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SHARED by: Katherine Grier, Librarian at York Avenue Preschool

Look out Snoopy and Woodstock! Here comes Rocket the dog and his teacher, the little yellow bird! These lovable characters are sure to inspire your young readers and writers, as well as give them great role models for their own student/teacher relationships.

In “How Rocket Learned to Read,” Tad Hills’ soft, colorful illustrations move the word-focused pages of the story along very nicely and add dimension to them, as well. The little yellow bird interrupts Rocket’s playtime and morning nap in order to read him a story. After listening to the bird’s story, Rocket is hooked and wants to learn to read himself. The yellow bird patiently helps Rocket learn each letter, as well as the sounds that go along with them. Soon, Rocket is sounding out and spelling every word he thinks of, and even when the yellow bird flies south for the Winter, Rocket keeps up his studies. He makes new friends and spells their names. He spells D-I-G as he tunnels through snowdrifts and W-I-N-D as cold winter gusts blow back his floppy ears. When Rocket spells M-U-D, he knows that Spring has returned. His teacher returns soon after and the two pick up where they left off, deepening Rocket’s love of reading and learning.

In “Rocket Writes a Story,” Rocket and the little yellow bird continue their exploration of words, books and stories. With child-like wonder and dog-like cunning, Rocket sniffs out and collects words and writes them down on little note cards. The yellow bird hangs Rocket’s words (and a few of her own) in a tree. When the tree is completely covered in words, the yellow bird asks Rocket what he is going to do with all of them. Rocket has the idea to write a story of his own using the words, but when he faces a blank sheet of paper, he gets stuck. His teacher instructs him to write about something that inspires or excites him. Rocket goes off and finds inspiration in some pine needles and feathers and these things further lead him to a shy owl that Rocket decides to include in his story. As Rocket writes about the owl, the yellow bird encourages him to take his time and to further develop his main character and the details of his story. Rocket keeps on writing and reads what he has written to the owl who becomes so engaged in the story she overcomes her shyness and comes further down the tree to hear it. Mr. Hills’ book and Rocket’s story both end happily while gently and enjoyably teaching us that writing or telling a good story is so much more than just using words you know.