Carolyn Kowalczyk

Annotation: Easy to read verse illustrates the concept of parts of a whole.

Carolyn Kowalczyk’s Purple is Part of a Rainbow is a simple beginning reader that introduces a list of twenty basic vocabulary words and the concept of parts of a whole.
The examples Kowalczyk chooses to are straightforward such as a petal on a flower and a whisker on a kitty. The illustrations match the text exactly which will help children if they are stuck on reading the words. I was surprised that the book did show more not have more than one concept such as colors and parts of a whole, like many more recent beginning readers I have read. The book will be a fine first reader, but otherwise will not engage kids much, for the content and imagery is rather bland. It is appropriate for children ages 5-7.

Other Review:

School Library Journal agrees that his book is rather ordinary commenting that it is, “not a great edition to the beginning reader genre.” I think that there are much better examples of beginning readers out there and that SLJ’s point that the book feels pointless is spot on.

School Library Journal 32 (April 1986): 74(1) show less

Simple sentences that teaches vocabulary and part-whole concepts (petal/flower, finger/hand)

3-5 yrs. old
Is a good book for children to help develop vocabulary, is simple rhymes. Pictures are great and nice colors.
Puyallup Public Library