Jason's Bus Ride (Penguin Young Readers, L2) [Mass Market Paperback]

Harriet Ziefert (Author), Simms Taback (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Penguin Young Readers, L2

Jason becomes a hero when he takes a bus ride.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Young Readers (April 12, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140365362
• ISBN-13: 978-0140365368
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,116,698 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Harriet Ziefert was born in New Jersey. She grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey, where she attended the local schools. She graduated from Smith College, then received a Masters degree in Education from New York University. "About twelve years ago," says Ziefert in a 1995 interview, "I tried to get a job as an editor, but no one would hire me as a trade editor. So I decided to write my own books." Since then, she has written several hundred books, mostly picture books and easy-to-read books. "I write books very quickly," she says, "in about twelve hours. I rewrite them three times over three days, and then they're done." She writes about twenty books a year. Ziefert's picture book A New Coat for Anna is about a girl in a bombed-out European city during the months just after World War II. Anna has outgrown her old coat, and her mother trades her few surviving treasures--a watch, a lamp, a necklace, and a porcelain teapot--in order to obtain wool and have it spun, woven, and finally sewn into a fine red coat for Anna. A Horn Book Magazine reviewer stated, "the simple text, based on a true story, carries the narrative along effectively." The book, which was illustrated by Anita Lobel, was chosen as one of ten books to be read aloud by former First Lady Barbara Bush as part of a program promoting reading. Ziefert was invited to the White House for the occasion. The reason Ziefert began writing easy-to-read books was that she felt "they were getting too hard for kids to read in the first grade." She says that she wrote easy-to-read books with seventy-five or fewer words, even ones with fifty or fewer words, "to see how much of a story" she could produce with that limit. She enjoyed the challenge, and cites her book Sleepy Dog as an example. "Sleepy Dog is the most successful book I've ever done, in terms of number of books sold." She's also been working on a developmental program with publisher Dorling Kindersley, made up of books for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Her book Pete's Chicken, which was illustrated by Laura Rader, was reviewed in the New York Times Book Review as "a simple, sweet 'Song of Myself' for children . . . [which] applauds the specialness of every child as it reminds parents of the healing power of just being there for children." Among her other books is a series of easy-to-read books, such as Trip Day and Worm Day, about an inventive science teacher and his rambunctious class of students. Ziefert's book Let's Get a Pet was named an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children by a joint committee of the National Science Teachers Association and the Children's Book Council. . Ms. Ziefert lives in Maplewood, New Jersey and Lincoln, Massachusetts. She has two adult sons.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Puffin Easy-to-Read series helps children improve their reading skills, April 16, 2010

By 

Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Jason's Bus Ride (Puffin Easy-To-Read: Level 1 (Pb)) (Hardcover)

My daughter is 5 and found the books in the Puffin Easy-to-Read series (level 1) to be just the right stage for her in developing her reading skills. She is able to read them with a high level of fluency and the success she experiences with these books has given her more confidence and motivated her to read more. Level 1 here is for ages 4-7 (as recommended by the publisher). There are familiar sight words appropriate for this level. The stories in this series are engaging and come with full-color illustrations which interest young readers. The story here is about a young boy Jason who takes a bus ride and notices all the different types of people on the bus. When a dog appears in front of the bus, the bus halts, and despite different individual's attempts to get the dog to move, it simply won't budge, until Jason gives it a try. This is a story that will engage young children's attention and I highly recommend this series for beginning readers.