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Creating Cultural Bridges: Crafting a Bilingual Children's Book with Jodi Cowles
In this excerpt, Jodi Cowles shares her experience of living in Turkey with her family and the journey of creating her bilingual children's book, "Joy's World: The Cousins Are Coming". After spending many years in Turkey, Cowles returned to Boise, Idaho with her daughter, who had lived her entire life in Turkey until then. Due to the lack of Turkish cultural presence in Boise, Cowles felt compelled to help her daughter retain her Turkish memories and language, something Cowles herself wished she had from her childhood in Germany. This desire led to the creation of "Joy’s World", a book that introduces children to Turkish culture and language.
Cowles emphasizes the importance of representing the expat child experience, which she personally relates to as a "third culture kid." To authentically depict the Turkish setting, Cowles hired a Turkish illustrator from Istanbul, ensuring that her book reflected the true essence of the country. The illustrator used local details from Cowles’ former neighborhood, adding personal touches recognizable to those familiar with Istanbul.
The book features about 50 Turkish words, woven into the story naturally, resembling how bilingual children mix languages in conversation. Through this creative approach, Cowles aimed to appeal to both Turkish families living abroad and readers interested in learning about other cultures. The book includes a glossary for readers who want to dive deeper into the Turkish vocabulary, adding multiple layers to the reading experience.
Cowles discusses her publishing journey, highlighting the choices she made, such as selecting the right illustrator and striking a balance between the two languages, which allows the book to serve as a cultural bridge for children and families.
Learn more about Jodi and purchase her books at https://jodicowles.com or follow her on social media on Instagram
Guest information (Book link to Amazon, main social media)
About Press Publish Podcast:
Subscribe on Substack for more episodes, posts and author spotlights!
Instagram: @presspublishpodcast
Pinterest: @presspublishpodcast
Erin Galloway, Author of “Spilled Confetti: 101 Lessons to Simplify Self-Publishing”
“Spilled Confetti” is available now on Amazon!
In each Press Publish episode, host Erin Galloway will be your catalyst to explore habits that will help you finally press publish with consistency & connect with an audience waiting to read what you have to say. As the founder of Habitize Publishing & a self-published author, Erin learned to lead with empathy from her M.S. in Human Development & Family Science at The Ohio State University, built up her grit as an innovator at Johns Hopkins University, but it’s parenthood that revealed how habits are a daily practice in bravery & boundaries.
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By Erin Galloway
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In this excerpt, Jodi Cowles shares her experience of living in Turkey with her family and the journey of creating her bilingual children's book, "Joy's World: The Cousins Are Coming". After spending many years in Turkey, Cowles returned to Boise, Idaho with her daughter, who had lived her entire life in Turkey until then. Due to the lack of Turkish cultural presence in Boise, Cowles felt compelled to help her daughter retain her Turkish memories and language, something Cowles herself wished she had from her childhood in Germany. This desire led to the creation of "Joy’s World", a book that introduces children to Turkish culture and language.
Cowles emphasizes the importance of representing the expat child experience, which she personally relates to as a "third culture kid." To authentically depict the Turkish setting, Cowles hired a Turkish illustrator from Istanbul, ensuring that her book reflected the true essence of the country. The illustrator used local details from Cowles’ former neighborhood, adding personal touches recognizable to those familiar with Istanbul.
The book features about 50 Turkish words, woven into the story naturally, resembling how bilingual children mix languages in conversation. Through this creative approach, Cowles aimed to appeal to both Turkish families living abroad and readers interested in learning about other cultures. The book includes a glossary for readers who want to dive deeper into the Turkish vocabulary, adding multiple layers to the reading experience.
Cowles discusses her publishing journey, highlighting the choices she made, such as selecting the right illustrator and striking a balance between the two languages, which allows the book to serve as a cultural bridge for children and families.
Learn more about Jodi and purchase her books at https://jodicowles.com or follow her on social media on Instagram
Guest information (Book link to Amazon, main social media)
About Press Publish Podcast:
Subscribe on Substack for more episodes, posts and author spotlights!
Instagram: @presspublishpodcast
Pinterest: @presspublishpodcast
Erin Galloway, Author of “Spilled Confetti: 101 Lessons to Simplify Self-Publishing”
“Spilled Confetti” is available now on Amazon!
In each Press Publish episode, host Erin Galloway will be your catalyst to explore habits that will help you finally press publish with consistency & connect with an audience waiting to read what you have to say. As the founder of Habitize Publishing & a self-published author, Erin learned to lead with empathy from her M.S. in Human Development & Family Science at The Ohio State University, built up her grit as an innovator at Johns Hopkins University, but it’s parenthood that revealed how habits are a daily practice in bravery & boundaries.