Customer Reviews

How Rocket Learned to Read

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

We received this book just yesterday, but my son took one look at the illustration on the front and immediately wanted to read it. Often when this happens, the story doesn't hold his interest. This time was different. He stayed interested, laughing at Rocket with his nose covered in mud and showing emotion as we read each page.

But even better than that, he was not afraid to try sounding out the words. He has known his letters and their sounds for ages, but seldom shows any interest in sounding out words. Instead, he memorizes the books and pretends to read. With this book, he was very willing to sound out the words. And, he surprised me by obviously knowing several words by sight that I had no idea he had learned!

This book is adorable, enjoyable for both the child and the adult. The illustrations are incredibly sweet and the story is cute. Overall a great book to encourage early reading.

This is the first book that has inspired my daughter to actually try and read for herself so I'm bound to be extremely biased in its favor. BUT after the first go-around she was begging me to read it again (which generally only happens with the infernal Disney Princess books). I had a great time helping her sound out words and watching her delight when she got words right. It's a perfect book to get your feet wet with when prompting a pre-Kindergartner to try out reading for themselves. And on top of that, the illustrations are beautiful and very sweet. I like the Duck and Goose books too, but Rocket definitely takes the biscuit when it comes to cuteness.

My three-year old son loves this book, and so do I. It is a sweet and original story of a little bird who takes it upon herself to teach a dog to read. Though the dog initially resists, he is lured in to readying after becoming captivated by a book that is read to him. This is such a clever book that teaches children about friendship, the power of words, the joy of studying, and the power and wonderful of the alphabet!

The cover and the title grabbed my attention. The doggy on the front is so cute sitting in the grass with a yellow bird on his nose. Who could resist? Plus any book about encouraging reading is always a plus in my world. The inside proved to be as adorable as the front cover - for sure judge this book by it's cover. Rocket is the dog and the yellow bird becomes his teacher. In the story Rocket is hesitant about reading... doesn't want to do it and thinks it seems impossible. With the help of the little yellow bird Rocket masters the alphabet, sounds out words, and finally . . . learns to read all on his own! I imagine this book being read in a Kindergarten and First grade classroom where kids are learning to read. Children will be able to make a text to self connection with the story. Rocket is like a child first learning how to read. It's really hard at first, but gets easier as he learns. His teacher is there to help him and together they can do this!!! Soon Rocket begins to understand that reading opens up a new world for him just as it will for all who learn to read. This book should be on the shelf of every k-2 teachers shelf. Teachers will love it and so will students.

Be prepared to read this book to your child again...and again...and again...

Rocket had a busy day and wanted to take a nap, but bird wanted to teach Rocket how to read. Bird hooked Rocket with a wonderful book about a dog who lost his bone. I felt like I hooked my reluctant reader with a wonderful book about a dog who learned to read!

My 5 year old is not taking to reading as easily as his older brother did at this age, and I found this book to be PERFECT for him. There are words he recognized and had fun reading along with me, and the rest of the book was read by mom, which took the pressure off of him.

My little guy also adores anything and everything having to do with dogs, so this was a perfect fit on so many fronts.

Rocket whom just wanted to lay under a tree and nap after a very long morning of dogginess, unexpectedly lands in a class led by a little yellow bird. At first Rocket doesn't want anything to do with class - until the little yellow bird lures him with a very tantalizing read about a dog and his bone.

After that Rocket is an apt student who is intent on learning to read. He spells out everything he finds.

Very C-U-T-E illustrations and well written, your child will not only be entertained but it also throws in a bit of knowledge. With a ton of spelled out E-A-S-Y words for the beginner reader. It didn't wow Anya as some of her other books, but she did enjoy the read and we had fun spelling out the words.

How Rocket Learned to Read is an adorable story of an enthusiastic little bird and her very first, albeit unsuspecting, pupil. Everyday, Rocket chased leaves and chewed sticks and when all the good play tired him out he would settle in for a nice, long nap. Then one day, the eager little bird sets up her classroom right in Rocket's napping spot and mistakenly thinks he is one of her students. Rocket moves away from the bird, but she has hung up her glorious alphabet banner and begun to read him a wonderful story out loud. Rocket becomes entranced with the story and soon wants more. He comes back everyday until the weather turns and his wonderful teacher flies south for the winter. Rocket practices his letters and his words all winter until he is reunited with his favorite teacher in the spring.

This is just a glorious book about the magic of words and the beauty in reading. Young children on the cusp of literacy will identify with Rocket and learn to read right alongside him. Those children who have acquired literacy skills already, will be reminded how marvelous the process is and little ones who still have a ways to go will be motivated. The illustrations make this book a perfect "10". They complement the story making Rocket and his little yellow teacher, wonderfully appealing. Every child should have this book!

Chasing, playing, napping, and digging was what Rocket enjoyed about each day; until a little yellow bird opened up a whole new world to explore through books. This beautifully illustrated simple tale about how a young pup learns to read through the teachings of a little yellow bird is pleasure to read and reread aloud.

Starting with the `marvelous' alphabet, through letter sounds, and lots of practice, Rocket does indeed learn to read. Young readers, and listeners alike will make connections to their own learning process. Great story to start the school year off (K-2) with, and important message at the end reminds us all that good books are to be read over and over; and to become a good reader takes practice.

Rocket was the type of dog who was content to while away his days romping through the grass chasing leaves or running with a stick in his mouth. When he was tired, he'd rest underneath a tree with his stick and sniff all the grand smells that came his way. All of a sudden PLOP . . . a little yellow bird landed on his head. The pesky little bird was looking for a student, but was obviously barking up the wrong tree because Rocket wasn't it. The birdie went on and on annoying him and even set up a little chalkboard that said, "Class starts today." Not interested. That was some persistent bird.

The next day the little yellow bird set up an ABC banner. Not interested. When she began to read during his nap, it was really annoying. Not interested. All of a sudden she began to read about a dog named Buster. "`As Buster dug and dug under the lilac bush he felt something familiar.'" Hmmmm . . . now that sounded interesting. He just knew that dog had found a bone, but the little yellow bird wouldn't say because she had gone. The next day Rocket was all ears. She handed him a name tag and the lessons began. Was that little yellow bird going to be able to teach Rocket how to read?

This is a perfectly adorable book to introduce your child to pre-reading skills with Rocket, a pup who was eager to read. Rocket's road to reading readiness was very captivating, fun, and is reminiscent of the path many young children take on their road to reading. The storyline, combined with the very appealing artwork, builds with excitement as Rocket learns to read. This book can actually be used as a teaching tool for those interested in introducing their preschooler to reading. Children, with assistance, can learn their letters, will become familiar with the printed world, will learn what letters sound like, and more. For example, Rocket learned that when you combine the letter G with several Rs it actually "spelled Mr. Barker's growl." GRRRRRRRRRR! Whether you choose to use this book as a learning tool or simply choose it for its enchanting qualities, you can't lose!

Rocket, an adorable, lovable pooch isn't sure he wants to read when a small yellow bird arrives one summer day to teach him. He'd rather nap. But the bird--er, teacher--is persistent, devoted and kind. Before Rocket knows it, he's hooked on storytime.

Unfortunately, the bird must fly south for the winter before Rocket can read. But while the teacher is away, rocket practices the alphabet and spelling words, so that when the bird returns they can read together.

This picture book is a charming tribute to readers and their teachers everywhere. The illustrations tug readers into the story and are sure to engage young children about to embark on the adventure of reading.
-- Reviewed by Michelle Ddelisle