I think I should premise this post with a note that today’s book The Recycling Dump is not really a book for reading to children, rather it’s a book for young children starting to read. Saying that, it could be a handy little book for those occasions when bedtime can’t come soon enough!
Andrea Butler’s The Recycling Dump is part of the “Let Me Read” series from GoodYearBooks. Books in the series are designed to encourage reading at a young age and provide gradual challenges for new readers. The books are categorized into three levels:
Level 1 - Very simple books using repetitive words and sentences. Geared for the 2 to 4 year old range.
Level 2 - Written for ages 3 to 5, more challenging words and sentences are used throughout the books.
Level 3 - Children 4 to 7 are encouraged to read the longer and more complex stories.
At the back of the books, you’ll find some tips for teaching children to read related to each particular story.
The Recycling Dump is a Level 1 book so is one of the simplest in the series. The book from start to finish is only 8 pages. I wouldn’t say it’s a work of sheer brilliance but it is a clever little poem that young children will be thrilled that they can read on their own. That, I think, is the true merit of this book - it will give beginning readers a sense of accomplishment and will build their confidence to read more.
Jan Spivey Gilchrist’s illustrations are bright and cheerful and I like that the book also throws in a good lesson about recycling.
If you’re hoping to encourage lifelong reading, The Recycling Dump is a good start and you may even wish to use the other books in the series too.
