Customer Reviews

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very Short Stories to Read Together

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I bought this book based on the reviews from amazon. When I got it, I admit I was a bit disappointed. The rhymes, I thought, were not exactly very interesting and each little piece repeats "I read to you and you'll read to me."

Much to my surprise, my 6 year old, who is beginning to read, loves this book. She wants to read it every night. Sometimes she picks to read the purple lines (lines are color-coded so parents and kids can take regular turns). Then she switches to the red lines for a second read. The repetition at the end of each rhyme, which I disliked, gives her much delight because she can read those lines without hesitation. So this is a great book for kindergarteners who are just beginning to learn to read. I can imagine six months down the road my daughter would much prefer something more sophisticated. But now she loves this book.

As the Mary Ann Hoberman explains in her introduction: "Here's a book/With something new-/You read to me!/I'll read to you!/We'll read each page/To one another-/You'll read one side,/I the other..." This clever and unique picture book includes 12 very short stories, written like a dialogue, and based on simple, lighthearted, friendly themes, that are perfect for emerging, and early readers. Each part is color coded for sharing and fun. I read the purple lines, you read the red, and we read the blue lines together, and then maybe switch. Ms Hoberman's joyous, rhyming text is full of rhythm, energy, and repetition and complemented by Michael Emberley's charming and humorous illustrations. You Read To Me, I'll Read To You is a delightful introduction to the joys and wonders of both reading, and reading together. As the author reminds your young reader at the end: "...But there are other/Books to read./Hundreds/Thousands/All we need./Any time/In any weather/We can sit/Right down together./In the shade/Or in the sun/Choose a book/That looks like fun./One that's old/Or one that's new./Make-believe/Or really true./I'll read one line/I'll read two./You read to me./I'll read to you."

Not long ago I was attending a conference for reading teachers. The main topic of conversation was, as you might imagine, books. After the third person told me You Read to Me is "simply wonderful," and "a must-have," I decided I'd better check it out.

My colleagues were not exaggerating. You Read to Me, I'll Read to You is one of those rare "must-haves." The book, as the title implies, is created for two voices. Thoughtfully, the text is divided into three columns, each done in a different color print. One reader reads the left-hand passages. The second reader reads the right-hand passages. Both readers, of course, read the text in the middle.

The dozen stories in the book are original, fresh, and funny. (Hoberman refers to them as little plays for two voices.) Each is short, rhythmic, and rhyming. Topics include: mice, cats, dogs, bears, snakes, snowmen, friendship, hats, and more.

Emberley's illustrations, done in pen, watercolor, and dry pastel, perfectly compliment and enrich the text. The character's actions and facial expressions are priceless.

The book works exceedingly well in the classroom. Perfect for "buddy reading," it also provides teachers a perfect vehicle for working one-on-one with students. As we know, reading aloud helps to build fluency-which in turn helps with comprehension. You Read to Me, I'll Read to You is the perfect fluency-building book.

You Read to Me receives our highest recommendation.

Reviewed by the Education Oasis Staff

I saw all the positive reviews, so I bought this book for my 7 year old nephew. Before wrapping it, I looked through it to see if it was something I would buy for my 3 and 5 year old boys when they learn to read. We are big readers and I'm very picky since I'm the one always reading the books. This book is so sweet and so fun! My reaction was immediate and my boys loved it. Here is an example of a short story in this book:

(The adult reads the purple sentence, the child reads the second sentence printed in red and the blue "we" sentences you read together. So, each of the sentences below are in different colors.)

I like soda.
I like milk.
I like satin.
I like silk.
I like puppies.
I like kittens.
I like gloves.
And I like mittens.
I like apples.
I like pears.
I like tigers.
I like bears.
I like to slide.
I like to swing.
We don't agree on anything!
I like butter.
I like jam.
I like turkey.
I like ham.
I like rivers.
I like lakes.
I like cookies.
And I like cakes.
I like yellow.
I like blue.
I like pizza.
I like stew.
I like summer.
I like spring.
We don't agree on anything!
There's something else I like a lot. Bit if I like it, You will not.
There's something else That I like, too. But you won't like it If I do.
Tell me yours And I'll tell mine.
I like reading. Reading's fine!
You like reading?
Yes, I do.
Why, reading was What I picked, too!
Well, then, at last We both agree! I'll read to you! You'll read to me!

Here's another story....

My little brother Saw a bear.
He saw a bear? He saw it where?
He said he saw it In his bed. That's where it was, My brother said.
Your brother saw A bear in bed? In his own bed?
That's what he said.
I bet it gave him Quite a fright!
It asked if it Could spend the night.
Spend the night Right in his bed? The bear asked that?
That's what he said.
So then what did Your brother say?
He told the bear That it could stay, That it could stay A night or more If it would promise Not to snore.
Your little brother Sounds quite brave To tell a bear How to behave.
He said he fed it from a cup. (Sometimes he likes To make things up.)
He made it up About the bear?
Perhaps he did, But I don't care. It's still a story That is fun.
Then let's make up Another one.
We'll write it down And when we're through You'll read to me! I'll read to you!

this is a wonderful book for children just learning to read. it encourages them to read aloud with interesting short stories and the illustrations are wonderful. my grandson was struggling to learn to read and hating every minute until he got this book and now it is not only his favorite book, but he wants to read everything.

English 385.150
5/23/02
Dr. Michelle H. Martin
Book Review
Doberman, Mary. You Read to Me, I'll Read to You. Illus. Michael Emberley. Boston:
Little, Brown and Company, 2001.
You Read to Me, I'll Read to You contains many different short stories that two people can read together. All containing positive lessons, each story has at least two characters who face a problem or experience an adventure. For example, in "The Dime," the pig finds a dime, but his friend the cat feels that the money belongs to him. Instead of the characters keeping the money and destroying their friendship, they decide to purchase a book and take turns reading the book to one another. Another story that has a positive lesson is "I Hate My Hat." The characters in the story are raccoons, and one raccoon continually says, "I hate my hat." The other raccoon says that "hate" is not a nice word to say and compliments his friend for wearing the hat so that no one needs to speak the word "hate" at all.
The book also possesses characteristics of a play because the text offers two speaking part. One reader reads the purple colored sentences, the other reads the pink colored sentences, and both readers read the blue sentences together. The color-coding also teaches the concept of following directions. Children of all ages need to know how to follow directions because they will encounter many areas in their lives that will require them to follow directions both at school and at home.

This book along with her others are wonderful for emergent readers to gain confidence and fluency. My daughter and I love to read this book together. It is fun because the stories are spin-offs to Mother Goose Tales. I would highly recommend this for any primary (K-3rd grade) child.

My 4-year old, who has not yet begun to read, absolutely loves this book! We started reading 2 stories at bedtime and ended up finishing the book. The rhythm and rhyme of the stories really held his attention and the repetition helped him to participate even if he didn't know the words. Once he begins to read, this book will be a joy to do together. It has definately been added to our regular rotation.

I've used these "You Read to Me and I'll Read to you" books with my granddaughter before. Now these are for great granddaughters. They get to an age where listening to a story is still okay but it's a lot more fun to participate in the process. I find that they like to choose the part they will do at any one give time.

My son is in 1st grade and is begining to learn to read. It is hard to get him to read a book by himself. This book came into our lives and changed everything. He loves to read this book with me. We laugh and have fun. It is making reading fun time and not homework time. It is making him want to explore other books by himself. Thank you to the author!