How Rocket Learned to Read

Tad Hills, creator of the popular Duck & Goose picture-books, delivers an adorable tale of a puppy who discovers the power of words in How Rocket Learned to Read. Exhausted, after a busy morning spent chasing leaves, all Rocket wanted to do was take a nap. Instead, he found himself being hailed as a prospective student by a little yellow bird, eager to teach him the alphabet, and convince him of the delights of reading. Undaunted by his lack of enthusiasm (and by his pointed removal from the immediate vicinity), the bird began to read aloud, gradually unfolding the suspenseful story of Buster the dog, and the mysterious something he found buried under the lilac bush. Cutting off the tale at a dramatic moment (what a canny bird!), she show more kept the surreptitiously attentive Rocket in suspense, ensuring that he would return for another session...

Engaging and accessible, this tale of an avian Scheherazade boasts both an appealing story - one that will be very encouraging for younger children who long to be able to read themselves, and inspirational for those who wonder what the big deal about reading is - and cute illustrations. Done in oil paint and colored pencil, the artwork here has a sweet, expressive quality that is very charming. Rocket's expressions are really quite droll, at times! Recommended to younger children who are just getting going, learning the alphabet, and to fans of Tad Hills' cute-as-a-button visual style. show less

"How Rocket Learned to Read" is an adorable book that is going to cause strong feelings to well up in teachers everywhere. (I include moms and dads and grands and aunties too in the 'teacher category')

The story appears to be about this cute puppy, but in reality it is about teaching and the joy that arises from seeing a youngster fall in love with learning. You see, for while Rocket just wants to be 'a dog', the little yellow bird that appears one day won't hear anything of the sort. S/he gleefully exclaims, "Aha! My first student! Wonderful!" And when Rocket responds -- or tries to respond -- that he's not a student she says: "But if I am your teacher..., then you must be my student."

And it's just such a twisted logic that permeates show more the book that will make both child and adult smile. But as delightful as that is, it pales when compared to the joy of Bird's spunky attitude. For nothing sets her back. When Rocket explains that he can't read the sign she put out, she exclaims: "Can't read? Fantastic!... Welcome to my classroom."

And the book goes on to show how Bird reels in Rocket. Finding just the right book to grab his imagination and make him motivated to learn all she has to teach.

THE SKINNY:::
Kids will love the artwork and funny turns the dialog takes.

Adults who love books and/or learning will love this book even more as we'll no doubt recognize something of someone special in our own past that awakened these loves in us.

Pam T~
mom/blogger
booksforkids-reviews.com show less

This was a sweet story about a dog who learns to read from a friendly bird. It's been nominated by the Children's Book Council for Children's Book Week, and it's definitely a good contender!

The illustrations are gentle, and I loved how as Rocket learns, he begins spelling out everything he sees. I read this to a group of second graders, and while it's a bit longer for a read-aloud than other picture books, the 2nd graders had fun shouting out the words Rocket (and I) spelled out.

My 7-year-old 2nd grade daughter also enjoyed it, though she read it to herself.

Recommended.

Rocket, an endearing little white dog with black spots, loves to chase sticks and listen to the birds, smell his favorite smells and nap under his favorite tree. But one day...a little yellow bird appears and delightedly tells the confused Rocket that he is her student. Rocket is reluctant to listen to this strange bird, and tries taking his nap under a bush instead. But it's hard to sleep when she starts reading a fascinating story about a dog...and soon Rocket finds himself learning the alphabet and then sounding out words. Just when Rocket is getting the hang of it, the little bird leaves and it is winter - but he doesn't forget his lessons and spends the winter practicising his alphabet and spelling out new words. When the little show more bird returns, they read together in the warm summer sun.
This story has so many different things to enjoy. The reluctant Rocket and chirpy little bird, gorgeous artwork in the changing seasons, and the many, many words just waiting to be spelled out. It's a celebration of reading and learning, but also an appreciation of the beauty and excitement that's everywhere, just waiting to be explored.
Verdict: Recommended for preschool through 1st grade. show less

Summary:
All rocket is looking for is to take a good nap, but when his rest is interrupted by the little bird she says that she is happy that her student has arrived. At first Rocket does not want to learn but when the little bird intrigues him with the beginning of a story about a dog and its bone, Rocket can't help but be excited for the next day of class and learning. Rocket learns the alphabet and new words. When the weather begins to change their classes must end but Rocket is eager for them to start back up and to practice everything he had learned. When the little bird returns in the spring the two of them start to learn again and Rocket reads all that he can.
Comments:
This book is great to share with beginning readers. The book is show more very encouraging to beginners and shows that reading is fun and should be something that everyone, even a dog, desires to learn. show less

Chirp the bird helps Rocket learn how to read by teaching him letter by letter, i think this is a great book for beginners in pre kindergarten because every kid has a tough time with them and they have to learn how to spell so its something that can be used even in 1st grade I think. I think the bird having to leave for fall and winter left Rocket to his own new found knowledge to spell letters out in the snow while he waited. It is a heart warming story.

This is a cute book about a bird who wants to teach the dog how to read. It goes over how the dog practices singing the alphabet and gets very excited when the bird reads him stories. He learns to read by the end and show children if you work hard you can achieve it and read just like the dog did. The illustrations are very detailed with showing the alphabet throughout the book and gives examples of how learn to read and putting letters together makes words. This would be a great classroom teaching children how to reads how's them how important it is to practice.