Dr. Seuss and Learning to Read

This post is an excerpted and modified post I wrote for the PBS Parents blog Booklights in October 2009. I have tweaked it and also updated it with additional resources for finding great easy reader recommendations.

Do you know the story of The Cat in the Hat? Not the one about hat-wearing mischievous feline, but how he came to be the world’s most recognized cat. In 1954, Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist John Hershey wrote an article for Life magazine called “Why Do Students Bog Down on First R?”

In his article, Hershey said that the primers given to kids to help them learn to read were “antiseptic.” For one thing, the children were “unnaturally clean.” He said what they needed were better illustrations … like the kind Walt Disney and Theodor “Ted” Geisel created.

As a result of the article – and Rudolf Flesch’s book Why Johnny Can’t Read and What You Can Do About It (1955) – publishers Random House and Houghton Mifflin joined forces and hired Ted Geisel, who at the time was known only for his illustrations, to create a primer using new-reader vocabulary.

The result was the 220-word story known the world over as The Cat in the Hat. This is the book that catapulted the writing career of Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss.

Through repetition and rhyme, Dr. Seuss’ books not only have given us hours of pleasure reading with our kids, but they helped many of us become accomplished readers. Many of the Dr. Seuss books we love sharing with our kids are, in fact, what we now call easy readers.

Today, many of the boos designed to help kids become readers have a banner or label that says “learning to read” in some form, but others look like picture books … as many of Dr. Seuss’ books still do.

Oddly enough, 50-odd years after Hershey’s article and Dr. Seuss’ success you can still find “antiseptic” books that take the fun out of learning to read. Luckily, there are authors and illustrators who have followed in Dr. Seuss’ path, creating engaging books that help kids grow as readers and have fun learning, too. Here are few places you can go to find some of the best, recommended easy readers available.

American Library Association (ALA) Website

2012 Geisel Award Winner

Each year, the ALA sponsors the (Theodor Seuss) Geisel Awardto recognize and celebrate the legacy created by Dr. Seuss.The award, first presented in 2006,

“recognizes the “the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year.”

In addition to a medal winner, the ALA commemorates honor books, too. For 2012 there are three Honor Books: I Broke My Trunk (Elephant and Piggie Series) written and illustrated by Mo Willems; I Want My Hat Back, written and illustrated by Jon Klassen; and See Me Run, written and illustrated by Paul Meisel.

 Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers Literary Awards (Cybils)

Since 2008, the Cybils have had a category just for easy readers and early chapter books. The 2012 list has just been winnowed from 35 nominations  to just five finalists.

One of the reasons the Cybils lists are a go-to resource for me is because  each of the nominated book was loved by the readers (adult and children) … they have read-tested the book and the really like it.  Yes, there is ultimately a winner, but that list of five finalists is a sure-fire group of books, too. Here are the finalist lists for 2008 to 2011. All are printer-friendly PDFs, with blurbs … and since Easy Reader is the top of the category alphabet, you’ll find them on page 1!

• 2008 Finalists 
• 2009 Finalists 
• 2010 Finalists
• 2011 Finalists

Social Book Sites

In closing, when you are ready to for new stories to sit side by side with The Cat in the Hat and his friends, you can’t go wrong using these resources to find recommendations. Do your young readers have a favorite Dr. Seuss book or easy reader? I would love to hear about them!

Book Review: Nonfiction for Developing Readers from Bellwether Media Inc.

Earlier this week I wrote about the importance of having ready reference materials within arms’ reach of young learners. Kids have lots of questions about all kinds of things … almost from the time they start talking.

There are plenty of places to find the answers, but finding tools that meet them “where they are” is not as easy. As educators, our goal is to help them independently discover the answers in a way that makes sense to them. That is, the material neither talks down to them nor is it so complex they can’t understand it.

I recently discovered the Bellwether Media easy readers, and think they are an excellent addition to the early learner bookshelf. Among the collection on Big Universe readers will find books on nearly every type of transportation (civilian and military), animals and insects (stink bugs anyone?), geography, sports, and people.

The number of high-interest topics for boys exceeds anything I’ve ever seen by a single publisher. The books will also appeal to districts with a strong military community. Last but not least, these are titles that naturally complement – and expand on – the material kids can find in illustrated dictionaries, atlases, and fact books.

Bullet Trains
by Denny Von Finn
Torque series
Bellwether, 2010

First put into use many decades ago, bullet trains remain one of the fastest ways to get from Point ! to Point B. This easy reader covers the history, technology, and how-it-works elements of this phenomenal transportation vehicle.

•  This is for readers in the second or third grade.
• The author does a great job explaining the physics of how a bullet train works, making it a nice selection for science class, too.
• The glossary includes multi-syllable words, including several Japanese and French.
• Given the company’s target audience, the book needs phonetic presentations of foreign language terms.

Cuba
byWalter Simmons
Blastoff Readers series
Bellwether Media, 2011

Deserts
by Emily K. Green
Blastoff Readers series
Bellwether Media, 2007

Deserts may be dry, but not all deserts are sandy … the world’s largest desert is actually covered in earth 365 days a year!  Young readers will discover new facts and learn that pre-conceptions can be misconceptions. They’ll love telling their parents about Antarctica being a desert!

• This is an easy reader for the first grade into second grade audience.
• The sentence structure is simple, but it also introduces words that will require deciphering and an understanding of sound patterns (e.g., evaporate, oasis).
• The www.factsurfer.com links – particularly the videos – help deepen a reader’s understanding of this subject.

The EA-6B Prowlers
by Carlos Alvarez
Torque series
Bellwether Media, 2009

Wherever and whenever its needed, the US Navy’s EA-6B Prowler is in the air, jamming enemy communications systems and protecting our military forces. Military units have been relying on the EA-6B for more than 40 years.

• The most likely audience for this book are third and fourth graders.
• The Fast Facts insets have the “wow” factor that grab readers and keep them on the page the read the rest of the text.
• Readers must know how to read large numbers (e.g., 61,500) and understand some basic military concepts (e.g., electronic jamming and countermeasures).

World of Insects: Walkingsticks
by Emily K. Green
Blastoff Readers
Bellwether Media, 2007

There is more to a walkingstick than what meets the eye … if you can spot one, that is. These creatures, found in warm, wet parts of the world, are masters of camouflage. Each species adapts to the habitat within which it moves.

• Kindergarteners and first graders will be fascinated by this book.
• The vocabulary words in bold are also tagged in the actual illustrations, pointing out the object the reader needs to decode.
• The book talks about camouflage and has plenty of illustrated examples, but it does not use the word in the text.

These are just a few of the Bellwether books you’ll find on BigUniverse.com. There are more than 180 titles in the collection that you can read online. Visit www.bellwethermedia.com to see their complete catalog for classrooms and libraries, including the Torque (sports, vehicles, adventur); Blastoff Readers (general nonfiction, for emerging and developing readers); Pilot (wild & dangerous animals, learn to draw); and Epic (military) series.

In the interest of full disclosure and transparency, I first learned of Bellwether Media Inc via BigUniverse.com. The opinions expressed are my own and do not represent either company.

Book Review: Birds and Pups and Bears, Oh My

As a literacy passionista, I am always on the lookout for books that will engage new readers. I happened upon the award-winning Funny Bone Readers Family Fun Pack during BookExpo America, 2010, and it was love at first sight.

It is very easy to fall in love with these books. That two-page spread to the left is not your average easy reader imagery. Yes, lots of easy readers use bright colors and simple sentences. But more often than not each page is its own panel … this book has the feel of a picture book.

Going back six years to when my daughter was learning to read, picture books were her “comfort food.”  Even as a new reader she wanted a story not just a collection of sentences. I’m sure my daughter was not alone in seeking out books that most closely resembled a picture book in shape, often with rhyme, and didn’t look like the books with Reading Level letters on them.

I wish I would have found these books sooner! They are the kind of books parents and librarians look for: they have a long shelf life.

• The stories are meant to be read aloud, so they are perfect for sharing with young audiences (e.g., preschoolers) and then letting developing readers read independently.
• They have “big questions” at the back that help adult readers who want help with ways to measure comprehension or start a discussion.
• Each book has a theme that relates to character, choices, and personal growth …. life lessons we are always looking to promote.

Here are several books – all available to read on Big Universe – that I have also fallen in love with. The cover images and title link to the book on BigUniverse.com.

Bobby’s Big Bear Hunt
by Gwendolyn Hooks
illustrated by Alessia Girasole

Its not much fun when your sister catches a fish and you don’t! So Bobby stomps off into the woods in search of a bear … he’s not afraid. Luckily the only bear is his sister growling! The story includes lessons in listening to one’s parents, wandering off, and sibling relationships.

• Parents and teachers alike can use this as a discussion-starter about the importance of sticking together and following directions.
• It is easy to parallel this scenario with others that kids will know: getting separated from a parent in a store, hearing “scary” noises, et al.
• The story is realistic without “dumbing down” the lesson and beating kids over the head with it.

A Zany Zoo Day
by Barbara Bakowski
illustrated by Mike Brownlow

Anna and Max are bored. Even television isn’t much fun, so when mom suggests going to the zoo, the kids get very excited. As they visit each of the exhibits, Anna and Max try to copy the animal not just in sound, but in movement. To imitate a snake, for example, Max practiced the Cobra pose.

• Wiggly, wobbly, active kids will enjoy listening to this book. Kids who are trying to read it independently will likely get up and copy Max and Anna.
• Incorporating Yoga poses into the story is a wonderful way to engage the reader. Stretching = improving attention span.
• The book is “shaped” like an easy reader, but can definitely be shared for story time with younger audiences. It would be a wonderful selection for teaching animals, colors, counting (how many flamingos?), etc.
• Note: Although the title is alliterative, this is not a rhyming story.

Best in Show
by Barbara Bakowski
illustrated by Fian Arroyo

When you want to find a dog … the perfect dog for you, the best place to go is your local dog show. As she searches for a dog of the “very best kind,” a young girl introduces us to and describes all of the pooches she sees at the show. The “Big Question” at the end helps kids extrapolate the dog theme into how each of us is unique.

• The rhyme scheme for this easy reader is excellent, deftly mixing multi-syllabic and single syllable words.
• This easy reader expands a young reader’s vocabulary. You don’t often see Chihuahua or Dalmatian in books for emergent readers.
• The bright illustrations are fun but don’t overtake the girl’s search for a dog.

I could go on for days talking about these books, but I’ll stop here.

Instead, I’ll invite you to read all of the Red Chair Press books at biguniverse.com. There are 32 titles in the collection that you can read online. Visit www.redchairpress.com to learn more about their award-winning books and easy readers:  Problem Solved! Readers series, Funny Bone Readers, and interactive eBooks.

In the interest of full disclosure and transparency, I first learned of Red Chair Press via the Mom’s Choice Awards. The Reading Tub, my nonprofit, is the official literacy partner of the Mom’s Choice Awards. During shows like BookExpo America, I work in their booth promoting literacy, reading, their award-winning products and interviewing Honorees.

Publisher Preview: Red Chair Press Presents Award-Winning Books for Ages 3 to 9

Red Chair Press was founded in July 2009 by two people with passion for publishing fun, inspiring books for young readers.

• We believe that all children can learn, no matter what challenges they face.

• We believe that ALL children can be positive contributors to their family, their community, and to society.

It is with these beliefs in mind that we focus our efforts on publishing books for ages 4 to 9 that help children make good decisions and feel confident in their social-emotional development.

Keith Garton, President of  Red Chair Press is one of those two passionate people. He is joining us today for the second in our Publisher Profile series celebrating companies who, like BigUniverse.com, are dedicated to literacy in all its forms.

Terry: How did you come to be involved in the children’s publishing industry? What is your role within the industry?

Keith: While I never envisioned myself in children’s publishing, I always knew from a very early age that I was going to be a publisher (even before I really knew what one did). I majored in advertising and journalism in college at Oklahoma State planning to work for a newspaper; but my first big job out of college was with an educational publishing company.

I never left the industry and have spent 30 years in marketing and editorial development for companies such as Prentice Hall, Scholastic, Weekly Reader, and TIME For Kids. I have also served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Educational Publishers and the Vermont Center for the Book. Publishing is a dream job and the challenges of the digital age just make it even more exciting.

Terry: We would love to hear more about what you’re doing at Red Chair Press. What are some of the most popular items that you’ve published in the last three years?

Keith: Well, we’ve only been in business for three years – but we’ve been fortunate to have several of our series and titles recognized as among the best in children’s books. Awards just validate the hard work and we love them.

What I’m really proud of is seeing how children react to certain titles. SPACE CAT, for example, has been our biggest selling title. We’ve even had moms send us letters from their kids that are written to Space Cat and one mom posted a video on YouTube of her 3-year-old son shouting “Blast Off” when asked what Space Cat does. Now that warms your heart!

Terry: In looking at the current front list and the upcoming season, are there any specific themes that you’ve focused on in the catalog?

Keith: Our current list is all focused on character education and themes and making good decisions for younger readers. But we do have some exciting new books for ages 6 to 9 coming soon – and several new nonfiction series. We’re particularly excited about a new series that is an introduction to financial literacy: making wise decisions about earning, saving, spending and sharing.

Terry: Do you have a personal favorite from the current catalog that isn’t getting lots of ‘buzz’? What is it about that book that sets it apart for you?

Keith: I think my favorite books right now are BUN’S NEW HATS from the Problem Solved! Readers series and BEST IN SHOW from Funny Bone Readers. Both of these books are just so charming and they teach such enduring and important lessons about respecting others and celebrating differences.

I can hardly read through either one of these with kids without my voice cracking!

Terry: I just discovered Best in Show, myself. In fact, I’ll be reviewing it on Thursday! It is a wonderful read, and I really liked how it gave kids unique words for their word banks. Okay, going in a different direction … what is the book that has been the biggest surprise to you?

Keith: A LESSON FOR BAILEY was a bit of a surprise.

It has sold extremely well and I think probably because of Dental Health Month in schools. The book is quite popular.

Terry: When I visited your website I noticed that you have interactive eBooks and digital learning, so what’s next for Red Chair Press? Do you have any new series or product lines on the horizon?

Keith: We’re introducing two new nonfiction series in the next 12 months as well as a beautifully illustrated and retold series of folk tales and myths from around the world. We also plan to continue the trend of high-quality illustrations as we publish concept books for the very young.

Terry: Given your interest in journalism and publishing as a child, I’m betting that there is someone who lit that spark and a love of books? Am I right?

Keith. The short answer is yes, you’re right. I think I’ve always been a reader. I can’t remember NOT wanting to go to the library and check out as many books as I could carry, but it was my 3rd grade teacher in Oklahoma who turned me into a publisher!

She encouraged me to write as much as I could – and in any format that was comfortable for me. That year I began writing and publishing my very own typewritten, map-pencil drawn newspaper. It taught me to really appreciate writing and telling a good story.

I thank Miss Little every single day when I sit down at my computer … I’ve given up the typewriter!

Terry: I think we’ve all given up the typewriter! Thanks so much for stopping by Keith, and sharing the Red Chair Press story.
Red Chair Press
PO Box 333
South Egremont, MA 01258-0333
Contact: keith@redchairpress.com
Keith Garton, President/Publisher

______________

Like Red Chair Press on Facebook

xxx

Follow Red Chair Press on Twitter

Fall Into Reading with Danny and MaryRuth Books

Danny & Abby running through leaves.

One of the wonderful things about seasonal events is that they provide a backdrop to engage emerging and developing readers in something that is already part of their lives.

MaryRuth Books‘ trademark series of easy readers features Danny the dog. As founder and author Mia Coulton explains, the books center around “Danny’s escapades.”

What sets these (and other) MaryRuth easy readers apart for me is not just Danny (lots of children’s books do that), but that they have the look and feel of a “real book.”

•  Traditionally early easy readers are 6-inches by 9-inches and scream some form of “I can read” on the cover. These books are sized for small hands, but have a picture book shape. You’ll find all the important information about word count in the cover … but not in a spot the kids are likely to read.

•  Photographs (rather than illustrations) make the events more “real” for young readers and the photography makes the scenery more vivid for exploring and decoding.

• The text encourages readers to explore the photos, not just use them for coding. For example, in Danny’s Five Little Pumpkins, there are no references to Danny in the story, but he is hiding in the corner of several pictures.

Other books in the Danny series are shaped more like chapter books, but these early readers have a comfortable square that remind kids of picture books and add to the confidence that I am reading a book just like the kind Mom reads to me.  Here are three titles that will carry you from now well into winter! Click the title to read them on BigUniverse.com.

Danny and the Four Seasons
written and photographed by Mia Coulton
page count: 16
word count: 55

In a series of images, Danny shows readers what the season is. At the end, readers have the opportunity to name each of the seasons themselves.

This is an any-time book that you can pick up in any season. It is great not just for emerging readers, but also toddlers and preschool-aged kids still listening to books. The scenery offers the reader (adult) a chance to ask listeners to identify objects from the text (leaves, pool, flowers, snow) or from the photos (trees, chair, house, and colors).

Danny’s Five Little Pumpkins
written and photographed by Mia Coulton
page count: 16
word count: 51

On this fence there are five little pumpkins. One by one they disappear. Who is taking them away?
You won’t see Danny (or more specifically parts of Danny) on every page, but you see him frequently enough that kids will look for him as they explore the pictures. This easy reader blends math (subtraction) with reading practice that ends with Danny and five jack-o-lanterns.

Snow Danny
written and photographed by Mia Coulton
page count: 16
word count: 57

There are lots of things you can do in the snow: walk, dive, look at your shadow, even play in an igloo.

The text is simple but each sentence centers around action verbs. With several two-syllable words, this is a book where you’ll want to have young readers follow under the word with a finger so they can truly parse the digraphs and sounds. Kids will especially love the picture of Danny and Bee at the end.

MaryRuth Books has 30 of its titles that you can read on BigUniverse.com. These engaging books will help young dog, cat, fish, elephant, or horse lovers build their word banks AND a love of reading.

Publisher Preview: MaryRuth Books, Publishing Books for Developing Readers

MaryRuth Books, founded in 2001, is dedicated to encouraging and empowering emerging and developing readers. These are books parents and teachers can use with beginning and progressive readers. That is, they can be shared with preschoolers as stories and at the same time help them build vocabulary to some day read on their own.

MaryRuth Books titles are photo-illustrated books that emphasize high-frequency words using a natural speaking language, as these are books to be read aloud. The company pays special attention to the way our text is spaced with appropriate spaces that enhance word recognition for the emerging reader.

“Our full color photograph illustrations attract even disinterested readers who can identify with Danny’s and Bee’s escapades,” says President Mia Coulton. “The text uses high frequency words and natural oral language for vocabulary building.” Rather than having us talk about the company, we’ll let Mia share her story.

Terry: How did you come to be involved in the children’s publishing industry? What is your role within the industry?

Mia: During my fulfilling career for more than 14 years as a Reading Recovery specialist, I noticed the children and I lacked witty, engaging reading material.  So when I identified a need for more early reading books with which young children could identify, I set out to create a publishing company to produce this type of book, suited to a child’s sense of humor.

So in 2001 I began writing about my dog, Danny, using vocabulary required by beginning readers and using photographs that I took of him in amusing costumes and situations.  Although Danny, a yellow Labrador, is put into similar situations as young children, his ability to overcome fear and surprises encourages Juvenile readers to find optimism and bravery in their daily routine.

Terry:  We’d love to hear more about what you’re doing at MaryRuth Books. What are some of the most popular items that you’ve published in the last three years?

Mia: I design all the categories of books to help emerging readers become comfortable and more accomplished with each level.  Our ever popular non-fiction Farm Animals series has added Horse Colors and Cows.”

Terry: In looking at the current front list and the upcoming season, are there any specific themes that you’ve focused on in the catalog?

Mia: Some of the titles in the Fall 2012 catalog represent the 10th Danny Series, Oh, Danny Boy.  Some books contain themes that young readers experience like Tummy Trouble,  Picture Day at School and one of the new list favorites, Danny is a Big Dog, which finds Danny dealing with an often annoying little dog and smaller friend.

Terry: Do you have a personal favorite from the current catalog that isn’t getting lots of ‘buzz’? What is it about that book that sets it apart for you?

Mia: I think that the book Moving is especially useful for children and adults who feel anxiety when contemplating a forthcoming move to a new home, school and neighborhood. Although Danny has only lived in one house, he seems to manage the adjustment and help his friend Abby as well.”

Terry: What is the book that has been the biggest surprise to you?

Mia: Our extremely useful, standalone title is Danny’s Resource Guide for instructors and parents.  It has recently been reprinted to include newly assigned Reading Recovery levels confirmed by two years of in classroom testing.  It contains activities for writing assignments, journal tracking for a young reader’s progress and plenty of photographs to reference the corresponding MaryRuth Books.

Terry: What’s next for MaryRuth Books? Do you have any new series or product lines on the horizon?

Mia: The new Fall-Winter 2012-2013 list contains six brand new Danny titles and a couple of Farm Animals non-fiction books, Horses Colors and Cows.   We expect to be adding more chapter books for our loyal fans and those discovering MaryRuth Books.

Terry: On a more personal note, who or what turned you into a reader? [e.g. a specific book or character, a teacher, a parent, an uncle, etc.]

Mia: I learned to read with the Dick and Jane series and loved the simple text. But, Spot the dog, was the reason that it became such a personal favorite.

 Terry: Have you had the opportunity to personally share your books with the target audience? Do you have a favorite experience? What have kids taught you about publishing books for young readers?

Mia: In so many notes from special reading teachers who have gained successful results with our books, they include students’ messages directed to Danny.  By using photographs instead of illustrations, children realize that he’s a real active dog, our star and that he shares many human qualities as young children.  Young readers become dedicated readers by understanding through words, that Danny’s sweetness and follies make him a special literary character.

Terry: Thank you, Mia. We appreciate you taking the time to share Mary Ruth Books’ story!

When you explore the MaryRuth Books titles available on Big Universe, you can see that they have traditional picture book (“5.5 x 5.5″) and easy reader (6″ x 9″) shapes … perfect for being held by little hands.   When you view a title on www.MaryRuthBooks.com, you can get the book size; page and word count; and reading level. When you preview and read the title on Big Universe, you’ll also get details about themes, audience, and read-alikes.

Contact: MaryRuth Books, Inc.
18660 Ravenna Road Building 2
Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
877-834-1105

Follow Danny on FaceBook

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The Early Reader Library: Books for the Developing Reader

This is an updated version of a post I wrote for the PBS Parents blog Booklights as part of my “Bookworm Basics” series. The original article appeared in August 2010. Although geared toward parents, teachers and librarians may find these posts valuable as hand-outs on back-to-school nights or for sharing in parent-teacher conferences, or even on their classroom blogs!

Oh, how I have procrastinated filling the early reader shelf! This is a very fluid period, not unlike your child’s transition from crawling to pulling up to walking independently. Looking back, one probably came pretty quickly on the heels of the other. Finding easy readers that have longevity on your bookshelf can be a challenge, but not an impossible task.

As the kids in our lives start learning to read, they are quickly moving beyond recognizing individual letters to combining them into words. Students move fairly quickly from books with one word per page to two or three sentences on a page. From there it transitions to short paragraphs and then short chapters.

There are days when it seems like the process moves at a snails pace, but then comes the moment when it looks like we got there in the blink of an eye!

Should I Buy or Borrow?

Aggie and Ben series by Charlesbridge

The short answer is both. Because kids will move through these books at a steady pace,quickly, variety is definitely an ally!Your local library and your child’s school library have lots of excellent choices that will engage young readers.

You definitely want an early reader bookshelf at home, too. It is important for kids to own their own books and to have fun reading at their fingertips. Remember when your toddler “read” a story to you? It was probably one you read over and over.

That same level of repetition and reading aloud are what helps reinforce what those letter combinations look like as we see them over and over again. Beginning easy readers have lots of “sight words,” also called high frequency words that we see all the time. They often use rhyme, as well, to help kids understand word families.

Recycle & Repurpose

Did “rhymes” remind you of any books? If you still have them, pull out some of those toddler books that have pictures and simple words. They are established favorites, but now your daughter can read them and use them to build a “bank” of words she recognizes. Bonus idea: Let her create picture/word cards that she can hang up or make her own book with.

You might pull out some favorite picture books, too. If you think your son has memorized the story, then ask him to point to each of the words as he reads. That will force him to look at the page and the content. You might also try reading the book from the last page to the first.

Recommended Classics and New Titles, Too

Although easy readers are not generally literary classics, Dr. Seuss has shown us that there are are always exceptions! Just like Hop on Pop and The Cat in the Hat, there are easy readers that we keep and enthusiastically wait to share with our grandchildren.

Dr. Seuss is the master of the easy reader classic, but there are other authors who ascribe to his philosophy of great books for new readers. Some of those books, like Mo Willems’ Cat the Cat and Elephant and Piggy series have the “I Can Read” imprimatur on them. But some – like Duck! Rabbit! and Little Oink! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal – don’t scream “easy reader” but are delightful choices for new readers, too.

When searching for books that can double as read-along stories and developmental readers, look for simple illustrations and lots of white space on a page; short sentences; and/or rhyming text.

Do you have any favorite easy readers … or picture books that can double as perfect selections for developing readers? What’s most popular in your early elementary classroom?

Terry Doherty is a Stay-at-Home Mom, reading mentor, and a family literacy advocate. She is the founder and Executive Director of The Reading Tub(r), and is the force behind Share a Story – Shape a Future, an annual blog tour for literacy. You’ll find reviews by families for families on The Reading Tub website; and her ideas for reading on Family Bookshelf, her blog.

Easy Reader Review: Aggie and Ben series by Lori Ries

For my money, there is nothing more magical than the moment someone realizes they are reading “all by myself.” Their face lights up as though they just got the best gift ever.

Truth be told, they did … just ask any of us who are passionate about literacy and who love to read. Finding those just-right books to engage and encourage new readers is so important. It is also why the Aggie and Ben series by Lori Ries is one of my favorites. For perspective: these are the books you turn to after you’re child has mastered Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems.

Aggie and Ben (series) by Lori Ries; illustrated by Frank W. Dormer (Charlesbridge )
Titles in this series (links go to Big Universe product page)
- Aggie and Ben; Three Stories
- Aggie Gets Lost
- Good Dog, Aggie
- Aggie the Brave

Ben, our narrator, and his adorable dog Aggie grab the interest – and hearts – of his listeners right away.  A boy-and-his-dog story is timeless, yet each one is fresh, with humor and that surprise ending. They are similar to Elephant and Piggie, but for the reader with a little more vocabulary who is ready for a more complex story.

These are illustrated, short chapter books that could also double as short stories. Although it can be helpful to read the chapters in order, you don’t have to. More importantly, each book in the series stands on its own, so they don’t have to be read sequentially. Although this is billed as a book series for kids in Kindergarten through Second Grade, the stories are perfect for reading with young listeners not yet ready to read, as well as mixed-age audiences. They also offer a nice way to introduce the chapter concept to that audience.

On The Reading Tub you can read the reviews our families wrote for Aggie and Ben; Three Stories (2009 review), Good Dog, Aggie (2009 review), and Aggie the Brave (2010 review). Rather than republish those reviews here, I wanted to draw out the key thoughts about each book from the parents and kids who read them. Although we didn’t review Aggie Gets Lost, I’m guessing the sentiment would be consistent with what we HAVE read.

Aggie and Ben; Three Stories
Charlesbridge, 2007

When Dad takes Ben to the pet store, he must decide what kind of pet he wants: a A bird? a mouse? a cat? No, a dog. Aggie. Once Aggie is home, she and Ben are inseparable. Ben follows her every move and Aggie follows Ben everywhere. Aggie has a lot to learn, and Ben is happy to teach her … even when he hears a growl in the dark.

• Our daughter immediately saw herself and HER dog in the stories. Since that first time when we read the book together, she has picked it up herself to read.
• The author effectively not only speaks with a child’s logic, but has their sense of humor, too. The illustrations fill most of the pages, helping to keep the text to a minimum.
• The image-to-text balance makes it enticing to read the whole thing in one sitting.
• Parents who want to talk about the responsibility of owning a pet could (with a little stretch) find the stories helpful.

Good Dog, Aggie
Charlesbridge, 2009
Ben is trying to train  Aggie, who just flunked out of obedience school. When he says sits, she runs; when he says run, she runs. Aggie doesn’t want to sit or stay, and she is causing trouble. Finally, Ben decides Aggie is just not a good dog. He takes Aggie and his little red ball to the park only to learn that she has her own way of deciding when she wants to sit.

• Ben is a boy who is easy to relate to. Aggie is adorable … and made even more so by Ben’s attempts to train her. Anyone who has tried to train a dog will empathize with Ben’s frustration.
• This is a text-heavy easy reader, but there is plenty of white space and the chapters give natural stopping points to talk about prediction and review what has already happened.
• This is a good transition book for kids who need a paragraph or two of text but aren’t ready to move away from illustrations.

Aggie the Brave
Charlesbridge, 2010

Ben and his mom are taking Aggie to the vet to be spayed. Aggie is scared; Ben is brave … until he learns that he’ll be going home without Aggie. Ben hopes that by going to bed in the afternoon tomorrow will get here faster and they can pick up Aggie sooner. Ben is happy, but sad. Now Aggie has to be a “quiet” dog for two weeks. No running around. How can Ben help Aggie be brave now?

• This story, in particular, will resonate with any family who has a pet going to the vet for surgery and/or overnight. Ben is an “all kids” character who is brave (but then not), happy (but then sad), and always compassionate.
• Aggie is a dog, but the experiences are equally apropos for cats or other animals who go to the vet. This is great for sharing with young kids, kids learning to read, or older siblings reading for you.
• The main theme of the book is what happens at the vet, but there are lots of things to explore: Ben’s feelings (and Aggie’s too), how Ben finds ways to help Aggie feel better, and friendship. This would be a good book for helping kids understand empathy and compassion.

As you might guess, the families who read and reviewed these books have one recommendation: Aggie and Ben is a must-have for book series for building reader confidence.