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Llyfr hardd iawn gyda negeseuon o garedigrwydd.
Beautiful book with messages of kindness.
Addasiad Cymraeg o L'Abri (Shelter)
Welsh adaptation of L'Abri (Shelter)
Gwerth addysgiadol/educational value: ◉◉◉◉◎
Negeseuon positif/positive messages: ◉◉◉◉◎
Themau trist,anodd/upsetting, tough themes: ◉◎◎◎◎
Trais, ofn/violence, scary: ◎◎◎◎◎
Iaith gref/language: ◎◎◎◎◎
Rhyw/sex: ◎◎◎◎◎
Hiwmor/humour: ◎◎◎◎◎
Her darllen/reading difficulty:: ◉◉◉◉◎
Arlunwaith/artwork: Qin Leng
Argraffiadau Cyntaf
Ydach chi’n gyfarwydd â’r oglau sbeshal ’na sydd mewn ceir newydd? Wel, mae’r fath beth yn wir am lyfrau hefyd - new book smell! Yndw, dwi’n cyfaddef, dwi’n un o’r rheiny sy’n hoffi sniffio llyfrau newydd - does ‘na ddim byd tebyg na chyffwrdd ac ogleuo llyfr newydd sbon danlli.
Dyna’r peth cyntaf un wnaeth fy nharo wrth afael yn Y Lloches am y tro cyntaf - yr ansawdd. Wrth droi’r tudalennau, mae’n amlwg fod hwn yn llyfr o safon uchel. Mae gwaith celf ysgafn inc a dyfrlliw Qin Leng yn hudolus ac yn rhoi gwedd ‘glasurol’ i’r llyfr. Mae ‘blerwch’ y brasluniau yn cyfleu ffyrnigrwydd y tywydd i’r dim ac mae’r defnydd o liw yn adlewyrchu tymhorau’r Hydref a’r Gaeaf. Wir i chi, dyma un o’r llyfrau harddaf mae gwasg Rily wedi eu cyhoeddi hyd yma.
Beth sy’n digwydd yn y stori?
Cuddia trigolion y goedwig yn eu tai gan fod storm enfawr ar y gorwel. Wrth gysgodi yn eu cartrefi cynnes a chlyd, fe sylwa ambell un ar ddau ffigwr tywyll yn agosáu drwy’r niwl.
Mae’r eirth yn chwilio am loches rhag y storm, ond lle bynnag yr ânt, cant eu troi i ffwrdd gan yr anifeiliaid eraill. Does dim croeso yn unman i’r eirth druan a’r unig opsiwn felly yw mynd allan i ganol y storm.
Wrth i’r gwynt chwythu, caiff cartref teulu’r llwynogod ei chwalu’n llwyr a rhaid iddynt fynd allan i chwilio am help. Tybed sut fydd yr eirth yn ymateb pan ddaw’r llwynogod atynt i ofyn am gymorth?
Beth sy’n dda am y llyfr?
Defnyddia’r llyfr gymeriadau anifeiliaid i gyflwyno pwnc eithaf dwys mewn ffordd sensitif sy’n gwbl addas i blant ifanc. Gall rai o’r themâu fod yn anodd a chymhleth i’w trafod ar brydiau ond mae’r llyfr yn eu cyflwyno yn syml ar lefel sy’n ddealladwy.
Er y caiff y llyfr ei anelu at blant iau, gall weithio ar lefel uwch gyda phlant hŷn, fel rhan o uned o waith am ffoaduriaid ddoe a heddiw. Mae’n sicr yn bwnc llosg sy’n codi yn y newyddion yn rheolaidd ac yn rhywbeth perthnasol iawn i ni heddiw. Ar lefel syml, bydd yn blatfform ar gyfer trafodaeth ystyrlon am sut y dylem drin eraill drwy ddangos caredigrwydd ac empathi (ceisio deall teimladau eraill). Dyma stori sy’n gwbl addas ar gyfer gwasanaethau ysgol neu stori amser gwely.
Beth am yr iaith?
Os darllenwch chi adolygiadau o fersiwn Saesneg y llyfr hwn, cyfeirir at y naratif fel un syml iawn gyda geirfa hawdd. Yn y Gymraeg, fodd bynnag, mae hi’n stori reit wahanol. Mae’r iaith yn gain ac yn farddonol. Mae’r addaswr, Aneirin Karadog, wedi mynd i lawer o drafferth i sicrhau bod y cyfieithiad yn un safonol iawn. Yn nodiadau’r awdur, cyfeiria at y ffaith ei fod yn ceisio glynu mor agos â phosib at naws y gwreiddiol, gan wneud defnydd o dechnegau barddoniaeth fel cynghanedd a chyflythrennu. Diddorol iawn oedd darllen nodiadau’r awdur a dweud y gwir.
Mae’r eirfa yn uchelgeisiol ac yn reit heriol, ond nid yw hyn yn beth drwg o reidrwydd. Does dim o’i le â modelu iaith dda i ddisgyblion yn fuan, a bydd y lluniau bendigedig yn helpu i roi cyd-destun. O ddarllen y geiriau allan yn uchel, gall y farddoniaeth a’r gynghanedd gyfleu naws a theimlad y darn, gan fod o gymorth i ddeall yr ystyr.
Efallai y byddai rhai yn ansicr ynglŷn a phwy y mae’r llyfr wedi’i anelu ato. O ran cynnwys ac edrychiad, mae’r stori yn fwy addas ar gyfer plant iau (o dan 7) ond ar y llaw arall, mae’r iaith yn fwy heriol ac o ganlyniad yn fwy priodol i blant hŷn neu blant a sgiliau darllen fwy datblygedig. Credaf y bydd angen oedolyn i helpu gyda’r darllen er mwyn ei lawn werthfawrogi, ac o bosib i esbonio rhai darnau neu eiriau.
Dyfarniad
Mae Y Lloches yn llawn negeseuon moesol am haelioni, caredigrwydd a thosturi - bron fel un o chwedlau Aesop. Fel y mae’r broliant yn ei awgrymu, gall gweithrediadau bychan gael effaith mawr. Rhaid i ni beidio anwybyddu’r bobl sydd mewn angen, a bod yn barod i estyn llaw pan fydd rhywun angen cymorth. Mae'r neges yr un mor berthnasol i oedolion ddudwn i.
Dwi’n falch o weld addasiad sydd wedi dod o wlad arall heblaw Lloegr, ac o ystyried safon Y Lloches, byddai’n wych gweld mwy o lyfrau o Ewrop yn cael eu cyfieithu i’r Gymraeg...ac i’r gwrthwyneb hefyd!
Syniadau yn deillio o’r nofel
1. Actio darn o’r stori neu sefyllfa debyg sy’n arddangos caredigrwydd
2. Gwaith celf ar thema ‘Y Storm’
3. Bwrdd stori – ail ysgrifennu’r stori mewn geiriau eraill
4. Map meddwl caredigrwydd
5. Erthygl papur newydd - ffoaduriaid – neu eitem newyddion teledu
6. Trafodaeth/mynegi barn – pam wnaeth yr anifeiliaid wrthod helpu?
7. Edrych ar Hawliau’r Plentyn 1989
8. Ysgrifennu monolog o safbwynt ffoadur ifanc
First Impressions
Have you ever got a waft of that classic new car smell? Well, I’ll let you in on a bit of a secret, you can get the same sort of thing from new books – ahhhh, that lovely new book smell! Yup, I’ll admit, I'm one of those people who sniffs new books - there's nothing like holding that new book in your hands and getting a good ‘ol whiff. One of the very first things that struck me with Y Lloches was the sheer quality of the thing. Turning the pages, it is clear that this has that ‘premium’ feeling. Qin Leng's light and airy ink and watercolour drawings are magical and give the book it’s 'classic' look. The ‘messiness’ of the sketchy drawing style conveys the ferocity and chaos of the weather and the use of colour reflects the Autumn and Winter seasons. Honestly, this is one of the most beautiful books that Rily have published to date.
What happens in the story?
Residents of the forest hide in their houses as a huge storm approaches. Whilst sheltering in their warm and comfortable homes, they notice two dark figures walking through the fog.
The bears seek refuge from the storm, but wherever they go, they are turned away by the other animals. The poor bears are not welcome anywhere and the only option they have is to go out into the storm.
As the wind howls and roars, in an unfortunate turn of events, the foxes' family home is completely blown away and they now become refugees themselves. When they go looking for help, they come across the bears. I wonder how they’ll react now that the tables are turned?
What's good about the book?
The book uses animal characters to present a fairly intense subject in a sensitive way that is perfectly suitable for young children. Some of the themes can be difficult and rather complex to discuss but the book presents them in a simple and understandable manner.
Although the book is aimed at younger children, it can work on a higher level with older children, as part of an unit of work about refugees. It’s certainly a hot topic that often appears in the news and is very relevant to us today. On a simple level, it will be a springboard for meaningful discussion about how we should treat others by showing kindness and empathy (this is to understand the feelings of others). We get a story that is as suitable for school assemblies as it is for bedtime reading.
What about the language?
If you read reviews of the English version of this book, the narrative is often referred to as being very straightforward with easy vocabulary. In Welsh, however, it is a different story. The language is elegant and poetic. The adapter, Aneurin Karadog, has gone to a great deal of trouble to ensure that the translation is to a very high standard. In the author's notes, he refers to the fact that he has tried to adhere as closely as possible to the tone of the original, making use of poetic techniques to elevate the writing. It was very interesting to read the author's notes.
The vocabulary is ambitious and quite challenging, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. There’s nothing wrong with modelling good language for pupils from an early age, and the wonderful pictures will help to give context. Reading the words out loud, the rhyme and rhythm will help to give meaning to the words.
On the other hand, some may feel a bit uncertain as to whom the book is aimed at. In terms of look and feel, it’s more appropriate for younger children (under 7) but when you take into account the written content, that may be better suited to older children or those with more developed reading skills. I think that an adult will be required to help with the reading if it is to be fully appreciated, with some bits possibly needing further explanation.
Verdict
Y Lloches is full of moral messages about generosity, kindness and compassion - almost like one of Aesop's fables. As the blurb suggests, small actions can have a big impact. We must not ignore the plight of people in need, and we must extend a helping hand to someone who needs it. The messages in the story are as relevant to adults as they are to children.
I am pleased to see an adaptation of a book originally published in Europe, instead of yet another translation from England. (no offence intended, it’s just good to get balance and variety). Given the standard of Y Lloches, it would be great to see more books make their way from the continent into Welsh and vice versa too!
Ideas derived from the novel
1. Act out a piece of the story or similar situation that displays kindness
2. Artwork on the theme of 'The Storm'
3. Storyboard – rewriting the story in other words
4. Kindness mind map – what does kindness look like?
5. Newspaper article - refugees – or TV news item
6. Discussion/expression of opinion – why did the animals refuse to help?
7. A Look at the Rights of the Child 1989 charter
8. Writing a monologue from a young refugee's perspective
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