Between The Lines: Why audiobooks are good for multitaskers, travellers and young readers

Karen White at work in her home studio.   What book lover among us has not wished that they could get paid to read? For professional audiobook narrator Karen White, the dream came true when she was expecting her first child 16 years ago. Now, with more than 200 books recorded, she says her theatre training, experience working with directors in studios, and her voice training have been key to her success. “Changes in technology have made it possible for me to work entirely from home. When I started out, I had to go to a studio and work with an engineer and director. Now, I have a studio in my house and I can edit as I go. I can upload the files directly to the production companies. It’s not easy work, but I love it, and it allows me to have a career as a performer and still be there when my kids get home from school,” White says. The audiobook business is gaining a foothold in the traditional book industry. I like to listen to audiobooks while my son is doing sports. Listening to a story enables me to keep an eye on the ball and appear riveted, while I occupy my mind in a more active way at th

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Between The Lines: Five children’s books about Paris that inspire Hong Kong family to visit

Last month, my husband and I started brainstorming our next holiday while we were, funnily enough, on holiday. We considered Amsterdam, Prague and cities in Spain or Italy. And then our eyes lit up at the idea of going back to Paris, the destination of our first trip together. I admit that, while he was envisioning this romantic getaway for the two of us, I fantasised about bringing our daughters along to discover the famous landmarks and many attractions for families. My fantasy is undoubtedly fuelled by our well-read copies of Madeline andAdele & Simon. The story of a red-headed seven-year-old girl living in a boarding school in Paris, Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeline has been read aloud in our home dozens of times. We love the rhyme and rhythm of the text, and have spent so much time poring over interesting details of pre-second world war life. There is a doctor who makes house calls, and then proceeds to call for an ambulance by instructing a telephone operator to connect him to “Danton-Ten-Six”. At the hospital, Madeline convalesces in a bed that is adjustable using a manual bed crank. Barbara

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閱讀活動家庭和諧 : 共享閱讀,親愛永續!(2015年4月25日)

閱讀活動家庭和諧 : 共享閱讀,親愛永續!(2015年4月25日) 閱讀活動家庭和諧 : 誠 邀 大 家 參 由 J C I 主 辦 , 在 2 0 1 5 年 4 月 2 5日 油 塘 舉 行 的< 家 庭 和 諧 20 1 5 開 幕 典 禮  暨   記 者 招 待 會 > , 屆 時菜 姨 姨 將 會 即 場 講 故 事 , 詳 情 及報 名 請 按此。     其他文章 合作機構 1. Void

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Between The Lines: Why Unsupervised Play Benefits Children

  “Play is the most efficient driver of learning for children. This is as true of their cognitive development as their physical and emotional development.” These statements introduce a chapter on remembering to play in Teach Your Children Well, by child psychologist Dr Madeline Levine. She outlines the concept through a “time wheel”: a pie-chart of a child’s 24-hour day. There are fixed wedges of time each day for school, homework, meals and sleep. Whatever is left over is that “sliver of time” which is at the discretion of parents. We should fill up that sliver with fun activities, right? Wrong. She argues that any activity that corrects, criticises or judges a child’s behaviour is stressful and not fun. Splashing around in the pool is not the same as going to swim class where a coach is telling the child to swim faster or learn new skills. When a child is expected to be on their best behaviour for most activities on the time wheel, that sliver of free time had better truly be free. Dr Levine writes: “We all know that some of our best work is done when no

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2012-2014 雙周年報告書

為響應環保,我們並未提供雙年報的印刷本。取而代之,我們提供網上版本以供閱覽:請按此。 我們非常高興300間學校及社區中心已獲捐贈書伴我行的書架或書包圖書館,地點遍及全港各地區,讓100,000名基層兒童受惠。再次感謝各界慷慨支持書伴我行,為推動香港的親子共讀而努力。

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南華早報專欄:Don’t sell short the power of the pen

This article appeared on Tuesday 24 March 2015 in the South China Morning Post print edition as “Don’t sell short the pen’s power”. In advocating literacy, we have mostly discussed the importance of reading aloud with children. But there’s a second part we haven’t addressed as deeply: writing. Writing is powerful. Consider this: history happens, but the one who writes it down becomes the arbiter of its future understanding. The writer shapes public opinion, provides context, persuades and inspires. We would know virtually nothing of the past were it not for writers. Time changes everything, but in books, it will always look as the writer wishes. Writing has to be nurtured. Like reading, writing instruction in Hong Kong sometimes unintentionally prioritises performance over pleasure and the need to develop a deeper insight into the world. Learning to write is so much more than cultivating beautiful handwriting and perfect spelling. In fact, those skills are somewhat beside the point. The process can be therapeutic for teenagers who are trying to figure out who they are and what th

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#HOGANBusyBeautiful Photo Exhibition & Shopping Weekend

This weekend, we are teaming up with Hogan for a special project! Some of our board members took part in an exciting photoshoot where they were able to become #HOGANBusyBeautiful women. The photos will be displayed exclusively at the Hogan Elements boutique in TST.   You can explore their collections at any of their three boutiques in Pacific Place Mall, Elements, & Harbour City on March 21st & March 22nd and enjoy a 10% discount if you mention “Bring Me A Book”. Hogan will donate 5% of all purchases bearing this mention to Bring Me A Book Hong Kong!   About Hogan  @HOGANBRAND Www.Hogan.com Hogan was set up in 1986 and is part of Italian luxury group Tod’s spa. Hogan’s unique and innovative vision of casual luxury for every occasion perfectly translates into a contemporary lifestyle, where quality and style are always cherished. Distinguished accessories and ready to wear made for city life, featuring pure and innovative design, concealing elements of functionality with laid-back elegance. Crafted with materials of extraordinary quality, a Hogan style is bound to become a timeless piece that will

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The Read-Aloud Collection

我們最新出版的英文圖書導讀可讓家長及老師為初生嬰兒至青少年搜羅優質的英文書。這本導讀是由書伴我行(香港)基金會一班熱心的專家、圖書館主任及家長編制而成。 如欲下載,請電郵至info@www.bringmeabook.org.hk以登記加入到書伴我行(香港)基金會的電郵清單上。這代表 閣下願意收到書伴我行(香港)基金會的資訊及推廣。登記的電郵地址會絕對保密,如不想收到我們的服務推廣電郵,您可以隨時取消電子郵件訂閱。   請按此看The Read-Aloud Collection。  

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