小阳: Little Sun Magazine by Bayard Press-Poppi

小阳
February, 2012
Bayard Presse-Poppi (2002)
Hsin Yi Publications, 2012
ISSN/ 1990/9101
http://littlesun.hsin-yi.org.tw/introduction/index-2.asp
Ages 1-3
Children's Magazine


Little Sun 1-3 Magazine for age 1-3, contains daily-life stories, nursery rhymes, vocabulary flashcard, a DVD, a CD, and fun games for kids to read, to play and to learn. Designed based on young children's development milestones and local life experiences, Little Sun Magazine for age 1-3 not only helps toddlers establish their language ability and cognitive skills, but also initiates conversations between parents and kids that helps parent-child relationship become more intimate. 


The DVD and CD for the magazine make reading the magazine a fun experience and is an encouraging way for children to feel more confident exploring print media. Additional media learning tools improve cognitive sensitivity and can form a home lesson plan for children. For example, February's issue included topics such as articles of clothing, proper clothing for the weather, activity pages that change what a character is wearing when segments of the page are turned, a counting song, and a pictorial spread about the Chinese lantern festival. 


The first part of the DVD shows two segments of Tom and Pippo, from Helen Oxenbury. The first focuses on a Tom (boy) and Pippo (his monkey) getting dressed in warm clothing to play outdoors in the snow. In the second, Tom's mom brings him to a park where he encounters a hungry duck. Children can relate to the animated curious character who has small adventures released in each monthly issue. This consistency also introduces babies and toddler's to the serial form of literature. They can begin to associate new adventures with new issues. 

Another segment of the DVD is also focused on the Lantern Festival and Chinese New Year. A baby rabbit is, dressed by his mother, to go out to view the lanterns at night. Babies can see pictures of children and lanterns of the zodiac signs and begin to associate the festivities. They also learn a chinese nursery rhyme that is associated with the holiday. The print form captures an illustration and the added media round out the learning experience. 


The DVD also shows a mother and her young daughter interacting. The mother assists the child and uses reinforcing language that all children should hear. On a side note, I think that it is important to include parental role models in media tools. Babies and toddlers are often featured alone working at tasks in DVDs. Healthy relationship development is as important as learning other fundamentals such as articles of clothing (and I'd dare to say even the alphabet and counting).


The video and CD are both 11 minutes long. The content and length seem for the age and act in support to the magazine- similar to the training wheels on a bike. In addition the digital form brings life to the illustrations, such as with the songs, that are difficult capture through the magazine alone.