A New Picture Book to Promote the Joy of Reading

Posted by: marilyncarpenter on: March 3, 2010

• In: 1 | Books about Reading | New Books
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How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills.  (2010).  Schwartz & Wade Books.  Pages not numbered.  Grades K-2.  Picture Book.

Here’s another book to promote the joy of reading.  Rocket, a frisky dog, meets a small yellow bird who announces that she is his teacher and she is going to teach him to read!  She starts by reading aloud and at first, Rocket’s nap is disturbed, “But before long he found himself captivated.  To Rocket the story was as delicious as the earthy smells of fall.  It was as exciting as chasing leaves.  He closed his eyes and listened to every word.”  Every morning Rocket returns to the yellow bird’s classroom and there he listens to stories and learns “all of the wondrous, mighty, gorgeous alphabet.”  Hills’ softly colored illustrations extend the text and add to the characterization.  Best of all is the double-page spread that shows Rocket spelling words in the snow while the bird has flown south for the winter.  The story ends with the bird and the dog reading stories again “And again. And A-G-A-I-N.”  It is a most satisfying ending.  Team this one with Miss Brooks Loves Books! ( and I don’t) by Barbara Bottner that is reviewed below.