The Bookshelf: April 14, 2016

Trib+Edu is joining with respected books authority Kirkus Reviews to bring you select reviews of books of note in the field of education. For more book reviews and recommendations, visit Kirkus.com.

MOTHER TONGUE: My Family's Globe-Trotting Quest to Dream in Mandarin, Laugh in Arabic, and Sing in Spanish

by Christine Gilbert

Gilbert decided that she, her husband, and her child needed to become multilingual global citizens rather than remain “all-American monolinguals” — not just to enhance their cultural literacy, but also to give their young son, Cole, a cognitive edge. … The “mad” project she envisioned would eventually take her family to Beijing, Beirut and Puerto Vallarta, where they would learn three languages through focused study and cultural immersion. … Informed by research into language and cognitive development, Gilbert’s book is not only the record of a lively and unusual adventure. It is also a celebration of a family’s determination to venture together, for better or worse, into the unknown. An engaging travel narrative for both language lovers and general audiences.

For the full review, visit kirkus.com.