Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1--This collection builds targeted phonics skills with bold and captivating images that engage young readers. Some pages are text-free, inviting children to pause, observe, and explore the photos and illustrations more closely. The realistic, photographic images add an authentic touch, making the content more relatable. The vocabulary choices are excellent. For instance, the words for the dr blend--dreaming, dribbling, drifting, drilling--are engaging and contextually meaningful. An extension activity, which can be led by teachers or parents, involves listening comprehension and auditory discrimination. As children listen for words containing /dr/ sounds within a read-aloud story, they strengthen their ability to recognize these phonemes. VERDICT While some books in this collection stand out more than others, overall, it's a valuable resource that draws readers in and solidifies foundational phonics skills.
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Review by Horn Book Review
Each dull but serviceable easy-reader text repeats a particular blend at least once per spread (e.g., in CR, "I use crayons to make crafts"), providing opportunities for new readers to practice reading the featured letter combination. Bright, relevant photos enliven the spreads. A list of words featuring each blend is appended. Effective if not very enthralling companions to classroom reading lessons. [Review covers these Blends titles: Crazy Crayons: The Sound of CR, What Do I Bring?: The Sound of BR, Shoes: the Sound of SH, I Am Glad: The Sound of GL, My Flower Garden: The Sound of FL, and What and Where: The Sound of WH.] (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
