How Rocket Learned to Read

June 14, 2010
With characters as memorable as those in Hills’s Duck and Goose series, this good-natured story shows readers how Rocket, a spotted puppy, becomes a beginning reader, thanks to a little yellow bird. Hills uses expressive oil and colored pencil spot art (and a subtle sense of humor) to engage readers as Rocket becomes the bird’s pupil; the enthusiastic teacher wisely hooks Rocket on stories before interesting him in “the wondrous, mighty, gorgeous alphabet.... Where it all begins.” The illustrations emphasize Rocket’s responsiveness and wide-eyed curiosity as he learns letters (the bird holds up a worm while pointing to W) and progresses from there. “Together they sang out the sounds that each letter makes and spelled the sounds they heard around them.” If the details of Rocket’s transition can be nebulous (“Soon they were spelling words”) Hills still emphasizes the need for practice (“Rocket thought about the bird’s sweet chirp while he sounded out words like D-I-G and W-I-N-D and C-O-L-D”). The amiable characters and gentle text—as well as an alphabet banner the bird strings up—make this a decent primer for humans, too. Ages 3–7.

June 15, 2010

Rocket is as cute as can be, and he's all dog. He plays with leaves and sticks, sniffs everything around him, listens to the birds and takes long naps. Then an enthusiastic yellow bird appoints herself his teacher, coaxing him with alphabet banners and singing him captivating stories that leave him wanting more. Through the summer and autumn, he learns his letters and some useful words. During the winter, Rocket is on his own, practicing his letters, sounding out and spelling words. When his teacher returns in the spring, they read happily ever after. Hills's gentle, sweet tale is a paean to the joy of reading and the teachers that inspire it. He emphasizes Rocket's steady progress and patience with admiration and gentle humor. His soft oil-and–colored-pencil illustrations create a sweetly warm and fuzzy atmosphere. Teachers and librarians will read this book to youngsters just beginning their first encounters with "the wondrous, mighty, gorgeous alphabet," and those new readers will identify with Rocket's accomplishment. Lovely. (Picture book. 3-7)

(COPYRIGHT (2010) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

July 1, 2010
PreS-Gr 2—-n endearing white dog with black spots loves chasing leaves and chewing sticks. He also loves napping under his favorite tree. Then his sleep is interrupted one spring day by a tiny yellow bird that designates him her first student. Rocket wants no part of her lessons, but the bird is determined to teach him to read. She returns each day, hangs an alphabet banner from the trees, and gushes, "Ah, the wondrous, mighty, gorgeous alphabet." Then she begins to read a story, stopping at an enticing part. Overcome by curiosity to hear more, Rocket eventually enters into the bird's lessons, and the two have a grand time using the "mighty, gorgeous alphabet" to spell out all the things in Rocket's world. The bird leaves as winter approaches, but Rocket continues practicing, spelling everything in sight. And when Bird returns the following spring, a tail-wagging, eager-to-read student greets her with joy. The illustrations, rendered in oil and colored pencil, offer full pages, spreads, and oval vignettes. They depict Rocket in all his various moods, from diagonal brows raised in displeasure to delight at his teacher's return. Adults will love the bird's enthusiasm, her use of stories, and her ability to associate lessons with Rocket's everyday life to win over her reluctant pupil. Youngsters will find this addition to Hills's cast of adorable animal characters simply irresistible.—"Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2010
Grades K-2 Who says you cant teach a young dog new words? Looking a bit like Gene Zions lovable Harry, Rocket is minding his own business one fall morning when a little yellow bird gets him hooked on a story she is reading aloud. She proceeds to give him leisurely lessons in the alphabet before flying away for the winter. He practices all season long, spelling out words in the snow and in the mud. Hills, best known for his Duck and Goose series, offers up an appealing picture of the learning-to-read process: the bird is an enthusiastic instructor, teaching Rocket to love the sounds and meanings of words. Hills oil-paint and colored-pencil illustrations nicely capture both the sweetness of pupil and tutor and the prettiness of the changing seasons. When the little yellow bird returns at last, the two of them settle down to read books together, and its clear that a wonderful adventure has begun for Rocket.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)