The Best Time to Read

September 1, 2005
PreS-Gr 2 -A boy is excited about his newly acquired ability to read and wants to share a book aloud with someone in his family. He goes through the house and yard trying to find a listener, but everyone is busy and (unfortunately) caught in a stereotypical moment: Mom is cooking; Dad is mowing the lawn; Grandma is knitting; sister is in a quandary over what to wear; brother is at the computer; and Grandpa is napping. Just when he's about to give up and is resigned to read aloud to his stuffed animals, his family comes through. The computer-enhanced artwork gives the characters a shiny, plastic-doll appearance. This rhyming story is not about the magical connection between a reader and a wonderful book, but it speaks of reading as a social activity that involves love and fun, and that may be its strength." -Teresa Pfeifer, Alfred Zanetti Montessori Magnet School, Springfield, MA"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2005
K-Gr. 2. A proud young boy who has just mastered reading tries to find someone to listen to him demonstrate his new talent. But Mom is making beef stew, Dad is mowing, big brother is at the computer, big sister is trying on clothes, and so on. No one has time to listen to him read--not even Rover, who bolts at the sound of kibble in his dish. However, no sooner does he go to his bedroom to read to his bunnies and bears than there's a knock on his door: his entire family is ready to listen. Like " The Best Place to Read" (2003), the authors' first book about reading, this is presented in rhyme. Collage-style illustrations use patterned backgrounds to backlight the wide-eyed, plasticine-like faces of the characters and capture the elation of that magic moment when the lightbulb clicks: "I can read all by myself!" Budding bibliophiles arise!(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2006
In this sequel to "The Best Place to Read", a little boy tries to persuade someone in his family to let him read to them. Everyone from his mother to the dog is too busy with other tasks (Mommy is cooking; Daddy is mowing, etc.) to listen. Objects in the synthetic-looking illustrations appear to float, subverting the homey atmosphere.

(Copyright 2006 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)