Pearson's Book Panel - Ages 1-7 - Review thread

[AnnMumsnet]

You may know Mumsnet have been working with Pearson to provide some special learning-related content for you. Linked to the site is a Pearson shop where you can buy educational books for children. We invited MNers with a child aged between 1 and 7 to review the books available and this thread is for the reviews. Panellists will be sent up to 5 packs of books and reviews will continue to be added each month until the end of the year. Pearson will link to this thread from the shop.

As a thank you for taking part there will be a monthly prize draw for reviewers for all those who have submitted a review in that month. The prize each month will be £50 of John Lewis vouchers - the first draw will take place on 31 August and will be for one prize of £100 of John Lewis vouchers.

Below are the questions Pearson would like you to answer - when posting your review please add in the age of your child and please include the question as well as your response.

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?
Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent

Many thanks
MNHQ

[Lexilicious]

Are we waiting for another review before they pick someone for a prize, or is it just finished?

[mrswarthog]

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
Carol Vordermans Maths & English Made easy

Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?
N/A

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
No, they were for the year ahead of him & weren't relevant and perhaps even caused a little apprehension

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
I liked them.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
Too hard

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Yes if their child was in Juniors

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
No because they aren't fiction so therefore not so interesting for him

Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent
4 stars

[UmmOfUmbridge]

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
first words and numbers books.

Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?
N/A

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
She really loves them, we read them everyday and she is learning to count using them too. She particularly loves looking at the animals.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
Lovely pack of books, educational and fun.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
She's not quite 2 yet! But given how many times she chucks them at me to read I'd say she likes them!

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Yes, they give us a chance to chat about the things in the pictures.

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
Not old enough

Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent
4 stars

[RabbitsMakeBrownEggs]

We had Puffin Pack Ages 5-7 (The Legend of the Worst Boy in the World plus 2 other favourite chapter books) for my son who is aged six and a confident reader.

I have to say he has definitely enjoyed this pack. He likes the longer books and these were very focused at the enjoyment of a young boy. He liked The Legend of the Worst Boy best, although I was very excited to see Woof as I remember the TV series from when I was young. Overall it was a very good pack, well worth the price tag, and certainly something I would recommend to other parents. We give it five stars.

[wolvesdidit]

( I am doigthebountyeater usually)

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
Green pack learning to read, Silly Silly Jack! Wallace, Gromit and the Soccomatic and Sea Snaps

Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?
DS does not use a reading scheme (he is a free reader). These were much easier than the books he would read at home. (He is home educated).

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
Yes, both my sons (aged 2.6 and 6.4 enjoyed reading them. They were boy-friendly stories and the Sea Snaps fitted in well with their Octonauts obsession.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
Too simple for DS1 - probably more appropriate for my 2 year old (especially silly silly Jack due to the repetitive nature of the story)

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
Funny and I liked the Soccomatic machine.

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
I'd recommend them for a 3-5 year old. They are good books with nice pictures and definitely good for boys.

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
I think he enjoyed them and would recommend them happily enough but they are not up there with classic all-time favourites such as Richard Scarry.

Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent
4 - enjoyable but not memorable

[LetUsPrey]

Sorry it's so late.

DS2 is 5 years 5 months and started Reception class in September last year.

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
Learning to read phonics Alphablocks set of four books.

Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?
Reading scheme is Oxford Reading Tree. Similar set up but I like the way the Alphablocks books split the letters into sounds.

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
Yes, because he loves Alphablocks.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
My favourite pack I think. The phonics continue to help with his speech (speech sounds delay) and the way Alphablocks construct the words is helpful with learning to read.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
Loved them. He said they are "ossom" (awesome!)

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Definitely. The Alphablocks tie in is great. The explanatory notes at the beginning of the books are straightforward.

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
He's not really old enough.

Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent.
Again, I'd give this pack of books 5 out of 5. The Alphablocks tie in gives them a "head start" in getting DS2 to look at them and engaging his interest in reading. Also, given DS2's personal circumstances, the phonics aspect is great.

[hpsaucy]

I haven't received any new books!!

[MyLifeIsStillChaotic]

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
Reading together - Goldilocks and Red Riding Hood

Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?
N/A

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
Yes. He likes the story, the pictures, the 'touchy' bits and particularly the Goldilocks one as it's more repetative and it involves counting.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
I like them. They're simple, bright and pretty well made (although one of the frills on the bed in Goldilocks is coming away already).

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
Me: do you like these books?
Him: yes
He's 3.4 so that's as good as it gets

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Yes. For reasons stated in Q4

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
N/A

Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent
4 stars.

Thank you for sending them to us

[RabbitsMakeBrownEggs]

Just tagging to fill in later on.

[griffalo2]

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
Green pack learning to read, Silly Silly Jack! Wallace, Gromit and the Soccomatic and Sea Snaps
Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?
ds's school use a mixture of reading sceme books but they are the same level as these at the moment.
Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
ds loves silly silly jack and found it funny,he liked sea snaps too i think because the pictures are good
Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
best pack out of three,ds was more interested,maybe because hes finding reading a little easier
Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
jack was so funny
Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
yes as they have more variety and details than other reading sceme books making them more interesting
Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
yes definatly silly jack
Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent
5

[PuffofSmoke]

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?

My first words and my first numbers, reading together.

Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?

n/a

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?

DD (2) very much enjoyed looking at the books and naming the things on each page.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?

Nice quality books, good for pointing out different things and learning new words. Maybe too many things on some pages.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?

Liked them very much, chooses to bring them out very often.

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?

Yes, although expensive at full price. Good for learning new words, numbers etc. Good for different things at different stages. Long life.


Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?

n/a

Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent

4 stars.

[TwoCotbeds]

Sorry late reply and needed a reminder from Ann Mumsnet this time....


Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?

Alphablocks pack so presume learn to read.

Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?

They use a mixture of reading schemes at school but most so far only in recpetion seem to be "Jelly and Bean" series. My DTD seemed to prefer the look of the alphablocks books to school ones and cos she knows them from tv but when it came to reading them, she found alphablocks ones too hard so prefers the school ones.

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
She liked cover but not so much content. generally too hard which is not the books fault but her school ones are exactly targetted to her.
Also she has a thing about kittens at moment so likes books with cats in most.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?

I llove the idea of the alphablocks and dc have watched them a bit. Altough not that much as eldest too old for cbeebies now. Book design is nice but I thought the stories were weak and overall bit clumsy, some pages have a word spelled by the group of characters and some not. bit confusing.
.
Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?


initally liked look and was eager but then after one 'read' together with me she lost interest. she prefers 'poppy' books dr seuss books, school ones and any with kittens or puppies in.

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
I'd recomend the programme but not the books, don't hang together well and bit clumsy i think.


Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?

She's only 5 so not really does this yet.

Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent
I'd have to say 1 sorry to say as they just have not got used at all. But part of that is too hard for her now, but maybe in 6 months she could manage them but then in Yr1 she may think they look too babyish then?!

[onfriday]

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
We got the learning to read phonics books

Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?
My child is not learning English as a first language at school so can't compare but my son is and I prefer the ones you sent to the dreaded Biff and Chip ORT they get home from school

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
She enjoys the satisfaction of being able to read for herself.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
Overall it is a good pack. Some of the words are a bit obscure or old fashioned or not the most obvious words but that is because they have been chosen to be easy to sound out and rhyme.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
She has really enjoyed them. Not her first choice when I ask her to chose a book because there isn't much of a story to them but she does enjoy looking at them when she wants to try and read for herself.

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Yes, it makes a change from the stuff they get from school.

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
Yes. She would probably show them to friends.

Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent.
I would say 4. They did their job but I prefer more old fashioned hand drawn look books with a bit more of a story but they are good learning to read books.

[whimsy]

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
We got the Gold pack of books this time around. "Sick as a Parrot", "Going into Space", "The wrong jumper", and "You can do this".

Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?
ORT used at school. The level seemed about correct.

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
Ds enjoyed the books. He really enjoyed the space book.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
Overall very good.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
"I like these book, we can talk about them lots"

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Yes I would recommend them. They are a bit different which I like :)

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
Yes and he has already taken them into school to show his class.

Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent
Overall 4.5

Sorry I thought I'd already given the feedback.

[ClaimedByMe]

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
Colour young puffin books
Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?
These books were much more up to date than the reading books from school and more interesting. Ds uses ORT at school.
Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
Ds loves reading and is really confident reading to himself but needing confidence reading aloud.
Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
The book pack was really good, fresh, really held ds's attention
Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
"funny with big words" I think he means big writing, he has terrible eye sight and struggles with small writing
Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
I would reccomend, my horrendous reading dd aged 9 really liked the books too, if they got her attention they must be good!
Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
I think he would, he really seemed to enjoy them.
Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent
5

[DogEared]

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
I had the pack which included the Ben Ten book and the chocolate book. I think it was probably a learning to read pack, seeing as DS is 6.

Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?

They were a bit easier than what DS gets in school. He's no longer on a reading tree, but gets to pick his own reading books (usually Horrid Bloody Henry!)

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?

Yes! They held his attention more than is usual for reading books.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
It was a brilliant pack. Unfortunately, I have ishoos with Ben Ten and don't think it's suitable for children of DS's age due to the violence. So I wouldn't buy this as a pack because of the inclusion of that book. However, the other books were great, especially the Chocolate one, which DS took to bed with him!

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
"It's good and it's nice that there's a book about chocolate because all people ever say about chocolate is that it's unhealthy but this told you about it and I learned things!"

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
All except Ben 10.

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
Yes, I think they're deemed cool enough by DS to earn a recommendation. :)

Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent

4

[TheScottishPlayer]

Sorry for the late post!


Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?

We got a set of alpha blocks phonics books so learning to read.

Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?

DS isn't at school, but the local primary school use jolly phonics, which I think I prefer. DS really enjoys the jolly phonics workbooks and they have lots of different activities. I
t was hard to say really - the 3 books I got were for different levels within the reading scheme so to get much use out of them I think we would need to purchase additional books.

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?

DS did seem to enjoy them, but if he hadn't already done some jolly phonics at home, then I think he would have struggled with them a bit and got bored pretty quickly.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?

It was ok, but as a stand alone pack I didn't find it particularly useful. However, it did prompt me to have a look at what other alpha blocks resources there were which led me to the cbeebies website and the games/activities on there were great. He absolutely loves them and has picked up lots of new letter sounds.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?

He liked it.
Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?

Probably not. As a stand alone pack I didn't find them particularly useful and I couldn't recommend the whole series as I haven't used them. To be honest, I'd tell them to save their money and use the alpha blocks cbeebies website instead.

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?

Probably - only because he likes the characters. He's only looked at the books once and never chosen them again. Whenever he wants to practice letters he digs out his jolly phonics books or asks to play alpha blocks on the computer.

Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent

3

[TiredTits]

We are still waiting for our 2nd set of books to arrive, I should have relied to the email sent to remind me to write a review but I didn't.

I haven't had any emails from pearsons so not sure what to do?

I would be interested in doing a swap with the first set if anyone else is interested, DD2 was only really interested in the first set to read once although DD3 still takes a look at a couple of the first set every couple of days!!

[funnypeculiar]

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
Learning to Read - Silly Silly Jack; Wallace and Gromit; Sea Snaps
Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?
School uses a mix of schemes - I would say these were visually more engaging than most of the school ranges. Both were at a perfect level for her in terms of her ability (ie she could read them easily)
Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
Yes - although none of them really called to her, she enjoyed them (esp the humour of Silly Jack) once she actually read them.
Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
Great for school reading books, but not the sort of thing I'd normally buy myself. I loved the pictures in Sea Snaps (as an ex diver!)
Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
She loved Silly JAck - great humour, and also enjoyed The Sea Snaps book.
Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Yes, like the hints on the covers, and nice to have something a bit different/visually engaging. I'd recommend them more to schools though - tbh dd only really read each one once, like she would a school reading book. Home books tend to have more about them (even if she can't read it all yet)
Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
I think they would score as an average - naturally, read yourself books are not as engaging as books she has read to her (Mr Gum the current favourite!)
Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent
3/4

[MiraNova]

We also received the books late, but have now read them, and have the following comments:

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
Run in the Rainforest, Yun and the Ice Spirit and Can you do this? DS is 5.5 yrs, a good reader and these were just the right level for him.

Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?
Mixed books at School. DS usually chooses ORT- loves Biff, Chip, Floppy etc stories, but we get others too. These compare well - particularly Yun and the Ice Spirit, which we are reading most evenings at the moment. There are other stories about Yun - so we will be looking out for those.

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
Yes, he enjoys all 3 books. We've had some great fun with "Can you do This?" and DS laughs hysterically when trying to do the actions.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
All 3 books are good, and DS has enjoyed reading and re-reading them.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
DS says of "Yun and the Ice Spirit" - "It is fantastic. "Run in the rainforest" had a funny ending, and he liked the "Pat and Rub" in "can you do this".

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Yes - they were interesting and entertaining books.

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
If a friend saw the book, he would probably give an opinion on it - otherwise he probably wouldn't think to mention it.

Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent
5 stars.

[OvO]

Sorry, should have posted earlier but I never received the latest pack so that's why I've not posted a review - I wasn't being lazy, honest guv!

[Scaredycat3000]

Sorry for the delay, only got them a week ago and family life, etc.
Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
The Alphablocks
Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?
N/A
Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
He likes the characters so enjoyed the colourful pages. He liked repeating the words as we said them and asks us to read out the words.
Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
Gives clear instructions to the adult how to use the books with your child. Bright colourful, clear pages make it fun to use.
Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
N/A
Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
I would recommend this to anyone who wanted to teach their child to read using phonics as they seem simple to use.
Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
N/A
Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent
3*

[Fillybuster]

Feedback - finally. Sorry for the slight delay...as I explained before, we received our books a bit late, and ds needed to finish the 2 books he was already reading before getting started. Anyway...here we go:

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?

Pack of 3 books: Stig of the Dump, Mr Majeeka, Stuart Little. The books are for ages 7-9 so I think there is an expectation children will read them alone, but I could be wrong.

Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?

DS uses a range of schemes at school (including the Pearson books!) and these were all substantially more challenging (longer and harder) than the books they are set for homework. But at the moment the Y2 homework books are intended to be read in one evening, and he is also reading the Famous Five, which is probably roughtly equivalent to these.


Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?

DS loves reading, and has adored being the recipient of books from Pearson! He has really enjoyed the excitement of getting a package in the post, and loved the range of the selection. I think he enjoyed this series less than the last, but that's down to the individual books (and the fact that we have now moved to a 5 min walk from our local library, which ups the ante!)

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?

Good, but not as good as previous selections.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?


Good, but not as good as previous packs.

Specifically:

"Stuart Little is a great book. I really enjoyed it. Although it doesn't do what it says on the blurb on the back (ie find his friend), it was a really good story and I would read it again"

"Stig of the Dump was quite difficult to read as I didn't really understand it. I think I will enjoy it when I am a little bit older" (DS is 6.5)

[NB DS got to around pg 50 before admitting he didn't really understand what was going on. When we discussed it, it turned out his confusion had started on page 4 or 5 (when Stig appears) because he didn't understand the premise of the book and knows nothing about cave men or the stone age. We have agreed to read the book together, so I can explain the concepts]

"I didn't like Mr Majeeka. I read 20 pages (the amount we had agreed would be a fair test) and I still didn't find it interesting. It was only about Mr Majeeka and not about the other characters and I just didn't want to read any more of it"

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?

I would recommend Stuart Little to read alone and Stig of the Dump as a 'read with' book. I agree with DS' verdict on Mr Majeeka!


Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?

He is planning to take Stuart Little into school next term to share with his class.


Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent

3 (5 for stuart little, 3.5 for Stig and 1 for Mr Majeeka)

I know these were the last books in the test series, so I would just like to say a big "thank you" again to Pearson for this product test. DS' reading was given a huge boost last summer due to the enormous Bug Pack set of books you sent him, and everything since then has helped to consolidate his view that reading is both cool and fun. Thank you thank you thank you :) :) :)

[seenbutnotheard]

Sorry about the delay - dd wanted to read all three books and we have had a lot of school work to do in the last couple of weeks.

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
dd had 3 Colour Young Puffin books:
A is for Aaargh!
Dinosaur School
Pirate School - Just bit of wind

Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?
dd's school use a wide variety of books but generally follow Oxford Reading Tree. dd has, since the beginning of year 2 gone from ORT Blue level to White - If you told me 8 months ago that she would have made this much progress I would never have believed you!
These three books are perhaps a little easier than she is currently bringing home, but dd really enjoyed them. She could probably have done with a slightly more challenging set.

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
DD enjoyed the stories which seemed much more engaging than some of the older ORT books that she brings home.
Her only real criticism was that she thought the books were "quite boyish"
My criticism would be that they were a little easy.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
This is a great pack - it says for "developing readers" and a month ago, I think they would have been perfect.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
"Mummy, please tell the book people that I have really liked all of their books - are we going to get anymore, PLEASE"

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Yes I would, and to be honest, I have been delighted with all of the Pearson books and feel very blessed to have had the chance of taking part in this panel. At the beginning of this process, dd's confidence was so low, she knew very well that she was behind her peers, and she was losing faith in her ability. The first set of books showed her that reading could be fun and she has gone from strength to strength. Yes, I know, that could have happened without the input of Pearson, but you have, in my opinion, played more than a small part.

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
Yes, as with all of the other books, she has been keen to pass them on to her friends (although this time, she wants to show her teacher first)

Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent
4 stars, but really would have been 5 six weeks ago.

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?

My first words and my first numbers - so I guess they are reading together books.

Q2 If a "learning to read" pack, how do the books compare with the reading practice books your child brings home from school? Which reading scheme does your child use at school?

n/a

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?

ds (3.6) enjoys the numbers book, but (imo) the first words is for 18 months+. DS cannot read yet so the words book isn't any good for reading.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?

As before I like the quality of the books and that fact that they are board books. I also like the fact that the pictures are photographs of the actual object rather than illustrations. The two books, whilst seemingly are for the same age, I think they're probably not (see my above comment)

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?

He likes the photographs - especially in the words book. He also liked to recognise the numbers in the number book.

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?

Yes I would. They are made to a high quality and the pictures are clear.

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?

n/a

Q8 What star rating would you give this pack of books overall? Please use a rating system out of 5 where 1 star is poor and 5 stars are excellent

5 stars.