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

Ok, thanks

Q1. We received the 'Learning to read' pack I think. (Bug Club and Phonics club books)
Q2. My daughter is not in school, but compared to other phonics/ reading scheme type books we have at home these books seemed less 'schooly' and more like an ordinary book than a reading scheme book.
Q3. My child really enjoyed the books. She reads fluently, but chose to read these books to herself.
Q4. I think these books were more appealing than most reading scheme books. The pack was varied and the illustations were great, making the pack feel more like a nice random selection of fun books than a scheme.
Q5. 'I like the pictures'. (Harry and the dinosaurs was a particular favourite, it had the feel of a 'big kids book')
Q6. Definitely, and I intend to use these books when tutoring other children, because I think they hold more appeal than other reading schemes. The character/ lego based books are particularily appealing to reluctant boy readers.
Q7. She enjoyed showing them to a friend, and took the opportunity to show off her reading.

(Sorry I was late replying!)

Sorry...Q8. 4/5 ( I would probably have given 5 but they were too easy for my child)

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"?
We had the pre school pack - Meg and Mog, Dear Zoo, Each Peach, Pear, Plum.
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 applicable
Q3 Would you say your child enjoy reading or looking at the books? Why/why not? Yes. He loved Dear Zoo. Animals are his thing at the moment and he loved lifting the flap - we got a 'wow' each time for each animal. He didn't seem as keen on Meg and Mog but did keep saying 'Roar' everytime he saw Mog so I think he may have his cats and lions confused. He seemed to get bored of Meg and Mog after the first page. He liked Each peach too -so I think at his age the books with flaps and more interactive are good.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack?
Good. Dear Zoo was a great book - it is simple and engaging and fascinates small children. As an adult Each peach is fun to read to him, we had lots of fun spotting the hidden characters.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack?
He is too young (20 months) but I can tell he loves Dear Zoo, as it is one that always gets picked off the shelf!
Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not?
Yes - have already bought Dear Zoo for my niece and a friend's little girl.

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

Just replied to my e-mail re the next step, thank you!

Q1 Which pack or books did you and your child review? Was the pack of books for "learning to read" or "reading together"? We reviewed a pre-school pack of Dorling Kindersley photo picture books, My First Word and My First Number.

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, definitely, she will happily look at these on her own or with me, and regularly brings them from her toybox to look at. Over the last few weeks she's become old enough to name items and make animal noises on the animal page etc. These are more interactive 'toy' books rather than ones we'd read at story time.

Q4 What's your overall review of the book pack? A lovely set of books that I'd buy again or buy as a gift for someone. I've always been a huge fan of DK books and these are no exception. I prefer photo picture books for babies as they're more acessible to them and more recognisable. They're good quality cardboard too and have stood up to alot of rough treatment.

Q5 And what is your child's review of the book pack? I think by the amount of times she reaches for them that she would review them very highly.

Q6 Would you recommend these books to another parent? Why/why not? Yes definitely. Why? Because they are 'baby recommended' so I know they're good books. Because the range of pictures is good and contain lots of familar items.

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

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 say 5 as I really can't see any negatives.

dd2 is 4.6, just going into Reception in September.

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 phase 3 (I think Red?):
Sid is Sick,
Sid and Zak,
The Fox and the Ducks
Jack gets a pet

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?

dd2 does not yet have a reading scheme, but we have some ORT (Biff, Kipper et al from dd1's attempts at early reading). tbh, dd2 prefers the ORT, but this could well be because her sister prefers them (big sister still absolute heroine in dd2's eyes). dd2 did like Jack gets a pet a LOT - I think because of the photos. it was a lot clearer to her what the words underneath might be saying (she coudl make better informed guesses!) than in the Sid and Zk or Sid is Sick books. The Fox and the Ducks was also interesting for her - clearer cartoon pictures, not so cluttered.

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

oh sorry - see above for a couple of comments. dd2 did enjoy Jack gets a pet, and Fox and Ducks. but not the other 2 so much. she did not really ask many questions about the storyline (although I was pleased to see the girl being the vet, not "just" a nurse, I didn't like the insistence on not sharing/taking turns etc - I thought it a little abrupt and rude, tbh)

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

the photo book was nice. It has a clear storyline, and the pictures depict what the text says quite well (although not when Rex is supposed to eb licking! - quite confusing when all the other picutres have been clearly a massive support for the text)
I found the Sid books cluttered and confusing, and the stories not so interesting for dd2 (or dd1 - age just 7, with severe ASD so on the same level of reading atm)

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

dd2 prefers Biff, Kipper et al, I'm afraid. she has asked to read the dog book again, though. and she liked the stickers.

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

I might suggest them if asked what schemes I have tried. I would recommend the photo series ones, but didn't like the Sid ones.

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

not sure dd2 is into giving reviews to her peers . but if aske dwhat reading books she has enjoyed (ie phonics ones) I htink she would say the ORT.

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. Jack gets a pet woudl rate a 5 for me, but overall I think it was not a great pack for dd2. it didn't really capture her imagination, and the pictures didn't appeal to her either - it was quite hard work getting her to sit and read them with me, which was somehting I have never found with dd2, tbh. she is usually massively ken t sit and read with me.

Thanks for all the feedback panel members and for the responses to the email re next stage.

Am pleased to say ClaimedByMe was selected as the first winner - and she gets £100 John Lewis voucher

Thank you! I think i have replied to the PM and eventually the email!

We have now tried teh Pearson e-books on mumsnet. DS is BIG fan. He agreed to read a pink band and a couple of early phonics ones. then loved having the computer "read" him a few high level books with long stories/ chapters.

Hi Ann, didn't pick up your email of 30/8 till 2/9 as on holiday. Have replied now in the affirmative and just wondered when we are likely to hear directly from Pearson? Just want to make sure we haven't missed the boat for replying a bit late! Thanks!

No gazzalw it's fine - appreciate folks are / have been away - it'll be a week or so I think. Ordering about 3rd week of Sept. Thanks

Thanks Ann, DD is looking forward to the next batch and hoping that with term about to start that she will be more receptive than during summer hols!

just popped in to check I haven't missed the Pearson e-mail too- I'm a bit rubbish at checking my mail. Glad to see i haven't!

Hi. DS is 6 and has just started Y2.

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 pack with Chocolate, All About Mummies, Ben 10 and The Wrong Jumper.

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 thought they compared favourably. The language seemed about the same, though I think the school books might be at a slightly higher level. He's reading ORT level 10.

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

Yes, he enjoyed them more than he thought he would. He read the Mummies book straight away but needed encouragement to read the others, though enjoyed them when he did.

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

Very good. I think the two non-fiction books were excellent and I learnt stuff reading them. A friend, who is a KS1 teacher, particularly liked the Ben 10 book. She said the language was much more suitable for the age group than other Ben 10 books.

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

His favourite was Chocolate and the Wrong Jumper was funny!

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

Yes, I would. They offered a good variety of reading material.

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

Yes, I think DS was surprised he liked the Ben 10 book because he hasn't liked others that he's read. He particularly enjoys non-fiction books so he would probably tell his friends they were interesting.

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 (there's always room for improvement)

Thanks for the books. They were nice to receive.

Hurrah - new books coming soon!

DS is going to be SO excited !

Thank you Pearson and MN!

New books arrived today. 3 chapter books puffins 5-7 range & A Yr 1 bug club read at home pack - which is identical to the books we received in the first review pack.

Would Pearson like me to re review the bug club pack or send it back or pass it on to someone else.

UniS, I have just logged on to post the exact same thing. I have emailed too.

I was going to ask the exact same thing!

I've just received mine - the Young Puffin books (3) we didn't get the first time around but the other pack (Year 1 Rd at Hm BC Pk) is the one we had in the summer so will leave it in its packaging until further instruction!
Oh dear....

just had my nxt set of book del this morning will be reading some more at bed time :)

I'll try and find out what's happened

Ann

Thanks Ann

Just received two sets of books but it included the same set as last time. Help

I have just received my books but, like last time, I got the Secret Garden, The Railway Children and Charlotte's Web which my DC is not yet ready for - he's 6 and reading ORT Stage 10/11 at the moment and also simple chapter books (Astrosaurs for example).

However we also received a set of Pearson learning to read books which are Orange/Phase 5 - I was pleased to see them labelled with the phonics phases as I provide phonics support for lower achievers in year 4 at work and so the phonics phase is meaningful.

One of the books was Chase in New York which my DC will probably enjoy but will find it is well below his reading level, another was Casper's Scare School which I will be passing on to a friend as my DC does not like ghosts at all (sorry!), he will find Fun Festivals very interesting but, again, a very easy read. He loves non-fiction though so it'll appeal to him for that reason - he'd also like Fun Flips.

This what he says so far.

Chase in New York: He didn't want to look at it because it wasn't an information book, and the same for the Casper book. He put them straight on one side and doesn't want to look at them, though I suspect he will another time.
I'll post another message with his thoughts when he's had time to enjoy them.

Thank you for sending them.