Our 4 1/2 year old was thrilled and amazed the first time he looked inside C D B!. He knows his alphabet backwards and forwards but has not yet crossed the threshold of actually sounding out words and making them tell him something.

He knows that words are not so simple and understands that the letters in the book are not actual words. The letters represent words and sound the same as or similar to the words they represent. A simple illustration lets you know for sure what the letter-puzzle means to say.

Example:

D L-F-N 8 D A. means "the elephant ate the hay." Here is a less difficult example: I C U. I C U 2. means "I see you. I see you too".

He reads "I M N D L-F-8-R. (looks at me) "He is in the elevator!" (grins widely and keeps reading). There is also a simple, unmistakably Steig illustration of a boy pushing a button inside an elevator.

Each page is it's own letter-puzzle. There are no stories and plots like all of Steig's other children's books we have. Some letter-puzzles are more difficult than others. (see above example). But, illustrations for each puzzle show the action of what is going on; all the puzzles are easily deciphered. Letter-puzzles can be a lot of fun for adults as well as children.

I can see how some children could get confused about how words are actually spelled. However, the fact that the child is reading something at all by him or herself without aid from an adult is a major step forward for kids who are in between the learning stages of reading.

My 4 1/2 year old is so excited: "I can read this all by myself!" He does need help deciphering the puzzle from time to time, but for the most part he gets it.

In it's paperback version, the book is 22 pages long. It costs $3.95- what a bargain! I love buying children's books that are under $5. One of life's simple pleasures that I've come to cherish and appreciate more and more is reading with children. I'm sure you will love reading C D B! with your kids, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, cousins, students, playmates or otherwise children in your life.

What's your favorite letter-puzzle?

Mine is: D Y-N S X-L-N!

Happy reading!




Recommended: Yes