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

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 - WALLACE/GROMIT SILLY SILLY JACK AND THE SEA CREATURES ONE

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?
USES ORT WHICH HE LOVES. THESE ARE COMPARABLE IN TERMS OF LEVEL, BUT WE'VE NEVER USED ANY FACTUAL BOOKS FROM ORT.

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
HE WASNT FUSSED ON THE FACTUAL ONE ,AND WALLACE AND GROMIT WAS A BIT TOO SIMPLE FOR HIM. BUT HE LOVED SILLY JACK AND READS IT A LOT!

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
I LIKE THEM.W&G NOT GOT MUCH SUBSTANCE, BUT THE OTHER TWO WERE PITCHED JUST RIGHT. I LIKED THE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
'I LIKE SILLY JACK ITS A GOOD STORY. ITS FUNNY. ITS EASY TO READ. WALLACE AND GROMIT MADE A MACHINE AND GOT FATTER AND FATTER. THE SEA CREATURE ONE WAS GOOD - DADDY COULDNT SAY ONE OF THEM'

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
YES, I WOULD- THEY'RE NICE :)

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
HE ISNT REALLY INTO RECOMMENDING BOOKS, BUT HE WOULD DESCRIBE THEM IN A POSITIVE LIGHT, YES.

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.

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

We recieved a pack of Colour Young Puffins with 'Fat Lawrence', 'The Robodog' and 'Cosmo and the Pirates'. The books say thay are for developing readers but are too far advanced for my ds (6) at present. I am clueless (and a little uninterested if I am honest as I am happy with his progress) in what all the different reading scheme levels are but the last ORT book he brought home was stage 8. He is gaining confidence all the time but these are still beyong him though I know my friends ds also in year 1 would have no problems.

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?

See above really. I don't really know if these are intended as a learning to read pack or not. If they are then they are above his current level. We enjoyed reading them together though.

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

Yes. He enjoyed the stories, seemed quite excited by the ghosts in 'Cosmo and the Pirates' and enjoyed 'The Robodog' as slightly dog obsessed at present.

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

Ds enjoyed the fact that the stories had colour illustrations as we read more chapter books these days with fewer or no illustration. The stories were a little shorter than we are now used to but I understand why if intended for young readers. I'm sure we will revisit them then.

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

Ds says 'The books were really good. I liked the way the stories were written and the pictures were good.'

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

Yes, either as the first stage between bedtime picture books to chapter books or when more confident at reading.

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

Ds says 'Yes, because I think they would like them as much as I do'

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

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", "Fang Family Sports Day Snack Attack", 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?
We seem to have a lot of new books at school and some of them are Pearson ones.

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
She only enjoyed the Fang family and the parrot books as she prefers fiction.
I didn't think they were particularly good stories but she liked them.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
A good mixture of books

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

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Probably not as there are a lot more interesting books to be bought

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their Friends?
No I don't

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 stars as nothing very fascinating about any of them x

DS is 2y8m.

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

They were My First Number and My First Word so I guess if anything, 'learning to read' pack!

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 - not on a reading scheme, but if most reading schemes are done on phonics, these wouldn't complement very easily.

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

Yes he does enjoy these books - loves books generally.

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

Quality and production fantastic as the DK books we had previously. Pictures slightly dated - examples of household objects (in the Word book) include a distinctly early-90s looking Telephone.

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

Interest and pointing - an ok review. He's not going for them by choice in the way he did the Opposites and Colours from the same series.

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

Not sure I would really. They don't (afaik) complement phonics methods, the choice of pictures to match the words/numbers are a bit random, the pages in the Numbers book jump from single digits to 20, 100 which is just far too much for a toddler to conceptualise. They're board books so won't retain their appeal to a child who is doing those sorts of numbers.

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

I don't think so. Their obvious competitors in DS's bookshelves are the Jolly Stories phonics book, which has lots to look for and pick out of the scenes, and the Ten Little Ladybirds book for counting (backwards I grant you!)

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

1. Just.

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

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 she loved them. She really enjoyed the simplness of hair mcclearly

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
Good books to read together, wonderful stories, just the right length with wonderful pictures.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
She said they were good.

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Yes, fab stories.

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
Yes she has already shown them to her cousins

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

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 I think - there was 'You can do this' something about vampires, Going into Space and some others I don't remember

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 were harder than the school level (ORT purple) but still well within her range at 6yo. She's a very good reader

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

Yes she did Loved the Space one, enjoyed the vampire one, wants to try the experiments in You can do this.

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

I was impressed at the lack of gender stereotyping - which is my bugbear I do think they look a bit 'institutional' DD sighed and rolled her eyes when I presented her with them, she sniffed out the 'educational value' slant from across the room However she did really enjoy them - which makes me think the marketing isn't right on the cover Could they look more like abook you would just buy in a shop - rather than a reading programme book?

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

Liked them - and surprised to like them!

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

Yes I would.

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

Probably, although I am unconvinced of how much time my dd and her friends spend talking about books. More likely to be talking about Scooby Doo

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

4/5 - loose one for boring covers and the school reading programme feel. Sorry.

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
Bug Club Orange band- 4 books, 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?
Similar difficulty IIRC tho DS has passed this book band already . SO he thought they were quite easy.

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
Yes, he liked them being "easy" and new and shiny and not about BIff n Chip.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
NIce looking books, good to have non fiction and cartoon formats as well as story book.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
He likes them.

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Yes, good looking books that are not about same characters as school booksstories.

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
This pack will be passed onto 1 or 2 friends who are reading at about this level to see what they think.

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

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. First we got a set of 4 alphablocks books which were lovely but are now too easy for DD so then we were sent Phonics bug pack 5.

_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?
Comparable to her school reading books ? they use phonics bug, Floppy?s phonics, a few other phonic based schemes and some older ORT books.

_Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
Yes. They are bright, colourful and pitched at the same letters and sounds stage she is doing at school.

_Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
Now the phonic stories make a bit more sense (as opposed to Sid?s Nit?s and Tim?s Din), I was impressed. I liked the non-fiction letter from Dorset as it is a nice change. I like the clear phonic objectives labeled on the back of the book as it links to the letters and sounds phase. The tricky word bit at the front meant she could read the story with more fluency as she wasn?t decoding the word for the first time.

_Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
She loved the fact it was a parcel for her. Really enjoyed the alphablocks books even though they were too easy. She has also voluntarily read the harder books and liked them.

_Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Not as a book to buy for fun but I have loaned them to people to help their children with the sounding out of cvc words. Also now I have seen more of the scheme we will probably be buying it in the school I teach in.

_Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
Possibly in the context of changing reading scheme books at school.

_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

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 three books from the Green pack; 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?

• We use ORT and they are the same level, so can read nearly all the words easily and understand the comprehension.

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

• DS1 loved Silly, Silly Jack! since it Jack did a lot of funny things. He read this twice straight away. He did like the others but goes back to Silly, Silly Jack!

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

• Good level and variety

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

• He liked them.

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

• Yes, because they offer variety and it is easy to find the right level that they can read.

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

• Yes, would recommend Silly, 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

• Four

Thanks for letting us take part, we are really enjoying it!

what happened about the monthly draw?

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, 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 DD1 not at school yet.

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

Yes. She engaged with the books straight away and enjoyed reading them, recognizing the characters from the TV series too, although she doesn't watch the TV programme much.

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

I thought they were pretty good. I found the parents' notes helpful. I have to say though I find reading these sort of books in general to DD less rewarding than storybooks, which she tends to ask for again and again. She read these and never asks for them unprompted, though is happy to read them when offered. TBH this is the case with all this sort of books - she tends to get caught up in storybooks.

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

She likes them in the sense that she is happy to read them when they are offered to her, and they are a perfect level for pre-school I think, but as above has not requested them to be read with her as she does with storybooks.

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

Yes, for a child under school age as I think they are well done and more inspiring than some of their competitors.

Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
I am not sure - because she doesn't remember them from one reading to the next, unlike more narrative books.

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

Thank you to Pearsons for allowing us to take part in this test; we have really enjoyed it.

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 baby touch 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?
Yes, she loves books she can touch and these are very touchy/feely. She liked pointing out different things to me and lifting the flaps.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
great books for older babies/young toddlers.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
Too young to say, but she seems to really like these.

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

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
4.5 stars.

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 Carol Vorderman Maths Made Easy and English Made Easy (for ages 7-8)

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 learning to read. They use Treetops at the moment.

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

Yes, he enjoyed the maths and to through them quickly. The English he was able to answer well, but struggles a little with writing. Working towards the sticker reward keeps him motivated.

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

Very good - enjoyable for him, lasted a few days.

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

He liked them, but he did consider it 'work' rather than play, which is fair enough!

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

Yes, just as a back-up to stuff they do at school.

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

Unlikely,as I said, he sees it as work, as would his 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

4

Thanks to Mumsnet for the opportunity.

lisad123 - we're doing the draw at the end of each wave of reviewing - the timing has been a bit more spread out than we anticipated. So each time you do a review you are in the draw for that wave.

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
Learn to Read at Home with Bug Club Blue Pack - Stop That Noise, What We Do All Day, The Cake Sale Goo

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?
Increasing our school is sending home Pearsons phonics books which are at a very similar level (unsuprisingly!) We also get Songbirds and ORT, ds is confident reading blue banded books now so these are well suited for practising/fluency but I think really he needs green banded books now.

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
Yes definitely, although since starting this review process I have bought quite a number of these books so we already have got and have read previously Stop That Noise and The Cake Sale Goo.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
I would highly recommend, these books capture ds's attention and have brought his reading on massively over the last 6 months.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
"I really like the information books cos they are interesting."

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Definitely, they have helped ds's reading enormously and he really enjoys them. I will continue to buy them. The notes at the front and the backs of the books are particularly useful. I do however think it's a shame I have had to place such reliance on these books and wish that school had provided us with something similar that we could have read at home together.

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 if he knew to!

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.

Thanks Mumsnet and Pearson!

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

We received a Puffin Pack - Age 5 to 7 which I think is a reading together pack.

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, the stories were a good length and there were illustrations which my son liked.

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

We both liked the stories which is a good sign, they were perfect for my 6 year old son.

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

He said they were his best stories!

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

Yes, the chapters were just the right length and the stories were fun to read

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

Yes, because he liked the stories

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

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 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?
ORT at school. DD is a creature of habit and likes the ORT books. But she did enjoy Silly Silly Jack a lot.
Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
Fiction ones more than the non fiction.
Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
Nice mix, but quite different in terms of skill required?
Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
I liked Silly Silly Jack best. I also like the seahorse.
Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Yes, a good variety. Great if your child is bored of Biff Chip et al
Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
Yes - as they cover different likes
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

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 3 books from the colour young puffin range, Only a show,the witches dog & dragon ride.

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 are similar to the books dd is now reading at school at the moment they were quite different to the las pack we had and they have taken her longer to read which she likes it took a couple of days per book

Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
yes very much so, she said they were very grown up books lol

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
very good, lots of words as dd likes, nice illustrations to go with the text also

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

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Yes but only if the child was good at reading to start with as they were very long books this time around

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

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 dd thoroughly enjoyed reading them

[smile thansk mumsnet & pearson

Firstly, thank you again to Pearson for the lovely books

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 (alphablocks set)

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?

I and ds love alphablocks on the tv so this set is great. It works alongside the 'chip and kipper' (Oxford Reading Tree) books he's getting from school.

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

DS really enjoyed them, he loves the tv so they're perfect for him

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

A lovely set of 4 books which are both educational and fun. The colours in the books are lovely

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

He's a bit too little to review them but he did say that he liked them

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

Yes I would because they are books a child recognises from the tv programme

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

He's too little

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 give these books 5 out of 5

Our feedback is going to be a bit delayed - we only got the books this week and DS had just started on a new Famous Five the day before. He has decided (reasonably enough) that he'd like to finish that before he starts anything else....each of the books we've been sent will take him about a week to read, so I won't be able to post his feedback for a little while. Sorry!

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

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. My DD is not at school yet.

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

Yes she did like reading them but I am not sure she would naturally go to pick them up given a free choice. She is more likely to pick "Stick Man" or a "Princess Poppy" type book.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
I think the pack is excellent. I like Alphablocks as it helps us parents who did not learn to read with phonics. I can see my daughter using the information to try to sound out words (e.g. ASDA!) I think the books are very clever and not too long for the children to concentrate on. My younger DD has also listened to the stories but obviously takes something else from it.

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

I have just asked my daughter and she says that she didn't like them because they were too hard. This might be because she hasn't started school yet. Maybe it is a case that the parent likes them more than the child, as I think they are great.

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

Perhaps for a child who has started to school.

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

I don't think my DD will as she doesn't seem as keen on them as me.

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 give them 3/5. If my daughter was more keen on them it would be a higher score. She is 4 so maybe in a year's time she would be keener.

Sorry it has taken a while, and that I have had to type this from my iPad.

1. Which pack did you review? We reviewed the phonics bugs pack for year 2- learning to read.

2)If learning to read, how do these compare to the books used at school. Which reading scheme does your school use?
I thought these books were really good. The stories are varied and interesting and it is nice to have a mixture of fiction and non-fiction books for children who are learning to read. Our school uses Oxford Reading Tree and Storyworlds.

3)Would you say your child enjoyed reading the books?
Definitely. The books have more words in which can be decoded so they are easier to read. They have boosted my child's confidence no end.

4)What is your overall review of the book pack?
I really do think they would make a good purchase if you wanted to buy books to supplement the ones brought home from school. I think the subject matter is engaging and completely different to the books brought back from school. The use of familiar characters such as Casper the ghost made my son more interested in reading the books.

5)What is your own child's review of the book pack?
He really likes them, he feels like he is trying to read his own books as opposed to doing 'homework'.

6)Would you recommend these books to another parent?
Definitely.

7)Would your child recommend these books to friends?
Definitely, he took one of the books from the last phase in to school to show his teacher.

8)What star rating would you give this pack overall?
5 stars. Excellent.

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
We've been reviewing Baby Senses and Baby Talking by Dr. Miriam Stoppard. I'm assuming they fall into the Reading Together catagory!

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 enjoyed the Baby Senses one, but wasn't particularly fussed with the Baby Talking one.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
This is probably my least favourite of the ones we've received so far. There seem to be a lot of things jumbled onto each page and DD sometimes doesn't seem to know where she's meant to be looking. Other books have different words and objects presented in a clearer way.
The different textures are interesting, DD liked the sticky bananas! Though I fear they are going to become rather fluffy bananas in time... The Baby Talking book doesn't work well without the accompanying CD, and it's not always practical to use the CD when reading the book together!

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
She liked the different textures in the Baby Senses one, but wasn't fussed with Baby Talking.

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Probably not, because there are better examples of both types of books out there. In particular the "That's Not My..." series for presenting different textures.

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
Probably only a 2.

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
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 she's not at school yet
Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not?
Yes, really enjoyed them. She's just starting to want to learn more about reading and these have really caught her attention.
Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
Very good. Makes me want to buy more of them!
Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
She's always bringing the, to me so I think very positive.
Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Yes, they're a good introduction to learning to read.
Q7 Do you think your child would recommend these books to their friends (if they are old enough!)? Why/why not?
Yes, she's thrilled that she's starting to recognise letters and short words.
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 out of 5!

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.