Oh, How I Wished I Could Read! - Hardcover

Gile, John; Fiorello, Frank

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0910941106 ISBN 13: 9780910941105

Publisher: JGC/UNITED PUBLISHING, 1995

Synopsis

This light-hearted story with action-packed illustrations hits bull's eye on a glaring national need motivating children to read. Oh, How I Wished I Could Read! by John Gile produces laughs and gasps that make its "reading is vital" message a child-pleasing joy. Highly acclaimed and a national bestseller, it's a perfect book for fun-loving parents and high spirited teachers who laugh with their children and use humor to teach. Oh, How I Wished I Could Read! is used extensively in schools and even in adult literacy programs to foster reading development. In addition to being the 2011 pick for the New Orleans Literacy Extravaganza, it has been a Scholastic Book Club selection, a Teachers' Choice Award winner, a National Read America! selection, and is included in the Reading is Fundamental Book List.

About this title

About the Author

Author John Gile has presented programs across the United States and in Europe to more than 500,000, including student reading and writing programs, teacher in-service programs, and communication workshops for businesses and organizations. He has been a guest for literacy and other communication skill discussions on numerous radio and television talk shows across the country and a frequent speaker at education conferences, including Staff Development for Educators programs and the World Congress of the International Reading Association in New Zealand. Gile's books include titles for children and adults: The First Forest, Keeping First Things First, Oh, How I Wished I Could Read! and What Is That Thing? Whose Stuff Is This? One of his books has been published in Chinese and Spanish and three have been book club selections. Gile also is author of features published by periodicals throughout the United States and Canada. He created and produced the cartoon Blockheads & Co. for the Register and Tribune Syndicate and wrote a humor column, Gile Without Guile, which was syndicated nationally by NC News Service. He was trained as a Russian interpreter for the United States Army Security Agency and is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Review

Chase Vombaur: I enjoyed this book very much. It s a happy cautionary tale about a boy who cannot read. The young boy wonders around constantly finding himself in trouble because he simply cannot read. The boy walks into danger left and right. In his dream he can t read stop sings, he gets chased by dogs. He also manages to step into wet cement. This book really illustrates the importance of being able to read. While still allowing us to having fun.

The book really does an amazing job with pictures and illustration. The words are extremely simple and very easy to read. I would recommend reading this to your class to teach them the importance of reading. The pictures and illustrations are so well done you don t even need the words to understand in the story what is going on. The rhyme scheme also makes the book more enjoyable and easier for young kids to read and enjoy. --goodreads.com

Sierra Gonzales: Oh, How I Wished I Could Read is a humorous tale about a boy (view spoiler) unable to read! As he walks along he find himself in big trouble that would've been avoided, if only he could read! This corky book is fun and creative in its ability to have a negative undertone whilst still holding an atmosphere of motivation to read.

Overall my first impressions seemed to fall more towards the several vehicles used to move you through the story:
-The first peak that stood boldly off the page was the bright and hot color schema. Each page, as it highlighted the hilariously unfortunate upcoming event, grew with intensity and power. Bright reds, oranges and minimal blues and greens helped emphasis the growing anger of the poor child. The young boy struggled with his inability to read, and once realizing everything was but reality, the colors began to soften as his green and purple and blue room was depicted.
-Diction was a large matter that made itself known. While remaining simple yet sporadic, the word choice was still spread out to where a youth could read it with ease. The words, as funny as they were, made its presence among the series of unfortunate events. Everything from discovering "too late what the 'Wet Paint' sign said" until "a pack of wild dogs chased me right up a tree" was a spotless progression. There was a touch of rhyme in there as well to keep young readers motivated and entertained.
-The alternate route John Gile took to this small tale was using a negative undertone to motivate the reader into understanding the importance of learning and understanding new words. Much like Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day the author used a sort of slap-stick humor in order to encourage the reader to power through; they are better off being on the better side of the playing field.

All in all the story was a creative new outlook on reading. John Gile was able to balance the funny along with he serious outlook on the importance of the ability to read. Easy for young readers looking to broaden their horizons in vocabulary. --goodreads.com

About this edition

• Publisher: JGC/UNITED PUBLISHING
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0910941106
• ISBN 13: 9780910941105
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 37