DVD: Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: March 26, 2010
Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey
Format: DVD
Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: Universal Studios
DVD Release Date: March 2, 2010
Run Time: 81 minutes
Source of DVD: Universal Studios
What to expect: Family, Friendship, Determination Read more
Giveaway: 8 Listen-Along Storybooks from Sterling Books
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: March 11, 2010
Listen-Along Storybooks is a fantastic new program offered by Sterling Books. It’s a website with a combination of audiobooks available as free downloads and/or podcasts that can be listened to as streaming audio, a jokecast, and a section dedicated to poetry. The mastermind behind this fab new feature is Robert Agis. His recordings are crystal clear and voiced with an effective energy that will have listeners of all ages enthralled. The first eight audiobooks available are some of Sterling Books most popular picture books; including Cesar Takes A Break, which we reviewed earlier.
With extreme generosity, Sterling Books has offered up all of the eight books (listed below) for three of our luckiest readers! Read more
How to Tell if Your Child is Ready to Read
By Lynn Maslen Kertell, Bob Books Publications, for The Children’s Book Review
Published: March 8, 2010
Are you and your child ready to take your first steps into the exciting and magical world of reading? Learning to read is very much a process; as your child’s coach and teacher, he or she will need your encouragement and patience. Here are some thoughts as you and your child embark on your amazing adventure.
Signs of reading readiness
There is no specific age when your child will be ready to start reading. Because young children learn so much at a rapid rate, you may not be aware of how much they already know. Some children grasp reading concepts and are able to sound out simple words as early as age 3; others may not start until age 5 or 6.
Answers to the questions below can help determine where your child is in terms of reading readiness:
- Does your child know the alphabet?
- Can she or he recognize most of the letters (including both uppercase and lowercase letters?)
- Can your child recognize letters on everyday objects such as S T O P on a stop sign?
- Does your child know that letters are associated with sounds and can he or she demonstrate a fair number of those sounds?
- Can your child spell his or her own name?
If your answer is ‘yes’ to most of these questions, we recommend that you begin with Bob Books Set 1 • Beginning Readers. If your child is interested, pays attention, interacts with the book, and seems to have an idea of what you mean, then you are on your way to reading. If your child is wiggly, disruptive or sad, they may not be ready. Put the books away for a few months and try again later. Children learn at different rates. For a happy reading experience, it is important to find your child’s comfort level.
How do Bob Books work?
Bob Books introduce letters and words gradually so that children have success from the start. When children feel good from the first book, they are confident and eager to try more. Bob Books start with consistent short vowels and very short words to they are easy to sound out. New letters and words are introduced gradually, so that a child can soon say, “I read the whole book!”®
Each Bob Books set builds upon the previous set, with enough repetition that reading becomes comfortable and easy, with new material added to keep a the child interested. The stories contain silly and mischievous characters and simple plotlines that make children giggle. The illustrations are intentionally simple and childlike. The books themselves are sized perfectly for little hands. Numbering the books and boxes creates a sense of progress and accomplishment for your child.
More information about Sets 1-5:
Bob Books Set 1 • Beginning Readers contains twelve little books. With just four letters in the first book, your child can easily sound out all the words (Mat, Sam, sat etc.). New sounds and letters are added gradually until all the letters of the alphabet have been introduced (except Q).
Next, Bob Books Set 2 • Advancing Readers continues with three-letter words and consistent vowel sounds in slightly longer stories. Again, repetition is used throughout as a way to build skill and confidence.
Bob Books Set 3 • Word Families introduces consonant blends, endings, and a few sight words, to mix things up and advance reading skills. The use of word families help make longer stories more manageable.
Once you’ve found that your child has mastered Sets 1-3, longer books and more complex words will continue to engage and challenge your young reader in Bob Books Set 4 • Complex Words. New word blends, more sight words and longer words advance their skills, while sound repetition keeps reading easy.
The final set in the series, Bob Books Set 5 • Long Vowels introduces the important new skills of long vowels and the magical silent E. Reading vocabularies will grow quickly as your child begins to master the longer stories. Upon completion of Bob Books Set 5, your emerging reader is now ready to move onto chapter books!
What if my child isn’t ready?
Before reading, children need foundation skills: knowing shapes, recognizing patterns, sorting and learning how to anticipate sequences of events. Strengthening these key building-block skills will make your child’s steps into reading easier and more fun. My First Bob Books™ were written to enhance your child’s first reading discoveries. Whereas Sets 1-5 are intended for your child to read to you, My First Bob Books are for you to read to your child. My First Bob Books are for children, especially toddlers and young preschool-age children, who are just beginning to understand shapes, letters and sounds. Parent guides offer additional activities, games and tips designed to support new concepts and empower your emerging readers.
As always, we at Bob Books love to receive comments as well as your reading success stories.
We wish your young learner much success and happiness as he or she enters the great adventure of reading.
Lynn Maslen Kertell
Managing Partner and Author, Bob Books Publications, LLC
lynn@bobbooks.com
Stephanie Meyer Talks About Twilight
Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000
By Luisa LaFleur, The Children’s Book Review
Published: February 17, 2010
Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000
by Eric Wight (author and illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 7-10
Paperback: 86 pages
Publisher: Simon and Schuster (forthcoming)
Source of book: author
What to expect: Overcoming adversity, importance of teamwork Read more
Giveaway: Personalized Signed Copy of Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: February 16, 2010
We first met Frankie Pickle in Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom, which Luisa LaFleur called “a rip-roaring good read!” This time, the imaginative character stars in Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000—an action-packed adventure that showcases the importance of teamwork. The author, Eric Wight, is a great guy—you can get to know him better, here. He has offered to give one of our readers a personalized signed copy of Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000. Read more
The 39 Clues ® Global Reading Adventure Heats Up Today with Release of “Book 7: The Viper’s Nest”
Press Release: Scholastic
Published: February 2, 2010
NEW YORK, NY (February 2, 2010) – The global hunt for The 39 Clues®, the New York Times bestselling multi-media adventure series that combines books, collectible cards and an online game, continues with the release of “Book 7: The Viper’s Nest” by Peter Lerangis, in stores today. With the publication of this new installment, one of the key mysteries in the series—which branch of the Cahill family Amy and Dan belong to—will finally be revealed. Also today, Scholastic releases “The 39 Clues Card Pack 3: The Rise of the Madrigals,” a new wave of randomly assorted collectible game cards, to span Books 7 and 8, plus the simultaneous audiobook edition of “The Viper’s Nest” which includes exclusive bonus material. With the release of “The Viper’s Nest” and “Card Pack 3: The Rise of the Madrigals,” six new Clues will be revealed, bringing a total of 28 Clues unveiled to date. Read more
Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine For You: Special Edition
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: January 13, 2010
Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine For You: Special Edition
Ages: 4-8
DVD: Animated
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Source: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
What to expect: Friendship, Adventure
This is a review for all of you “Pooh” fans. In the event you and your sidekick can’t get enough of this lovable bear in the books that you read—or perhaps you’re looking for a way to connect your child with a book character, to encourage reading—Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine For You makes a fine choice for the holiday of love, Valentine’s Day. Read more
A humorous tell all: Jon Scieszka spills the beans on who will be the next National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature … or does he?
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: December 18, 2009
“There is no one book that is right for all kids. But there are all kinds of crazy, interesting, and amazing books out there. It’s our job to help kids find that book that will inspire them to want to become readers.” ~ Jon Scieszka
Star Wars Books for Kids
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: December 14, 2009
Star Wars is everywhere: t-shirts, Legos, figurines, table sets, bedding, posters … the list goes on … babies are dressed-up as Yoda for Halloween, and 4-year-old kids (sometimes younger, often older) are waving their pretend light sabers in a pretend battle in the yard at preschool. The commercialization of Star Wars can not be escaped; sooner or later your kids are going to ask that all important question, “Can I watch Star Wars?”
Now comes the hard part: how old should your kids be before you let them watch the movie? There are so many things to consider, including: violence and adult concepts. Some parents say 10-years-old, others are more lenient with 8- or even 6-years-old. No matter what you decide is right for your family—I do recommend reading this article by Daniel Donahoo, Geek Dad—reading some Star Wars books may be a good way to delay a viewing of the movies; it will also allow for some thoughtful discussions on good vs. bad, before the onslaught of the visual impact.
Here is a list of books and their synopsis’, starting at the youngest reader and ending in books for older readers:
You are invited to a flower garden party! Perfect for Ages 3-9. Buy for $9.50.
About a real live goat farm in western PA. Avaliable on Amazon.