-- Is abt Personable Dogs; -- Is abt Books; A little yellow bird teaches Rocket the dog how to read by first introducing him to the "wondrous, mighty, gorgeous alphabet." Learn to read with this New York Times -bestselling picture book, starring an irresistible dog named Rocket and his teacher, a little yellow bird. Follow along as Rocket masters the alphabet, sounds out words, and finally . . . learns to read all on his own! With a story that makes reading fun--and will even help listeners learn to read--this book is ideal for kindergarten classrooms and story hour or as a gift for that beginning reader. Fresh, charming art by Tad Hills, the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator of Duck & Goose, will make this a favorite. And don't miss the instant #1 New York Times Bestseller, Rocket Writes a Story. Hills, Tad. How Rocket Learned to Read. Illus. by the author. Schwartz & Wade, 2010. (Gr. PreK--1)Rocket, a winsome little white dog with dark gray spots, is taking a snooze under his favorite tree when a little yellow bird alights on his head. "Aha! My first student! Wonderful!" she sings. Hanging from the tree is a little chalkboard that reads, "Class starts today." Between some trees, the bird hangs a banner of what she calls "the wondrous, mighty, gorgeous alphabet," and then perches on a branch and begins to read aloud from a book about Buster, an unlucky dog who has lost his favorite bone. Rocket is annoyed at first and doesn’t want to listen, but in no time, he is caught up in the story and eager to find out what happens next. So begin Rocket's reading lessons.As the leaves change color and the fall winds blow colder, Rocket learns all his letters, and begins to sing and sound them out to form whole words. Each afternoon, the bird reads aloud another chapter of the book. When the weather turns, she flies off for the season, calling, "Don't forget! Words are built one letter at a time!" All winter, Rocket practices his letters, sounding and spelling out words as he waits for spring and his teacher to return. The illustrations, done in oils and colored pencil, are sweet and beguiling; the character of Rocket was based on Tad Hills' own dog, shown in a photo on the back flap.When I read this book for the first time, I worried that perhaps it was too didactic in showing how Rocket learned his letters and how to put them together to form words. Then I read it aloud to the people for whom it was intended -- several classes of kindergartners and first graders. They were entranced. Rocket’s story mirrored their own. Kids know firsthand that learning to read isn’t easy but it sure can be satisfying when you finally crack the codes and figure out how to do it.GermThe combination of singing and sounding out words and hearing stories read aloud is one fine way to become not just a reader, but also a lover of books and stories. Ask your children what other words they think Rocket should learn how to read and spell, which is what librarian Loreli Stochaj, at Franklin School in Summit, NJ, had her first graders do, as you can see in their pictures below. Gather up a menagerie of stuffed animals and have your children read aloud stories to them. (If you can bring in a real dog for the children to read to, all the better.) Meet a dog who opens his own bookstore in Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates and yet another dog booklover in Greg Gormley’s Dog in Boots, reviewed above.Analine Johnson, a school librarian from Texas, was reading How Rocket Learned to Read to a group of second graders. At the end of the story, Rocket and the little yellow bird are reunited after the long winter, sharing a story together. The last line of the text says, "They read it again, and again, and a-g-a-i-n.” One of her students piped up and said, "And then they tested." Analine says, “Ugh, how sad is that.” So true. We want our kids to become readers because of the joy to be found in books. We’ve got work to do. I read this and the sequel (ROCKET WRITES A STORY) out of order, but even so, I have to say that the first book is, in my opinion, better. Both books are beautifully illustrated, and both books contain lessons that are great for children. They could both be easily integrated into units and lesson plans, and the little yellow bird's positive attitude is fantastic. While both books anthropomorphize, learning to read and form letters seems like less of a stretch than writing. So, the anthropomorphism seems less out of place in the first book than the second. Overall, fun books!
What do You think about Roc Aprende A Leer (2011)?
Another cute dog book. Great for new readers. Good for the seasons as well.
—mheng
This adorable story is sure to become one of our family favorites!
—kjwalker
So sweet, very encouraging for children who are learning to read.
—Norey
Very sweet book about the process of learning to read.
—Nafsika
Cute book. I especially like how polite the dog is.
—roze
