Bilingual Fairy Tales for Ukrainian Readers: Snow-White and Rose-Red & Jack and the Beanstalk (Supervision in Dutch)

We are pleased to announce the publication of a new educational workbook “I read in Dutch” designed to support children in the early stages of learning Dutch, with Dutch supervision. This workbook forms part of our educational series “Favourite fairy tales” and combines literary content with a structured and research-informed language-learning approach.

The workbook includes two classic fairy tales. “Snow White and Rose Red” was written by the Brothers Grimm. This story presents an engaging narrative about two sisters with contrasting personalities, whose strong bond illustrates the values of kindness, empathy, and cooperation. The second story,“Jack and the Beanstalk”, is an English fairy tale. It follows a young, poor, yet courageous boy whose ingenuity and perseverance enable him to overcome adversity and improve his family’s circumstances.

The methodological foundation of this workbook is based on parallel (bilingual) reading and extensive written practice. Each fairy tale is presented in Dutch alongside a Ukrainian translation on the facing page. This format allows learners to access meaning directly, reducing cognitive overload and eliminating the need for constant dictionary use. Vocabulary and language structures are introduced in meaningful contexts, supporting retention and practical application.

In addition to the reading component, the workbook contains a wide range of carefully designed exercises aimed at consolidating newly acquired vocabulary and reinforcing grammatical structures, with particular attention to verb forms. These activities support the development of reading comprehension, writing skills, and grammatical awareness.

This workbook is especially suitable for use in primary education, language support programs, and home–school collaboration contexts. It enables teachers to guide beginning learners effectively while also empowering parents to provide informed support during the learning process.

Upon completion, learners will have significantly expanded their Dutch vocabulary and improved their understanding of key grammatical forms, making this workbook a valuable resource for early language education.