Multilingual students in Regina now have more literary options
The Hungry Caterpillar brings joy to students in all languages
If you sit in the library at George Lee School in Regina you are likely to hear The Very Hungry Caterpillar in a variety of languages including Korean, Swahili, Urdu and Punjabi.
George Lee is one of 15 Regina schools that received money through the Evraz Sparks Reading Program to purchase multilingual books.
EAL teacher Salema Forrest-Kife said she encourages students to bring the books home to read with their parents.
Jasnam Sidhu said it's important for her family that she speak fluent English and Punjabi.
"I need to be able to visit with family and I want to be able to pass on the language," said the 10-year-old.
Her classmate Zara Qamer's family is from Pakistan and she is fluent in both English and Urdu.
She said the books help other students who are newer to Canada "so they can feel a little bit at home".