(OR a book for anyone learning to read, wanting to learn to read or remembering the joy of learning to read.)
Rocket is your typical adorable dog. He enjoys playing with sticks, daydreaming about bones and napping in the warm sun. One day, a small, yellow bird shows up and 'enrolls' Rocket in his class. While Rocket tries to nap ('no napping in class!'), the tiny teacher starts to read a story about a dog and his bone and sure enough Rocket is hooked!
Each day Rocket returns to 'school' to hear more of the story and the bird also teaches him the sounds and shapes of the 'wondrous, mighty, glorious alphabet ' where it all begins.'
Summer ends and the Rocket's teacher flies south but Rocket keeps practicing his alphabet because 'words are built one letter at a time.' Finally, Spring and the bird return and together they lounge in sun reading stories 'again and again and a-g-a-i-n.'
Tad Hills, the creator of the Duck & Goose books had drawn an equally lovable dog and bird ' think Snoopy and Woodstock!
Awards nominated: 2013 Monarch Nominee
Date read: 3/8/2012
ISBN-13: 9780375958991
Check the library catalog