A Duck in a Sock (Meg and Greg)

First in the Orca Two-Read line of books, dedicated to instructing emerging, dyslexic, and English-language learner readers, this primer should appeal to phonics stalwarts and phonics learners. Sisters Elspeth, a literary specialist, and Rowena, a former biologist, make their debut with a set of four elementary tales for kids to encounter with a more experienced reader. Each story, written in several short chapters, introduces the concept for advanced readers ("ck... comes immediately after a short vowel"), notes phonograms at play ("A Duck in a Sock: A Story Featuring ck"), and bolds words employing the sound for easy recognition (jacket, stick). Between tales, word games ("ck match-up") emphasize the previous story's takeaways. In the titular tale, Meg and Greg rescue an injured duckling from a stray dog, and "tuck the duck up in a sock" to visit the vet; the others imperil a slew of characters, each delivering tense moments before Meg and Greg save the day. Gutiérrez (Letter Lunch) creates orderly double spreads with illustrated prose on the verso and comics-style panels on the recto; her art, drawn in a heavy ink line, helps readers focus on labeled objects and voice-balloon content. Ages 6-9. (Apr.)

Gr 1-3--What do a duck in a sock, a fish in a dish, a chicken on a branch, and a sloth in a cloth have in common? Phonics, of course! Meg and Greg, lightly sketched cartoon-style characters, are featured in four stories that spotlight a specific phonics combination: ck, sh, ch, and th. Words highlighting these phonemes are scattered throughout the silly stories, offering readers a chance to practice their skills in a fun and different way. Readers are also treated to a couple of games, including crosswords and word wheels. VERDICT A unique approach to high-interest texts for reluctant burgeoning readers, this book offers phonics fun wrapped in serious research-based success.--Amanda C. Buschmann, Carroll Elementary School, Houston