Sunday, November 4, 2012

I Want a Good Early Reader!

New readers present a challenging time for parents.  They are just sounding out letters, trying to master blends and get through two syllables.  They can't quite master the chapter book, but they want to test their skills out on a real book.  In comes the early reader.

These books have one or two sentences on a page and lots of illustrations.  They don't overwhelm the child with too many words or pages and they are a blend of vocabulary kids know and some words that are new.  Dr. Seuss mastered this genre, but kids can't read One Fish, Two Fish forever, so what is next?

The list this week represents some incredibly clever authors who have taken on the challenge of approximately ten basic words per page and have crafted stories with humor and heart.  This is not an easy feat, but they have mastered it!  So let's hear it for the early reader and starting kids on their journey to loving books!

Oh, and don't for get to like one great book on Facebook or twitter!  I promise, just one or two sentences per post with lots of illustrations!

Title:        Up! Tall! and High!

Author:    Ethan Long

Target:     Kindergarten - Grade 1

Series:      Not at this point

What this book is about:
This book has three short stories that feature our bird friends.  The first story features the word “tall” and a bird tries to get in on the action by wearing stilts.  When he is called out, he puffs up his features and declares that he is indeed not small.  The second story is about the word “high” and the penguin laments that he cannot fly so he cannot go high.  However thanks the quick thinking of his friend, he is able to go very high.  The final story is about the word “up” and a bird sits up in a tree.  Unfortunately a friend decides to join him and that changes everything.

Why I love this book:
First I love it when books with few words are able to deliver a clever story with humor.  This is almost impossible to do, yet Long does it sooooo well.  I also love that the book has flaps that make the pages higher and lower at the appropriate times.  This just adds another fun dimension to the book.

The illustrations are bright, colorful and simple which will make the books very appealing to this age group.

Who this book is for:
Kids just learning to read, who are not yet ready for chapter books.

Final thoughts:
Clever and funny!

To purchase this book, click here to connect to Amazon: Up, Tall and High  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog!

Title:        There Is a Bird on Your Head

Author:    Mo Willems

Target:     Kindergarten - Grade 1

Series:     Yes

What this book is about:
Elephant and piggie are best friends.  When elephant feels something on his head, he asks piggie what it could be.  Piggie responds that there is a bird on his head and then proceeds to tell elephant how the bird is building a nest and laying some eggs, all on elephant’s head.  After getting some good advice from piggie on how to get rid of the nest on his head, while still being kind to the birds, elephant finds that piggie is in for the biggest surprise of all.

Why I love this book:
Every elephant and piggie book is just so darn funny that even though it is an early reader, and even though it is written for a five year old, I just can’t help but laugh at the clever humor.  These books are a delight for both kids and adults.

Who this book is for:
There are about six or seven words on each page, so this is for kids just starting to read books - those who are not yet tackling chapter books.

Final thoughts:
One of the most charming early reader series that is out there.

To purchase this book, click here to connect to Amazon: There Is a Bird On Your Head! (An Elephant and Piggie Book)  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog.


Title:        Frog and Fly

Author:    Jeff Mack

Target:     Kindergarten - Grade 2

Series:     No

What this book is about:
This book is six stories involving frog and fly.  The reader quickly figures out that fly will be a delicious meal for frog at the end of each story.  The fun is discovering just how it will happen each time.  Of course, in the last story, frog becomes the victim of an unexpected slurp, as the story comes full circle.

Why I love this book:
It is just funny to see the clever ways that frog gets the better of fly!  We were giggling through each story.  Kids will anticipate the outcome and the fun will be in seeing how it comes about.  Of course, I love a good comic turn and the end of this book does not disappoint.

Who this book is for:
This is a wonderful early reader book for kids with only a few words per page.  There is a fun play on words with a lot of humor.  Words repeat so kids will gain confidence and it is not at all overwhelming for a new reader who is not yet ready for a chapter book.

Final thoughts:
What could be better than six slurpy stories?

To purchase this book, click here to connect to Amazon: Frog and Fly  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog.


Title:        Hi! Fly Guy

Author:   Tedd Arnold

Target:    Preschool - Grade 1

Series:     Yes

What this book is about:
Fly is out looking for something tasty to eat while a boy is out to catch a pet.  When the boy catches the fly, he is amazed the fly knows his name, “Buzz.”   Buzz thinks this may just be his smartest pet yet.  As it turns out Fly Guy likes living with Buzz, and together they convince their skeptics that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Why I love this book:
Once again, with fewer than twenty words per page, Arnold is able to craft a humorous and touching story.  The illustrations are also inspired.  I love when Buzz feeds Fly Guy by putting an entire hot dog, with mustard, in his jar and Fly Guy has a look of glee with his tongue hanging out!

Who this book is for:
Kids just starting to read books will enjoy Fly Guy.  This book is actually divided into three very short chapters, so it will make early readers feel very grown up to say they have a “chapter book.”  Once again words per page range from two to twenty with large pictures taking up the bulk of every page.

Final thoughts:
I love the beginning of this beautiful friendship!

To purchase this book, click here to connect to Amazon: Hi! Fly Guy (Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book (Awards))  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog.

2 comments:

  1. Wow! The book's collection are really awesome.I have read Jeff Mack's book before some days. I have seen kids games and fun website. But the books for the kids are really a new idea. It is not possible to go with the kids to the library.So it is a new idea to read the books with your kids.I have found some sites. You can also check this such as http://timetoread.co.za/ , http://www.rudenko.com/ebook.html .

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  2. What a great list of early readers! You may be interested in two early readers published by Home Grown Books. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and every child I have introduced them to has loved them! You can take a look at them on their website: www.homegrownbooks.org.

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