How Rocket Learned to Read (by Tad Hills)

Title:  How Rocket Learned to Read
Author:  Tad Hills
Summary:  Learn how to read along with a dog named Rocket as he's taught the "wondrous, mighty, gorgeous alphabet" by an enthusiastic, but seasonal, little yellow bird.

Blurber Blabber Review:  Buy it used or on sale.

Blurb:  How Rocket Learned to Read is a lengthy and cute book where your little ones can join Rocket's introduction to the "wondrous, mighty, gorgeous alphabet" and spelling.

Age Range: General recommendation is 4-8, but I think it works for 3 year olds as well. 
Story Type:  Third person narrative.
Scary Factor:  None, although there is one picture of a growling dog but it's not related to anything scary or violent. 
Reading Out Loud:  Great book to read to your little ones as they are learning how to spell.  There's a good mix of description and dialogue and I like to make different voices for the little bird and Rocket.  But, this book is a bit long and so might not be the ideal book for a fast read. 
Rereadability:  I like rereading this mainly for the spelling parts.  It can be fun and instructive to spell out basic words like "D-I-G" and "W-I-N-D" with accompanying cute pictures.
Illustrations:  Cutesy and colorful illustrations in oil paint and colored pencil.
Medals/Honors/Recognition:  N/A.
Published: 2010
Length:  40 pages  

(Read on for the more detailed "blabber" review)


Blabber 
I bought this book for two reasons based on the cover.  First, it looked really cute and I'm a sucker for any story involving a cute dog.  Second, I hoped from the title that this would be a good book for my niece and nephew as they were beginning to learn how to spell basic words.  Fortunately, this book was a hit and my niece and nephew were obsessed with it for several weeks.

How can you not love a story that begins with a romping cute dog named Rocket who loves to "chase leaves and chew sticks," and then settle in for a good nap.  That sounds pretty similar to my ideal day.  One day he is startled by a cheerful little yellow bird who mistakenly believes that Rocket is her first student.  Rocket is not happy about having his nap disturbed (and who can blame him?) and so Rocket goes to finish his nap by a bush as the bird chrips that she'll be there every morning "[u]ntil the weather turns."

As Rocket tries his best to settle back into his nap, the bird hangs an alphabet banner and reads aloud an intriguing story.  Rocket is at first "disturbed" by the bird's reading (niece and nephew find this picture hilarious for some reason) but soon becomes so engrossed in the story that he must find out how it ends.  Of course the bird ends on a "cliffhanger" and Rocket storms over to find out what happened only to find the bird is gone.

Rocket returns the next morning and the bird begins to teach Rocket the alphabet and how to spell.  Together they spell some fun words like "whhoossshhhhhhhh...," the sound of the wind.  I like to spell these words out as I move my finger underneath the letters and then sound out the words.  After a few reads the little ones catch on and do the same.  Soon "F-A-L-L" arrives and the bird dumps Rocket to fly south for the winter.  During the winter Rocket practices his letters and some words that you can spell aloud with your little ones.  You can sense spring is coming when Rocket starts spelling "M-E-L-T" and "M-U-D" (little ones looooove this picture of a muddy and silly-looking Rocket).  Finally when spring returns, so does the bird, and together they read stories again, and again, and "A-G-A-I-N," as your little ones will surely want you to do with this book.

As you can probably tell from this review, this story is cute and educational, but a bit lengthy.  When I first got this for my niece and nephew they wanted me to read it again and again just like Rocket and the bird.  I enjoyed reading it with them, but by the time they had to go down for their nap my mouth was dry and I was tired from the reading.  It also takes me a while to read because I liked to sound out and spell the various words, and the little ones loooved talking about the funny and cute pictures.  All in all, it's a great book for introducing spelling but I'd definitely want to get this on sale as opposed to paying the full hardback price since the full price is pretty steep and it's pretty easy to get this one at a discounted price. 

Questions the little ones may ask you: 

• What's the bird's name?
• Sorry the little bird doesn't give us her name.  She's just referred to as the little yellow bird or the bird.  Since I get asked the name question often I usually just pick a random name and move on. 
• What is "disturbed"?
• I get asked this question every time I read it.  I don't know if they like the sound of the word or if they actually forget.  I usually just say he's upset.
• Why does the bird leave?
• The seasons are changing!  This is where I explain about birds flying south for the winter.  Which is followed by a "Why?" and then I have to explain this further.  Hmm, maybe this is why my readings take so long.
• Why is Mr. Barker growling at Rocket?
• Usually I just say that Mr. Barker is a not nice dog.

Where to find How Rocket Learned to Read?
Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Borders

Go to your local book store or library!