How Rocket Learned to Read
(Rocket)

Hills's gentle, sweet tale is a paean to the joy of reading and the teachers that inspire it.

With characters as memorable as those in Hillss 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 birds 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 Rockets 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 Rockets transition can be nebulous (Soon they were spelling words) Hills still emphasizes the need for practice (Rocket thought about the birds 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 37. (July) Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

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.