Read Anything Good Lately? - Softcover

Allen, Susan; Lindaman, Jane

Softcover

ISBN 10: 082256470X ISBN 13: 9780822564706

Publisher: First Avenue Editions ™, 2006

Synopsis

"A child's question prompts another's alphabetic reveries in this invitation to consider the many things and places to read: an atlas at the airport, a biography in bed. . . . In page-sized cartoons, Enright follows her smiling young bookworm from place to place, showing her reading alone and with company; indoors and out, up a tree, even in a Jacuzzi. Serving as a reminder to parents too, that reading opportunities are all around, this presents an engaging literary game likely to continue well beyond one pass through the ABCs."―Kirkus Reviews

About this title

About the Author

After a childhood of frigid winters in Reinbeck, Iowa, Jane Lindaman moved to Phoenix, Arizona. With a degree from ASU, she began a 24-year career in elementary special education. After 32 years of desert summers, Jane retired to Springfield, Oregon. Now she gets to spend her time reading, gardening, hiking, and volunteering. Jane and Bette, her golden retriever, are a pet partner team, which means that first graders at Camp Creek Elementary School get to read to her and "Alpha" Bette. Jane also volunteers at the Youth Farm, so named not for the promise of youthfulness, but for the at-risk youth that are hired to learn about organic farming. Harvested crops are distributed to local food banks. Lastly, Jane now also has more time for writing!

Vicky Enright has illustrated a number of highly successful Kathy Ross craft titles. Enright lives in Andover, Massachusetts, with her husband, two children, and a big, brown dog that has a habit of popping up in her books.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-From "an atlas at the airport" to "a yoga book in the yard" and "the zodiac at the zoo," a little girl moves playfully along through biography, comics, dictionary, encyclopedia, magazine, poetry, quotations, recipes, and a variety of genres. Reading the "gossip in the grocery line," "updates under an umbrella," and "whatever in the waiting room" are somewhat looser variations on the theme but still acceptable. While relevant, choosing "literature at the library" might perpetuate a stuffy stereotype were it not for the pleasant cartoon illustration of a bean-bag chair, colorful shelves of books, and two little girls-one reading, the other enjoying an active pet rodent. The bespectacled, voracious young reader is supported by a loving family, complete with little brother, cat, and dog, as well as ethnically diverse friends. The pages have white margins for text; balloon inserts are included in the art that gives glimpses of characters reading in the featured settings. The final page offers 11 more "kinds of reading" in search of a place. This book has more value as a catalyst than as an alphabet book or enjoyable story. Though the text lends itself to reading aloud, the illustrations deserve more time. A pleasant addition but not an essential purchase.
Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: First Avenue Editions ™
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 082256470X
• ISBN 13: 9780822564706
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Enright Vicky