Bob Books First, Bob Books Fun, Bob Books Kids, Bob Books Pals, and Bob Books Wow

Scholastic Inc.

These five sets of beginning readers are phonetically organized with controlled vocabulary, yet the stories are more interesting than many other such readers. The first set of 12 little books, Bob Books First (#914544), concentrates on short-vowel words. The second set of 12 slightly longer books, Bob Books Fun (#912198), continues with short vowel, consistent words, adding double consonants, blends, endings, some sight words and longer stories. The last three sets continue to add more complex phonics. The books get longer, so there are fewer per set. Bob Books Kids (#914546) has 10 books with eight stories and two activity books. They continue work on short vowels words. Bob Books Pals (#914547) and Bob Books Wow! (#914545) each have four books of 16 pages each and four books of 24 pages each. Pals adds new blends, more sight words, and longer compound words. Wow! introduces long vowel words.

Illustrations are simple black-and-white line drawings that children can imitate and color, and both the stories and drawings have an appealing child-like character. Teaching instructions are short and simple. These readers will work with any orderly phonics program.