When Stephen Krashen developed the approach to learning modern languages known as Comprehensible Input, one might have reasonably assumed that classical languages would have been exempt from this novel approach. However, over the years, it has become clear that this effective approach to language acquisition for modern languages can offer helpful ideas and insights even for the Latin or Greek classroom. When teaching the beginnings of a language, it just makes sense that the more direct contact that a student has with the language, the more effective his or her language acquisition will be. It is important that these direct contacts with the language are comprehensible – or in other words, able to be understood by the student at his or her level of the language. This small book, part of the Bolchazy-Carducci “I Am Reading Latin” series, serves that purpose for the beginning Latin student. Its skillful pairing of beautiful illustrations, names of common animals in Latin, Roman numerals, and Latin numbers provides the perfect comprehensible text for the beginning Latin student.

This book could easily introduce a young child to basic Latin through its engaging illustrations and simple approach to introducing fun vocabulary, such as the names of animals and numbers. What young child doesn’t enjoy singing about Old MacDonald’s Farm, making animal sounds, or counting games? This book is perfect for introducing young children to their first Latin words. This small book would be the perfect introduction to a beginning Latin student regardless of age.