How to Teach a Slug to Read

K-Gr 2--This charming and funny manual is also informative for older siblings or parents who are beginning the teaching process themselves. The bits of advice include: "Attach labels to Little Slug's favorite things," "Read out loud to him," "Point out words that repeat," "Sound out words," "Make a vocabulary list," and "Be patient." Everything is made amusing by adding the slug perspective ("underline favorite words in slug slime"). Presented in a combination of bold text and speech bubbles, Pearson's text is simple and appealing. Illustrations are cartoonish with plenty of bug appeal, humor, and a scintilla of grossness. Beyond its cleverness, this is a terrific bookfomercial for READING. The final pages share some of the joys to be found in books in an unpreachy way. And that is no small achievement.--Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME