A Duck in a Sock

March 9, 2020
First in the Orca Two-Read line of books, dedicated to instructing emerging, dyslexic, and English-language learner readers, this primer should appeal to phonics stalwarts and phonics learners. Sisters Elspeth, a literary specialist, and Rowena, a former biologist, make their debut with a set of four elementary tales for kids to encounter with a more experienced reader. Each story, written in several short chapters, introduces the concept for advanced readers (“ck... comes immediately after a short vowel”), notes phonograms at play (“A Duck in a Sock: A Story Featuring ck”), and bolds words employing the sound for easy recognition (jacket, stick). Between tales, word games (“ck match-up”) emphasize the previous story’s takeaways. In the titular tale, Meg and Greg rescue an injured duckling from a stray dog, and “tuck the duck up in a sock” to visit the vet; the others imperil a slew of characters, each delivering tense moments before Meg and Greg save the day. Gutiérrez (Letter Lunch) creates orderly double spreads with illustrated prose on the verso and comics-style panels on the recto; her art, drawn in a heavy ink line, helps readers focus on labeled objects and voice-balloon content. Ages 6–9.

March 1, 2020
High-interest, low-reading-level stories present a fun way to reinforce phonics skills for readers who need a boost. Best friends Meg and Greg face tricky situations and daring adventures in several entertaining tales. Dilemmas range from replacing a sibling's missing fish to helping ranch animals escape from a wildfire; they will hold readers' interest as they create opportunities to bolster phonics skills. Each of the four segments contains episodic chapters in prose paired with comics-style panels, cartoon illustrations, and speech bubbles that will foster engagement and support reading development. Labeled illustrations and end-of-segment extension activities provide additional opportunities for practice centered on the specific phonogram ("ck," for instance, or "sh") highlighted in that section. These stories are geared toward emerging readers who are a bit older than the typical beginning reader and are thoughtfully designed to appeal to this older audience with eye-catching graphics and more-complex situations. This is Book 1 in a series intended for children just learning to read or readers with dyslexia and other learning difficulties, to be shared alongside a more experienced reader. Short explanations and strategies for each new phonogram introduced as well as plenty of helpful tips for using the book to support learning are included. Dyslexia-friendly features are integrated into the book. All characters present as white in the illustrations. A carefully formatted book with supportive features baked in brings new energy to the task of learning to read. (glossary, tips) (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 6-9)

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March 1, 2020
Grades 1-3 In a format designed for sharing between a practiced reader and one who is having difficulties, the authors present four mini-tales, each of which highlights a particular phonogram. In the title story, for instance, young Meg and Greg run onto a dock to rescue an injured baby duck that has been bitten by a dog, tuck the feathered victim into a sock to keep it immobile, place it into a bucket to carry it to a vet, and then a few days later, carry it back to its flock. Each five-chapter story alternates pages of large, well-leaded narrative with sequential panels of illustrations in which important items are labeled and unique snatches of dialogue are set into balloons. Each also comes with an introductory note on pronunciation and a closing set of matching or other word games for further practice. The very simple line art gives this series opener a utilitarian look, but the stories offer both flashes of humor and plenty of action to drive the instructional intent.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

April 24, 2020

Gr 1-3-What do a duck in a sock, a fish in a dish, a chicken on a branch, and a sloth in a cloth have in common? Phonics, of course! Meg and Greg, lightly sketched cartoon-style characters, are featured in four stories that spotlight a specific phonics combination: ck, sh, ch, and th. Words highlighting these phonemes are scattered throughout the silly stories, offering readers a chance to practice their skills in a fun and different way. Readers are also treated to a couple of games, including crosswords and word wheels. VERDICT A unique approach to high-interest texts for reluctant burgeoning readers, this book offers phonics fun wrapped in serious research-based success.-Amanda C. Buschmann, Carroll Elementary School, Houston

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