Spanish & English Stories and Fables
The Galapaguitos series is a window that presents a sensitive but at the same time magical view of Ecuador. These series seek to create awareness about the dangers and threats that Galapagos animals of this natural laboratory experience without losing the magic and fantasy for children. At the same time, these characters through their daily life experiences share messages about values, but more importantly, they challenges us to consider and explore our natural heritage. This is a process created in linguistic spaces for bilingual reading children and Spanich-English language learners.
This series of stories and fables was created for children from 4 to 10 years old. The series of Galapaguitos stories and fables will be published at the end of 2020 by the Middle of the World Spanish School, and the Spanish language learning textbooks will be published starting in 2021.
Small Actions Making a Great Impact for the Conservation of Galapagos.
La serie Galapaguitos es una ventana que presenta una mirada sensible pero a la vez mágica del Ecuador. Estas series buscan crear conciencia sobre los peligros y amenazas que experimentan los animales de Galápagos de este laboratorio natural sin perder la magia y la fantasía para los niños. Al mismo tiempo, estos personajes a través de sus experiencias de la vida diaria comparten mensajes sobre valores, pero lo que es más importante, nos desafían a considerar y explorar nuestro patrimonio natural. Este es un proceso creado en espacios lingüísticos para niños lectores bilingües y aprendices del idioma español-inglés.
Esta serie de cuentos y fábulas fue creada para niños de 4 a 10 años. La serie de cuentos y fábulas de Galapaguitos será publicada a finales de 2020 por la Escuela de Español Mitad del Mundo, y los libros de texto de aprendizaje del idioma español se publicarán a partir de 2021.
Pequeñas acciones de gran impacto para la conservación de Galápagos.
I have lived and visited the Galapagos on several occasions both as a volunteer, program coordinator of the Chacay Foundation for Smart Destinations and as a national tourist. To be by the Enchanted Islands is to become part of their fabulous endemism on land with a spectacular diversity in the sea. I am a specialist in Sustainable Development, and being on the Galapagos allowed me to better understand the theory in practice regarding ecosystems and Pachamama responsibility, which is a respect for the networks of life that connect all aspects of a given place with everything else. Ecology and conservation must be in the hearts of the people who love the earth as children, who will be the future of this world, and who can still create experiences, amazement, responsibilities, curiosity and an excitement to learn more.
Ecuador is a country of a thousand wonders whose overwhelming Andean, Amazonian, coastal and island natural wonders will inspire visitors for a long time due to its equatorial climate. The Galapagos Islands are visually impressive as well as scientifically important. They are also a world natural heritage site. I want my books to be an invitation to spread the message of visiting and protecting this natural access point with fragile ecosystems vulnerable to deforestation, pollution, overfishing and illegal foreign fishing, eutrophication and the introduction of invasive species.
The islands are fun, harmonious, inspiring, scientific and a great opportunity for conservation. Visit them!
Español
He visitado Galápagos en varias ocasiones tanto como voluntaria como turista nacional. Estar por las Islas Encantadas es formar parte de su fabuloso endemismo en tierra con una diversidad espectacular en el mar. Soy especialista en Desarrollo Sostenible, y estar en Galápagos me permitió comprender mejor la teoría en la práctica sobre los ecosistemas y la responsabilidad de la Pachamama, que es un respeto por las redes de vida que conectan todos los aspectos de un lugar determinado con todo lo demás. La ecología y la conservación deben estar en el corazón de las personas que aman la tierra desde niños, que serán el futuro de este mundo y que aún pueden generar experiencias, asombro, responsabilidades, curiosidad y la ilusión de aprender más.
Ecuador es un país de mil maravillas cuyos abrumadores paraísos naturales andinos, amazónicos, costeros e insulares inspirarán a los visitantes durante mucho tiempo debido a su clima ecuatorial. Las Islas Galápagos son visualmente impresionantes y científicamente importantes. También son un sitio del patrimonio natural mundial. Quiero que mis libros sean una invitación a difundir el mensaje de visitar y proteger este punto de acceso natural con ecosistemas frágiles vulnerables a la deforestación, contaminación, sobrepesca y pesca extranjera ilegal, eutrofización e introducción de especies invasoras.
Las islas son divertidas, armoniosas, inspiradoras, científicas y una gran oportunidad para la conservación. ¡Visítelas!
When I think of horror movies like: Shark, Blue Hell, Open Water, etc. where Steven Spielberg gives free rein without narrative austerity of chilling murderous stories that generates levels of tension, anxiety and of course leaves fear in the human being. However, sharks and other animals only react because they are in their natural habitat. Like turtles, they have been indiscriminately hunted for many decades by pirates, in short. Each animal has its danger and also its charm. These stories tell both sides of the coin. I believe that due to the environmental urgency, children must grow up represented by fantasy but anchored to reality. Not seeing yourself reflected with reality in the world around you leaves you yearning to live in a paradise of enchantment that does not exist, and can make your journey to the elevation of consciousness longer.
There are many children who have left their mark on the Galapagos organizations because they are already immersed in the importance of conservation.
With the emergency that Galapagos is experiencing, there are many publications for the adult public and I consider that diversity continues to be a constantly evolving issue and children and young people should also be involved in these issues.
Spanish
Cuando pienso en las películas de terror como: Tibores, Infierno azul, Aguar abiertas, etc. donde Steven Spielberg da rienda suelta sin austeridad narrativa de escalofriantes historias asesinas que genera niveles de tensión, ansiedad y por supuesto deja en el ser humano el miedo. Sin embargo, los tiburones y el resto de animales solo reaccionan porque están es su hábitat natural. A igual que las tortugas, son su indiscriminada caza hace muchas décadas por los piratas, en fin. Cada animal tiene su peligro y también su encanto. Estas historias cuentan los dos lados de la moneda. Creo que por la urgencia ambiental, los niños deben crecer representados por fantasía pero anclada a la realidad. No verte reflejado con la realidad el mundo que te rodea te deja anhelando vivir en un paraíso de encanto que no existe, y puede hacer que tu viaje hacia la elevación de la conciencia sea más larga.
Hay muchos niños que han dejado huella en las organizaciones de Galápagos porque están ya inmersos en la importancia de la conservación.
Con la emergencia que vive Galápagos hay muchas publicaciones para el público adulto y considero que la diversidad sigue siendo un tema en constante evolución y los niños y jóvenes también deben estar involucrados en estos temas.
My name is Cecilia. I am the author of these book series; also I am a founder, director and teacher of Middle of the World Spanish School. My experience teaching Spanish spans early childhood, elementary education, school and high school, as well as adults (university, PhDs and other professionals). This year I have developed a set of books for teaching Spanish from baby ages to adults. In conjunction, I have created a program called @Retobilingüismo with three series: 1. Spanish Mom-Teachers; 2. Galapaguitos; and, 3. Retos.
Professionally, I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, specializing in teaching languages. I also hold an MBA, MDP/CDP (Master in Development Practice), I am a Therapist and a Coach. I have more than 20 years teaching Spanish among other social activities in Galapagos, Highland, Amazon and Coast of Ecuador
My passion is teaching which is linked with my life mission. I teach at any level and within my professional background from a language, personal/emotional development, sustainable development, etc.
I teach Spanish to everyone in a way that is creative, FUN and meaningful to everyday life. I love my country. My favorite places are: Galápagos, Quito, Cuenca, Otavalo, Baños, Mindo, etc. I love sharing my culture and being silly. I keep a Latino mood with students and make them smile and laugh in order to fire and wire the brain neurologically.
I love adventure and the Pachamama. I am a deep believer and a follower of the Sumak Kawsay (indigenous philosophy) and Dr. Joe Dispenza as I meditate everyday. I have created many projects in communities to overcome some social challenges. My biggest dream is to sponsor to communities businesses to help women and youth to avoid immigration from communities to cities.
Galapaguitos is a series of Spanish books to learn Spanish with the name of the familiar animals of Galapagos: Solitario George; Soraya, La Mantarraya; Ramón, el Tiburón; Juana, la Iguana; Renata, la Fragata; Baldomero, el Piquero; and, Dino, el Pingüino. Each one of these grammar texts also has fables and tales, which you are reading right now. Thank you for supporting my work, we envision to publish all the collections and also create fun to keep our work of rural community development in Ecuador, which supports women, youth and children.
The Galapagos series is for kids from 4 to 10 years old. They can have it while they are traveling in the car (hard cover), the size is for small hands in mind, but big enough (8.5” x 8.5”) to fully enjoy the high gloss, full-color illustrations (high gloss finish).
Abril to October: Books creation (Galapaguitos Text books and Galapaguitos Tales/fables)
October: Finish illustration and launch Kickstarter for Galapaguitos Tales/fables
November: Proofreadings, Editing, Formating Galapaguitos Tales/fables
December: Ship for Holiday (Galapaguitos Tales/fables)
January 2021: Start the Schools text illustrations.
August 2021: Ready for schools.
immersionspanishschool@gmail.com
The funds raised in the campaign will be for:
1) illustration and layout of the 11 Scholar textbooks for learning Spanish from toddlers to teens.
2) Printing and shipping the first run of 50 sets (7 Galapaguitos tales and 7 fables) 700 books. 700 is lofty, but printers often offer a price break starting at 500 copies, and many do not print less than that.
Please remember that Kickstarter has an all or nothing approach. If I do not reach my goal, none of this project will be funded.
The more we raise, the more copies we can print and make widely available.
I recognize that I am launching during a powerful movement happening across the world, alongside a pandemic and the situation of Galapagos. My intention with the Galapaguitos series of books is to provide a tool environmental acknowledge and and the raising of awareness regarding the conservation of the Galapagos Islands and of their animals in their reality in terms of conservation and environmental education materials without leaving behind the magic and fantasy for children. This allows us to share information about the importance of caring for and protecting our unique and pristine natural laboratory, in addition to promoting values and attitudes that these characters teach us with their daily lives that contribute to the personal development of the child in human values.
In your book series we want to help start the conversation around the situation of the animals, their attitudes in the story, the life lessons they give us and the importance of the animals in the ecosystem, perhaps how to get involved or plan a trip to meet them personally when the time allows.Sometimes talking about something as simple (yet complex) as conservation, illegal activities, is a great starting point.
Actions speak louder than words, always. Kickstarter restricts me from using funds raised for charity, I am social worker, specialized in Rural Sustainable Development and I would love to use excess funds to print more books to donate to rural schools, libraries and children’s hospitals and for children in Galapagos.
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Even before launching on this site, many of you have asked how you can help support this project. I am so thankful for the outpouring of love and support. The best way to help me get this book into the hands of many people as possible, is to share this link with others like schools, NGOs, friends, family, and extended network. Please, also ask them to share.
It has been an exciting journey driven by passion and purpose to get this project in front of you. I have spent countless hours doing research, connecting with authors, printers, designers, and distributors to prepare a solid plan of action. However, this is my first experience publishing a book and in English which is not my language. With the various moving parts like printing and shipping, please keep in mind that delays are possible. Worst-case scenario, the campaign becomes wildly successful, and fulfillment takes more time than anticipated. I will proactively keep everyone informed if there are any unforeseen setbacks with the intended publication and shipping schedule.