Book Review - Easy Reader

Finding books for children who are just learning to read can be a challenge.  You want a book with the sight words they've already mastered, words they can easily sound out independently, and some depth when it comes to the actually story.  To be honest, this is a tall order!  Luckily, I've found a title that may be of help.

In January, my daughter and I discovered an Early Reader book, and we both fell in love with it.  To be honest, it was the very first book she read on her very own from cover to cover.

You Can Do It!

by Betsy Lewin

  Holiday House, 2013

An alligator wants to participate in a big race.  He thinks he can win, but a bigger alligator tells him he can't.  His friend, a sweet girl with a pink bow dangling down her scales, encourages him to try.  

The entire tale is told through the use of speech bubbles, and more importantly, with very few words.  Most of the words are basic sight words: can, you, I, do, so, one, two.  Those that are not sight words can be easily sounded out: win, puff.

Betsy Lewin matched simple illustrations with simple text to create a masterpiece for new readers.  It can be read from cover to cover without assistance by a child with limited sight word knowledge.  Plus, it helps young readers understand that the pictures can serve as clues to what the story is telling, developing an important reading skill.  Illustrations are not just enhancements - they do serve a purpose, but that is another blog post. 

The greatest benefit this book has to offer is the message.  You Can Do It!  Of Course - You Can Read! This is an empowering book for our youngest readers, need I say more?

This book is part of series for early readers called I LIKE TO READ, published by Holiday House.  Find a complete list of titles and descriptions here.

Here are some other titles from the series I want to highlight:

Boy, Bird, and Dog by David McPhail - a cute story

Look! by Ted Lewin - simple text, lovely illustrations

See Me Dig by Paul Meisel - a fun story

Pig Has a Plan by Ethan Long - a funny story

I Will Try by Marilyn Janovitz - a positive message

Visit your local library and give some of these titles a try.  

Or, find them at a bookseller: amazon and Barnes & Noble.  

I hope you and you child enjoy them as much as we have in my household.