How Rocket Learns to Read by Tad Hills is one of four books nominated for the Irma Simonton Black & James H. Black Award for Excellance in Children's Literature. This award is unique because the final vote for the winner is chosen by first and second graders.
Rocket is a small dog who loves to play. One morning a little yellow bird appears at Rocket's resting spot. The bird insists it is Rocket's teacher and he is the student. All Rocket wants to do is rest. However, the bird insists on teaching and sang out the story of an unlucky dog named Buster who'd lost his favorite bone. Rocket is disturbed at first, but soon finds himself captivated. All of a sudden the story stops in the middle. Rocket is eager to find out the ending,but the little yellow bird was gone away. Rocket arrives bright and early the next morning to hear the end of the story. Each morning the bird taught him a new letter. Together they sound out words that each letter makes and spelled the sounds that they heard around them. Bird does not teach for the winter, so Rocket practices writing the words in the snow. He sounded out words like D-I-G and W-I-N-D and S-U-N. School starts up again in the Spring and the bird returns to read Rocket more stories. They read his favorite story about Buster
again and again and again.
This is a great story for beginning readers that really connects with a child that is learning to read. It also reinforces that a great story can be read over and over again!
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