Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers by Bobby Lynn Maslen
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Book Reviews of Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers
Book Review: I read it all by myself! (Thanks to Bob Books)
Summary: 5 Stars
My 3-year-old son has been interested in sounding out words and even trying to write them since he was 2 1/2, and recently he has been clamoring to read alone -- but understandably, at his age it is way too hard to explain all the rules and exceptions of the English language. He has been frustrated when we always have to run to his aid for hard words, and has taken to memorizing the story lines in order to be able to "read" the words that he can't sound out. For that reason, the books we all buy for our children are not always ideal for them to read by themselves -- not even the Caldecott winners, as they tell great stories with words children understand when they hear them, but that is different from being designed for learning how to read the words. So when I found a few solitary beginning Bob Books at a discount store for next to nothing, and saw that they seemed to use only simple words in which every letter makes the sound it is supposed to make (i.e., words like "cat" and "sun," but not "high" or "key"), I picked them up. That same day my son, at just 3 and 2 months, was able to sit down and read one of those books cover to cover without an adult's assistance for a single word. And then the next one. And the next one. So suffice it to say, I am on Amazon now at his insistence, to buy the rest of this series. I suppose I'm pretty proud to have a son who has decided he wants to learn to read by himself at barely 3, but all kids are different, and I'll hold off on the back-patting until he gets into Harvard. The moral of the story is just that whatever age your kid is, when he or she wants to learn how to read alone, these books are perfect for the purpose.Book Review: Th absolute easiest way to teach a child to read!
Summary: 5 Stars
This set was recommended to me by a friend and it is truly amazing! I have a 4 and 1/2 year old daughter who is starting to show an interest in reading herself. These books have been so wonderful and perfect for her!
First of all, if you have started taking a look at "leveled reader" books for your young child, you know that those books really don't have much deviation in them other than story length. The pre-k leveled books have 4-7 words a page but have words such as "princess" and "exaggerate" (just as an example). The books use well known characters but have a variety of words that any beginning reader would not be able to read.
With that said, the Bob books start so extremely gradual that your child will be able to read them very easily. The first book has 1-3 words per page, and none of the books in the whole box have words longer than 3 letters. The first set of books works with the same vowel sounds, making it easy for you child to sound out new words. Also the length of each book is only a few pages. The second book has a few more words per page, and it goes up from there. Each book builds upon the previous book, which really makes sense!
For my daughter, these books have been perfect. She is easily frustrated (as many kids are). But the Bob books offer few words per page, small words for beginners and a short story. So she can read through a whole book easily, with no frustration which has really helped build her confidence! Within a week, she was able to read the first four books in the set! We are still on the first set of books but I know I will order the next set when we are ready!
Book Review: Books changed everything
Summary: 5 Stars
Ten years ago, my son was struggling in first grade phonics program. He was performing below grade average on their phonics readers in class. I knew he had issues with auditory stuff that might explain some of the difficulties. I wanted to teach him using sight word methodology, but it was competing with the school's lessons and confusing. He could sound out stuff, but couldn't seem to stick pieces of a word together. Growing up with sight reading myself, it was very difficult for me as the parent to help him through that last hurdle.
Enter BOB Books. I don't remember how or why these books found us, but they literally fixed everything. They combined the simplicity of graphics with simple sight words and basic phonics. Whatever he was missing from the phonics heavy environment was corrected with this method.
In less than a month, he went through two or three sets with ease. No drama, it was quick and fun. After that, he breezed through the first grade readers the teacher offered. Then, he moved on to Magic Treehouse stories. By the beginning of second grade, he was reading 3.5 grade level. When the second graders read boxcar children stories, he read 3rd and 4th grade materials independently and worked with the teacher one-on-one for analysis type skills. This started a love of reading that hasn't stopped yet. In school, he's in accelerated English classes. When I think back to his beginning years, I always think about these books. They were an awesome tool for entering the world of reading.
Book Review: Bob books set 1 give beginning readers a sense of accomplishment from the beginning
Summary: 5 Stars
We've researched and read many books with our children. Bob books set 1
are the best for absolute beginners. The books give kids a sense of accomplishment right off which encourages them to keep going. The simple illustrations are fun and sometimes funny. Our kids found a couple of the books humorous and and have giggled their way through reading the same book over and over.
I've recommended Bob books to many parents. Our first son was in kindergarten in 1992-93. I wanted to find something that had words my son could read. The traditional beginning readers from my day could be boring. I had a hard time finding books with only short vowel sounds. I also wanted words that could truly be "sounded out." Bob Books set 1 met my requirements and were a great success! In fact, my 4 year old quickly joined in and learned to read because of the excitement he felt when he read a real book all by himself! My 4th son was in kindergarten in 2008. After approximately 15 years, Bob Books set 1 were still the same, and still the best!
(I do want to mention, however, that the later Bob book sets wouldn't rate as high with us. As kids learn more words and can read other books, they seem to tire of the later Bob Books. But set one is perfect! I'd still give sets 2 and 3 a try, but just don't expect quite the same enthusiasm.)
Christine - a mom and educator
Book Review: AMAZING! Great confidence building books!
Summary: 5 Stars
My three year old daughter just had a realization. The words I read to her are already printed on the pages of books; they're not a combination of sight-reading and imaginative narration based on illustrations. The words are ALL there . . . and SHE can read them!
She has known all of her letter sounds for about a year. She's been able to sound out words reliably for about six months. She's been reluctant to read books on her own . . . until she got her Bob Books today. She blazed through the first three in a few minutes. Each book gets a bit more challenging, with more sounds represented and longer words and sentences. She responded well to the idea that she had to read a book cover-to-cover without help before she can have the next book. She's DYING to know what's in the next book, but she'll have to wait until after dinner!
These are the first books she has READ. She sounded out every word she didn't know without saying, "Just read it for me, Mom." She was genuinely enthusiastic; not exasperated after a page or two, like she usually is with other books. She loves the illustrations.
I don't know who will is more amazed: my daughter or me. The missing ingredient in our reading program has been confidence. I think the Bob Books helped us clear a huge hurdle. I hope your new reader will take to these like mine did.