Thank you for the books - a nice end-of-week treat for DD (now six). It seems like an age since DD had the last lot of books which I seem to recall where too advanced for her to read independently (they were young puffin ones) but made good bedtime stories, although she did consider them to be "more boys than girls books"!
Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
Not sure of the pack name but it was a set of three picture puffin books - more girl-oriented this time aroud (so thank you, Pearson). The books - "Hairy Maclary", "Angelina Ballerina" and "Princess Smartypants" - could be construed as either "reading together" or "learning to read" ones. We have read all of them in the past but with us reading to DD. This time around though she read them to us!
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?
Not sure what reading scheme DD follows at school as they read from a variety of different books not all in the same scheme. She is on Turquoise Level and soon to go onto Gold if that sounds familiar to anyone?
Although the words in these three books don't necessarily translate across to the books she is reading at school, would say in terms of new words etc... they are much of a level.
Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
She loves all three titles. She still prefers a colourful picture book to a more densely-texted paperback, so was more than happy to read them. I would say that they did not particularly stretch her reading-wise, but that's not always the point is it? And in a way it meant that reading them was less of a 'chore' and more a labour of love which has always got to be a good thing.
And perhaps most importantly, the plots of all three are significantly more interesting than those in some of the books sent home from school - and that is what really grabs the children, isn't it?
Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
Good and girl-friendly but without being overly saccharine! A good range really but possibly more suited to an end of Reception child than nearly end-of-Year One one.
Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
She really loved the books and asked when she would be getting some more! So a lot more in tune with her interests and level this time around!
Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Yes, I would although as I said, think maybe for a five-year-old rather than nearly 6 1/2 year old. She would probably choose similar level books from the library but we would probably choose ones with more text and which we considered to be more of a challenge for her!
Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
Yes, most definitely! "Because they are funny" was her response!
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
Well for a slightly younger child I would give them a 5/5 rating and for DD would give a 4/5 based purely on the reading level. But have to say that books are always about more than reading and she got a lot out of them in other ways. With "Hairy Maclary" it's the love of rhyme and with "Angelina Ballerina" it was being able to compare the theatre picture to our local theatre which really excited her - and she didn't need prompting about that at all.