dual language versions.)

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png 0 0 Angie Hill http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Angie Hill2007-03-04 13:17:272023-03-04 13:21:14Tom and Sofia Start School

Search for a specific review

Author Search

Search







Generic filters




Filter by Member Types


Book Author

Download BfK Issue Bfk 272 May 2025
Skip to an Issue:

About Us

Launched in 1980, we’ve reviewed hundreds of new children’s books each year and published articles on every aspect of writing for children.

Read More

Follow Us

Latest News

Choice and reading relevant to their interests = reading for pleasure

June 11, 2025

Ross Montgomery wins the 2025 FCBG Children’s Book Award

June 7, 2025

Michael Rosen and Emily Gravett IBBY UK nominations for Hans Christian Andersen Awards 2026

June 4, 2025

Contact Us

Books for Keeps,
30 Winton Avenue,
London,
N11 2AT

Telephone: 0780 789 3369

ISSN: 0143-909X (this is our International Standard Serial Number).

© Copyright 2025 - Books For Keeps | Proudly Built by Lemongrass Media - Web Design Buckinghamshire
Miss Fox Sahir Goes to the Dentist
Scroll to top