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Interview
with Edith Hope Fine
Press Release
The Buzz on CryptoMania!
More Books by Edith
Hope Fine
FAQ's
CryptoMania!
Teleporting into Greek and Latin with the CryptoKids
by Edith Hope Fine
I find students highly motivated to learn more about decoding big words, following word trails, and digging into dictionaries. This book is not just for the students who are already avid learners. I have worked with students at all levels. If you start at the right place and present the material with verve, they'll be very open to the challenge . . . they want and deserve to have their learning skills used and stretched.
—Edith Hope Fine, author
Long words, difficult words, new words—they don’t rattle the CryptoKids. And after reading this book they won’t rattle you, either, because you’ll have the key to understanding more of what you read and hear.
Whether you are a student or a professional, an understanding of word meanings is paramount to comprehension. From the tests of our youth to the SATs that determine college entrance, vocabulary plays a role in our success. Understanding the Greek and Latin roots of our language is imperative to professional proficiency.
With CryptoMania!, author Edith Hope Fine provides a simple, enjoyable, comprehensible means to decoding the words we read and hear , all the while increasing our vocabulary.
Written as a picture book for young readers, CryptoMania! is a fun way to learn about language, expand vocabulary, and expand reading and verbal comprehension skills so crucial to success in school and beyond.
| Title: | CryptoMania! Teleporting into Greek and Latin with the CryptoKids |
| Author: | Edith Hope Fine |
| Illustrator: | Kim Doner |
| ISBN: | 1-58246-062-0 |
| Type: | Cloth /Full Color |
| Price: | $15.95 |
| Pages: | 48 |
| Publication Date: | September 2004 |
| Publisher: | Tricycle Press |
A Division of Ten Speed Press
P.O. Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707
Phone: 510-559-1600
Contact: Laura Mancuso
510-559-1600
PRESS RELEASE
New Book
Teleports Readers
to Reading and Vocabulary Success
Meet CryptoMania! . . .
Edith Hope Fine’s CryptoMania! is the perfect introduction to Greek and Latin word parts, providing a foundation for a higher-level vocabulary.
Can you look at words and decipher their meaning? Do you want to score higher on standardized tests? Do you want to expand your vocabulary or make learning a foreign language easier?
To make learning Greek and Latin word parts fun and easy, pick up your copy of CryptoMania!, Teleporting into Greek and Latin with the CryptoKids today. Stunningly illustrated by Kim Doner, published by Tricycle Press. Visit www.cryptokids.com for more information.
Did you know . . .
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60% of the English language is derived from Latin.
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90% of all English words that are three syllables or more are derived from Latin.
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From classifying and naming organisms to medical terminology, from college entrance tests to graduate school exams, Latin and Greek are everywhere.
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Doctors, lawyers, judges, professors, scientists, writers and other professionals use Greek- and Latin-based words every day in their work.
From an educational standpoint, the facts speak for themselves . . .
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The average SAT verbal score for students who study Latin is 159 points higher than the overall average.
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Students who study Latin score 82 points higher on their SATs than students who study any other language.
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Elementary students who studied Latin for 15-20 minutes a day for a year tested a full grade level higher in vocabulary knowledge than students who did not.
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Students who studied Latin for 30 minutes a day for only five months tested nine months more advanced in problem solving skills than students who did not.
An Interview with
EDITH HOPE FINE
Author of
CryptoMania!
Teleporting into
Greek and Latin with the CryptoKids!
Q. Briefly, what’s the story of CryptoMania!?
A. In CryptoMania! readers teleport with the CryptoKids into real and imaginary worlds, picking up key Greek and Latin word chunks along the way.
Q. How did CryptoMania! come about?
A. Being a logophile (one who loves words), I was teaching Greek and Latin to third graders at Park Dale Lane Elementary School, across the street from my house. I even invented zany dinosaurs to help students remember bits of Greek and Latin. What a reaction! The students loved it. They became decoders. They made connections. They remembered. It was utterly exciting. That’s when I knew I had a book idea on my hands.
Q. How long did it take to write CryptoMania!?
A. From start to finish, this book took five years. Once the idea hit, it was a matter of finding the shape. An alphabet book wouldn’t work—you figure out why. A fiction novel didn’t work. Okay, about 47 formats wouldn’t work.
Once I finally figured out that each Teleporter destination would be a four-page pattern, the shape clicked:
· Right-hand Page: Intro to a new destination
· Double-page Spread: The destination (some real, some invented)
· Left-hand Page: Destination wrap-up and Logoscope words
Q. Why is it important that children have a feel for Greek and Latin?
A. The earlier students get their feet wet with Greek and Latin, the better. The linguistic roots introduced in these pages will remain the same through each student’s school years and will prove invaluable in all classes, from decoding science and math terms to the helping on the PSATs and SATs.
Q. How does CrytptoMania! fit in with state English and Language Arts standards?
A. While standards vary, more and more states are including Greek and Latin roots and affixes (prefixes and suffixes) in their educational frameworks. Educators nationwide know that a knowledge of Greek and Latin gives learners a boost in terms of vocabulary, spelling, comprehension, and reading. The average SAT verbal score for students who study Latin is 159 points higher than the overall average. Now, across the country, states are including Greek and Latin roots and affixes in their standards. For example, in California, standards for fourth grade state, “1.4 Know common roots and affixes derived from Greek and Latin and use this knowledge to analyze the meaning of complex words (e.g., international).” Digging into basic Greek and Latin helps students recognize roots, spell roots, and analyze large words for meaning. CryptoMania! provides 200+ Greek and Latin basic roots and affixes and serves as a springboard to exploration of dictionaries for the inside story on words.
Q. How would teachers best use CryptoMania! in the classroom?
A. The book is rich with material for students of all ages, grade levels, and abilities.
Elementary School
This is a book to savor. You could spend a month on each Teleporter destination, starting with the word parts provided and having students branch out. With the Classical World, they could study the Olympics, writers and leaders, learn about life in ancient times and think about what life was like for kids their age.
Some students will be satisfied to follow the CryptoKids on their adventures, searching for clues to solve the mystery: “What is the key to new worlds?” They’ll marvel at Kim Doner's astonishing art—she used a different art technique for each teleporter destination. Other students will catch on that words in red are from Latin (think red for Roman) and words in green are from Greek. Some will hunt for BJ and Chee, the blue jay and squirrel, who add riddles and side comments.
Middle School and High School
Stella, one of the CryptoKids, invents a Logoscop-a machine to look at (scop) words (logo). Word parts, such as tri-(three) and pod (foot) go in; whole words, such as tripod (three feet) come out. Students can use the Logoscope for strengthening vocabulary and the two glossaries for PSAT and SAT review.
College
A college class can peruse the book for a week, digging deeper for words that stem from the Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes in the book. Students who were not exposed earlier to Greek and Latin as the keys to unlocking English words will find the light, playful pages and the two glossaries-Greek and Latin to English and English to Greek and Latin-helpful in getting up to speed.
CryptoKids Decoder Program: Teleporting into Greek and Latin
Your school can become an official CryptoKids school with the CryptoKids Decoder Program. You’ll receive print-ready materials for this 34-week program. Each week, your volunteer coordinator gives teachers a list of four to six new Greek and Latin word chunks. Students record these in their own composition books. By the end of the school year, they have a collection of 200+ basic roots and affixes. Visit decoder kits for complete details or email us.
Looking for more ideas? The online Educator’s Guide posted at www.cryptokids.com provides loads of imaginative, hands-on projects and suggestions on incorporating CryptoMania! into your language arts program.
Visit www.edithfine.com and www.grammarpatrol.com for FAQs about my other books.
Carpe Curiosity!
The Buzz On CryptoMania!
Eureka! At last a book to track the many worlds of words, from constellations to computerese, back to their classical beginnings . . . CryptoMania! is the ideal introduction to the Greek and Latin building blocks of our ever-evolving English language . . . A regular Magnum Opus.
—Richard Peck, author of the Newbery Award-winning A Year Down Under
Fact and fantasy collide in this elaborate tale . . . the author has put years of experience teaching Greek and Latin words parts to elementary school children to good use in this exciting, multi-layered picture book.
—ForeWord Magazine
Each spread features vivid cartoon artwork, dialogue bubbles, and a cameo portrait of Zander with a short narration that moves the plot along. . . . Children will relate to the nonlinear presentation and will pore over the pages to make sure they have not missed any details . . . A delightful, educational book that makes vocabulary fun.
—School Library Journal
Edith Fine is at it again, entertaining children and delighting parents with her newest book . . . this introduction to language arts is cleverly disguised as a picture book. . . . Along the way, you’ll discover that the English you read, write, and speak has its roots in ancient languages . . .
—San Diego Family
Here at Park Dale Lane Elementary School, all of our third- through sixth-graders have become CryptoKids, thanks to Edith Hope Fine’s program that helps students pick up basic Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes. By year’s end, our young logophiles were decoders, able to find meaning in long, challenging words. They love Alphy, the Microcyanosaurus, and have gained so much from the CryptoKids program.
—Gail
Patterson, Principal
Park Dale Lane Elementary School, CA
I was in San Antonio at the IRA convention and was most impressed with your CryptoMania! book and ideas! Thanks for the hard work you do in teaching kids and in helping us teach kids!
—Elementary School Librarian
Five friends, the CryptoKids, teleport to ancient Greece and beyond to solve a mystery. The clues they collect help them discover the roots of words, and see how, when combined, words like telescope, tripod, and cardiovascular are formed. Kim Doner’s illustrations are playful and informative. CryptoMania! teaches Greek and Latin by telling a story and truly engaging the reader. Although a children’s picture book, it is a fascinating journey for children and adults alike. I read it, then my 14-year-old son (who is not normally interested in picture books) sat and read it with me. In the process of reading and sharing this book, the reader (and listener) learn the most wonderful things about the origins of our language. CryptoMania! would be a great experience for any child and wonderful read for adults who are interested in, and love words.
— The Readers Exchange
I always attend CRA and IRA with an empty suitcase to bring home the “must haves” I learn about. This year was no different. Here are some that I’d like to share with you. The first book I “had to buy” was CryptoMania! Teleporting into Greek and Latin with the CryptoKids, by Edith Hope Fine and illustrated by Kim Doner. This is a book that really brings to life the Greek, and Latin building blocks of our English language. The comic book format makes it a book to be read and reread by elementary, middle school and high school students. Check out the website at www.cryptokids.com for an educator’s guide.
— Penny Ann Cline, Editor
Greater San Diego Reading Association
Written in a highly energetic comic book dialogue format with absolutely stunning illustrations by Kim Doner,
CryptoMania! is sure to appeal to students, while teaching them how to hunt out the secrets inside big, new, hard words by using a little knowledge of Greek and Latin roots and affixes. For teachers, an Educator's Guide is available online with loads of imaginative, hands-on projects and suggestions for in-depth explorations of the Teleporter destinations. Also available is the 34-week CryptoKids Decoder Program for schools with directions, weekly root word lists for teachers, bulletin board pages, and flashcards (www.cryptokids.com).
I believe this book will also appeal to high school students embarking on their study of Latin. In fact, it might appeal to juniors and seniors who would like a quick, fun, and no-pressure review of Greek and Latin word roots before they take their SATs--although they might be too cool to admit it. I am sure you will love it, too.
—
Sharon Kazmierski "The Clearing House,"
The Classical Outlook, The American Classical League
This wonderful book will provide eager students with countless hours of discovery, exploration, and just plain fun. CryptoMania! seamlessly incorporates the study of the Classics via word roots with a Nancy-drew set of young investigators --what a novel idea.
—
Michael Posey,
Foreign Language Teacher: Latin, Spanish
The Collegiate School, Richmond, VA
Amazon.com Customer Reviews
Average
Customer Review:
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Here's a bright and beautiful plunge-into-fun book with fabulous teaching and learning potential. Beyond the clever storyline with its time/space travel adventure, you'll find a rich content of vocabulary instruction based on the Greek and Latin roots of many modern English words. Kids will start out exploring the fascinating drawings (they give Waldo a run for his money!) and finish by cracking the secret code of vocabulary enrichment. Greek and Latin roots can be used to decipher the special "hard words" at the end of the book. Kids in upper elementary grades will enjoy the book and it wouldn't hurt the pre-SAT set to pick up a few pointers either! Wonderful work! |
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Edith Hope Fine's Cryptomania! Teleporting into Greek and Latin with the CryptoKids is a fun, interesting and most educational read. This book is completely original and puts an adventurous spin on learning about Greek and Latin words. Kids of all ages will enjoy this book! It's a great addition to everyone's library. This book would be a great gift for anyone interested in words and their origins. Buy it!!!!!!! |
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I love giving this book to grandchildren and friends for birthdays, holidays and visits. I find new info every time I open it. Cryptomania is complex and fascinating. We come back to it often to find and understand the origin of words. Greek and Latin languages help the book's characters solve a homeWORk assignment using commonly available supplies (a big cardboard box), modern tools (a computer) and vivid imaginations (teleporting to different times) to discover the world of words. The illustrations and glossaries are terrific. I wish I'd learned word-meaning and word-making this way. |
|
This
is an amazing book filled with the zany adventures of the
CryptoKids, with their buddy Alphy, a microcyanasaurus. With
knowledge of Greek and Latin roots increasingly part of state
English and Language Arts standards, this book gives teachers a
way to have fun with students, who will love the Teleporter
destination and learn valuable decoding skills. Parents and
grandparents will love it, too. It's a book for students of all
ages to read, study, and pore over. Kim Doner's illustrations
are beautiful, creative, and varied. |
More Books by Edith Hope Fine
| Under the Lemon Moon | |
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[A] moving tribute to the need for compassion and forgiveness. . . . Fine offers a litigious world an inspiring example of the power of forgiveness. —Kirkus Reviews
Fine works a bit of wonder in an understated story with the powerful themes of regeneration and redemption. Fine's message is stronger for remaining implicit. —Publisher's Weekly
The story deals honestly with the pain of being robbed of a treasure, and also, by showing the thief with his impoverished family, conveys the need for compassion. —Booklist
This gentle story is written in English with a few Spanish words included to give the flavor of the Mexican countryside, and is told in the great tradition of giving and receiving. —Hungry Mind Review
The story is satisfying on several levels. Justice and compassion are both served. . . . Spanish words and phrases, gracefully defined, add to the richness of the narrative. —School Library Journal
A luminous tale of human compassion shares a gentle lesson with the lightest touch imaginable. —Amazon.com |
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| Nitty-Gritty Grammar: A Not-So-Serious Guide to Clear Communication | |
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Wow! Nitty-Gritty Grammar is a grammar book that is anything but dull and boring. It’s a delightful review of how our marvelous language actually works.
—Richard Lederer, author
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| More Nitty-Gritty Grammar: Another Not-So-Serious Guide to Clear Communication | |
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. . . The writing is lively and the format is fun . . . This is a style guide that even a styleguideaphobe will love. —Charles
Harrington Elster, author
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| Rosa Parks: Meet a Civil Rights Hero | |
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… this clear biography in the Meeting Famous People series shows that Parks was a longtime political activist … The short, clear text and the spacious design, with big type and lots of pictures of segregation and protest, make this a fine introduction to the person and the political history. —Booklist
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| Gary Paulsen: Author and Adventurer | |
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. . . Fine does truly get Paulsen’s essence, and she effectively communicates the immense appeal he holds—especially for teenage boys. . . . Anyone new to Paulsen and his work will find a clearly blazed trail to map future reading, while Paulsen’s fans will experience an acute desire to reach for a favorite book. —Kirkus Reviews
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