Please Take Jake!

December 15, 2014
Grades K-2 These new books in the Word Families series present an updated take on the traditional reader. Each book emphasizes simple words with one ending (such as -ip, -ot, etc.), using as many word family words as possible in the context of a charming story with simple pictures. The educational aspect is clear but not overstated. Each book begins with a page of Ideas for Parents and Teachers and ends with a list of word-family words from the book. These words are also highlighted in color throughout the main text of the story. The stories themselves are a bit uneven, possibly because of space or word constraints. The transition from chores to leisure time in Not a Lot, Robot! feels much more satisfying as a simple plot. In the end, all of these books use stories in a fun way to help new readers learn word skills. Parents, teachers, and children will be grateful.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)