Who is This at the Beach?

August 1, 2004
K-Gr 1-These four books take beginning readers on a camping trip, to a baseball field, through the snow, and to the beach. Each one begins with six "sight words" seen through a large magnifying glass, giving children an opportunity to become familiar with the terms, which are sprinkled throughout the short story that follows. At the end, more "sight words" are listed. The picture index is an excellent tool to introduce to young children. Cheerful, full-page color photographs of multiracial families and friends engaging in outdoor activities will attract youngsters' attention, while the simple texts will give them a sense of accomplishment.-Tracy Bell, Durham Public Schools, NC

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2004
Simple sentences, each containing one of the sight words listed at the front of every book, are illustrated with color photos of magazine-perfect families. Confusingly, the featured words (e.g., "a", "has", "the", "their" ) represent different parts of speech, and it's unclear if children are supposed to read the sentences or just pick out the featured sight word within a sentence. There are thirteen other spring 2004 books in this series. Ind.

(Copyright 2004 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)