September 12, 2008 5:27 PM
Early readers - need your recommendations
Okay, I am determined to get my life back to normal :)
Which means to start back at the oldest emails in my Inbox (200 in all) and answer them. Maybe you can help by answering a few for me:
Hi Barbara,I know you are out of town and busy, but if you have a second, I'd appreciate your thoughts on this. What early readers, OTHER than the Bob books, do you like?
I actually really like the Bob books, but my daughter is put off by the fact that in several of the stories, someone gets sat on, or for some other reason is sad or crying. She is very sensitive (for a while she always wanted me to skip the page in The Very Hungry Caterpillar where the caterpillar gets a stomach ache, because thinking of the little caterpillar with a stomach ache was too distressing for her).
I know that she would never pick up a Bob book spontaneously and start reading to herself (though she is capable, because we tried them out together when I got them from the library). I want to have readers lying around that she can pick up and figure out for herself, because I think when we read together (versus when I read TO her) and have her figure out the words, after a while, she gets fed up. I don't know if she feels pressured, or if she feels a bit overawed by her new ability. I think she would do better if she had books that she could sit and read to herself, on her own time, in private. Since I know she would avoid the Bob books like the plague, do you have any recommendations?
Marisa
Posted in Homeschooling, Montessori, Preschoolers, Reading | Permalink
Comments
I really like the McGuffey Readers, although you might have to explain that the "lessons" are sort of like chapters, and that she should only expect to get through one or two at a time.
Dr. Seuss has some great ones; you might try Green Eggs and Ham or The Cat in the Hat.
I'll be watching eagerly for other comments myself. :)
Newt
Posted by: Newt Sherwin | September 12, 2008 5:55 PM
You are right, the Bob Books are a little "see Jane run" kind of dull.
I recommend not buying any early readers b/c the kids advance through them so quickly--and even the best ones are still... dull.
The library usually has a section set aside for such books. Look for Level 1 and Level 2.
That being said, anything in the "Dr. Seuss" family is fun - the rhymes make the reading a little easier. Hop on Pop, Go Dog Go, etc. Also - pull out the classic board books again. These ARE good stories and just the right size for 4-6s to read. Is Your Mama a Llama, The Carrot Seed, the Sandra Boynton books, Mother Goose poems the kids have been hearing since birth (being idealistic here). :) Frog and Toad are great, too.
Gee, that was a lot more fun that answering my *own* e-mail messages.
Posted by: Stretch Mark Mama | September 12, 2008 6:17 PM
My girls both actually positively loved the Dick and Jane books - and I always cautiously recommend them... cautiously because people seem to either love them or hate them. *grin*
My youngest adores the Sam books (about a puppy named Sam)by Mary Labatt. She also really enjoyed Yesterday's Classics primer and readers by Treadwell when she wanted "her own" reading book.
When I was teaching my beginning readers always *loved* the Little Critter books.
Posted by: Kari | September 12, 2008 8:04 PM
I'm at the exact same stage w/ my son. I have some of the "level one" books, but very few are phonetic, so I think they're still above his level.
They are pretty repetitive though, which my son seems to like because there's at least one word on the page that he knows. Is this a good thing? I have mommy teach me to read, but it's been a bit since I've read it and I don't remember exactly what you said about repetition.
Posted by: lauren | September 12, 2008 8:23 PM
I picked up a series of 10 books at Barnes and Noble by Scholastic, which is called Cool Cats.
We just got the Bob books from the library and my 6 yo boy was wondering why they keep sitting on each other too!
Posted by: Milehimama | September 12, 2008 8:47 PM
I second the Dr. Seuss and would also suggest the Mr. Putter and Tabby series as well as the Henry and Mudge series. I think both are by Cynthia Rylant. Both series are usually available at the library. While easy readers, they are more advanced than the Bob Books. But, if she likes them better, she may be motivated to give them a try.
Posted by: Sandy | September 12, 2008 8:59 PM
I will have to look in the basement, because I found a really great series with beautiful illustration when my son was young.
One thing I would like to mention though. I wouldn't feel bad at all about reading the books to her several times first. Having her figure out words might be frustrating for her, especially depending on her learning style.
Reading to children is a wonderful way to instill a love of reading and to teach them to read~~and is much less frustrating than having to sound out words.
A great sight about this style of learning is Mem Fox's sight. This style of learning has been successful in teaching even very young children to read.
Posted by: Shelley | September 12, 2008 9:21 PM
I (and my son!) LOVE the Brand New Reader series. They're similar to the Bob books in phonetic scope, but less organized. We just worked through them on our own. They are funny, colorful, and clear. A search on Amazon for "Brand New Readers" will bring up the sets. My son now reads them for pleasure.
Posted by: Bonnie | September 12, 2008 10:11 PM
I grew up on Margaret Hillert books and my mom, as a teacher, still loves them. And they come in all kinds of different topics.
Posted by: Karen Elissa | September 13, 2008 12:12 AM
Yea, Dr. Seuss! My boys loved the ridiculousness of Dr. Seuss. "Hop on Pop", "Mr. Brown Can Moo", and the classic "Green Eggs and Ham".
We also re-read a lot of the toddler board-books. The familiarity made them appealing, plus there are lots of pictures, and many rhyme, which makes them more memorable.
But really, my kids just loved to read books they were interested in... which in our case was mostly science books. You can find great books with 'controlled vocabulary' in almost any topic. Scholastic (remember school book orders?) has a website and anyone can buy from them. Definitely be choosy (because there's a lot of junk) but we have found some wonderful early reader books with all kinds of themes... weather, animals, insects, etc.
Posted by: Julie | September 13, 2008 12:17 AM
Try "Now I'm Reading" by Innovative Kids (www.innovativekids.com or buy through Amazon and support Mommy Life)...similar to Bob books but I like the content better. They also make "Phonics Comics"...very fun!
Posted by: Amy K. | September 13, 2008 2:59 AM
We have loved the DK early readers. They are all (I think) non-fiction which has been great for creating interest in subjects leading to unit study sort of activities. Here in the UK there is an early reading series with engaging stories. It is called the Oxford series. Don't know if you can get it in the US.
Posted by: Carol` Kennedy | September 13, 2008 3:10 AM
My girls have enjoyed the Pathway Readers series (http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com/list/Pathway_Readers/?gclid=CPuNrNTW2JUCFQeQGgodrRQgXg). They pick them up and read them just for fun. Very sweet stories. They might be a little more advanced, but I'm sure your child will be there soon! They may have a "get ready to read" type program as well.
Posted by: MarieC | September 13, 2008 7:26 AM
Here are some others my family has enjoyed.
"Words are CATegorical" series by Brian P. Cleary
"Little Critter" books by Mercer Mayer
"The Color Box" by Dayle Ann Dodds
"Veggiecational" books by Phil Vischer
"Big Sister, Little sister" by Marci Curtis
And when your daughter is a little older, I think she'll enjoy the "magic tree house" series by Mary Pope Osborne. Annie, in the books, is very sympathetic.
Posted by: Cynthia Jeub | September 13, 2008 10:37 PM
