Children's Book and Media Review

Volume 6 Issue 3 Article 2

1985

Controlled Vocabulary/Beginning-to-Read Books

Katie Blake

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BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Blake, Katie (1985) "Controlled Vocabulary/Beginning-to-Read Books," Children's Book and Media Review: Vol. 6 : Iss. 3 , Article 2. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cbmr/vol6/iss3/2

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Children's Book and Media Review by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. i Blake: Controlled Vocabulary/Beginning-to-Read Books CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW

Controlled Vocabulary/Beginning -to-Read Books by Katie Blake

Books that beginning readers can read on their own are called "Beginning-To-Read", or "Easy-To-Read"; or, depending on the publisher, "I Can Read," "," and "Early Start," etc. These books combine the controlled vocabulary of the basal reader with the livelier imagination of creative storytelling. Some have been around for years: Edna Aldredge's The Timbertoes was written in 1932 and is popular today. The Country Bunny and the Lillie Gold Shoes (Heyward) is suitable for beginners as is parts of Kate Greenaway's Under the Window. Elizabeth Gulfoile's Nobody Listens to Andrew is a delightful 50's controlled vocabulary. The Dolch Books have used the formula a long time, but they were developed originally for "reluctant readers" and were not usually original stories. Cowboy Sam, the Button books, and those like them, were written primarily for school resource programs. They were really basal readers with a little bit more zing. The real pioneers in the controlled vocabulary explosion were a cartoonist with an off-center sense of humor and a first grade teacher with an idea. Dr. Seuss and Else Holmelund Minarik. came out in 1957, and the even easier, , debuted 1962. Dr. Seuss, somewhat known for his picture books, became a household word, and Random House's zany beginner books were in every middle class American child's home. At about that time a first grade teacher, Else Minarik, walked into Harper with four small books. She convinced the editors of the need for controlled vocabulary books with a "real" plot. An up and coming but relatively unknown artist was assigned to illustrate them. That joint effort gave birth to the loveable Lillie Bear and his problems, started the hugely successful Harper "I Can Read" series which now has several hundred titles, and featured a soon to be famous illustrator, Maurice Sendak. Lillie Bear's Visit became a Caldecott Honor Book. Those two enterprises were timely financial boons to Random and Harper, and since that time have been imitated by most of the publishing houses. Perhaps the most satisfying books in the genre were published by Harper and written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel. His Frog and

Published by BYU ScholarsArchive, 1985 1 •

Children's Book and Media Review, Vol. 6 [1985], Iss. 3, Art. 2

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

Toad Are Friends (1970) was a Calclecott Honor Book. Two Years Later, Frog and Toad Together became a Newbery Honor Book. These two marvelous creatures reveal the human frailties we all know. They are super-organized list makers, compulsive gardeners (and eaters), forgetful losers of buttons, and not at their best in bathing suits. And everyone loves them! The real problem with most of the beginner books is--they're too hard! Most are for late fIrst grade and second grade. A few companies have "Early I Can Reads" or something similar. Those books are the most requested by parents, because parents want to "begin" their child reading. First word, second word, etc. Follett's Margaret Hillen does a fIne job with her books for earliest readers. For instance, The Three Bears:

See the house. It is red and yellow. It is a funny little house.

One, two, three. One is the father. One is the mother. One is the baby.

The father is big. The baby is little.

Patty Wolcott, for Addison-Wesley, repeats neat words!

Double-decker, double-decker bus .

. . . or fun science concepts.

Big fish eat little fish.

Big, big fish eat big fish.

Tuna! Tuna!

Tuna!

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Blake: Controlled Vocabulary/Beginning-to-Read Books CHILDREN' S BOOK REVIEW

Tunafish!

People eat big, big fish.

ARO Publishing sells a little boxed set, "I Can Read Underwater" books, that go from zero and six-word books (repeated) to more difficult twenty-word ones. They also have "I Can Eat An Elephant" books for multi-syllable words. Provo writer and illustrator Bob Reese is the creative person behind these sets. His "Critterland Adventures" for Children's press are popular, too. They have titles like: Lactus Cactus, Rapid Robert Roadrunner, and The Critter Race. Whether controlled vocabulary books are found intershelved with the picture books or in a section by themselves, their discovery and affable company is worth any small person's time.

A list of favorites from Provo School District:

Aldredge, Edna The Timbertoes Averill, Esther The Fire Cat Baker, Betty Little Runner of the Long House Benchly, Nathaniel A Ghost Named Fred Benchly, Nathaniel The Strange Disappearance of Matthew Cluck Berenstain, Stan and Jan The Bear Detectives Berenstain, Stan and Jan The Bear Scouts Berenstain, Stan and Jan The Bears' Vacation Berenstain, Stan and Jan The Bike Lesson Bishop, Bonnie No One Noticed Ralph Bishop, Bonnie Ralph Rides Away Bonsall, Crosby And I Mean It, Stanley Bonsall, Crosby The Case of the Cat's Meow Brown, Margaret Wise Seven Stories About a Cat Named Sneakers Carrick, Malcom Happy Jack Carrick, Malcom Mr. Tod's Trap Colver, Polly Anne Bad Jack and the Lincoln Boys Cohen, Dan The Case of the Supermarket Swindle

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BRIGHAM YOUNG U NIVERSITY

Croll, Carolyn Too Many Babas Degan, Bruce The Lillie Witch and the Riddle DeLage, Ida Hello, Come In Delton, Judy Two Good Friends Dolch, Edward Monkey Friends Disney, Walt Bambi Gets Lost Disney, Walt Mickey Mouse and /lis Friends Eastman, P.D. Are You My Mother? Elkin, Benjamin The Big Jump Farley, Wilater Lillie Black Goes to the Circus Feder, Paula Where Does Teacher Live? Gackenback, Dick Hattie Be Quiet, Hattie Be Good Gackenback, Dick Hattie Rabbit Gackenback, Dick Mother Rabbit's Son Tom Gackenback, Dick Hattie, Tom, and the Chicken Witch Gannett, Ruth Stiles Katie and the Sad Noise Georgiady, Nicholas P. Gertie the Duck George, David Lester Freddy Freightliner Series Glendinning, Sally Jimmy and Joe Meet a Halloween Witch--Series Gordon, Sharon Drip Drop Gordon, Sharon First Day of Spring Gordon, Sharon Maxwell Mouse Gordon, Sharon Play Ball, Kate Gordon, Sharon The Spelling Bee Gordon, Sharon Surprise Parry Guiifoile, Elizabeth Nobody Listens To Andrew Heilbroner, Joan The Happy Birthday Present Heilbroner, Joan Robert The Rose Horse Heilbroner, Joan This is the House Where Jack Lives Hillert, Margaret The Funny Baby (and about a hundred others) Hoban, Brom Jason and the Bees Hoban, Lillian Arthur's Christmas Cookies Hoban, Lillian Arthur's Pen Pals Hoban, Lillian Arthur's Prize Reader Hoban, Russell A Bargain For Francis Hoff, Syd Albert the Albatross Hoff, Syd Barkley

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CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW

Hoff, Syd Chester Hoff, Syd Danny the Dinosaur Hoff, Syd Grizzwold Hoff, Syd Oliver Hoff, Syd Santa's Moose Hoff, Syd Stanley Hoff, Syd Thunderhoof Hoff, Syd Walpole Hoff, Syd Who Will Be My Friends? Holl, Adelaide Have You Seen My Puppy? HolI, Adelaide A Big Ball of String Huber, Miriam B. Cinder the Cat Hurd, Edith Come, Have Fun Hurd, Edith Hurry, Hurry Hurd, Edith Johnny Lion's Bad Day Series Hurd, Edith Look For a Bird Hurd, Edith No Funny Business Hurd, Edith Stop. Stop. Jackson, Ellen The Grumpus Under the Rug Johnson, Louise Malunda Kessler, Leonard Here Comes the Strikeout Kessler, Leonard Kick. Pass. and Run Kessler, Leonard Last One In Is ROllen Egg Kessler, Leonard On the Mark. Get Set. Go King, Patricia Mabel the Whale Kilt, Tamara Billy Brown: The Baby Siller Kwitz,Mary Lillie Chick's Story Lawrence, James Binky Brothers. Detectives Le Sieg, Theo Le Sieg, Theo The Eye Book Le Sieg, Theo Maybe You Should Fly a Jet! Le Sieg, Theo Please Try To Remember The Firsts Of October Le Sieg, Theo Wacky Wednesday Levinson, Dorothy One Killen Is Not Too Many Lewis, Thomas Hill of Fire Lexau, Joan The Homework Caper Lexau, Joan The Rooftop Mystery Lobel, Arnold Frog and Toad All Year

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BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

Lobel, Arnold Frog and Toad Are Friends Lobel, Arnold Frog and Toad Together Lobel, Arnold Grasshopper On The Road Lobel, Arnold Lucille Lobel, Arnold Mouse Soup Lobel, Arnold Mouse Tales Lobel, Arnold Owl At Home Lobel, Arnold Small Pig Lobel, Arnold Uncle Elephant Lopshire, Robert Put Me In The Zoo Lopshire, Robert I Am Better Than You! Manushkin, Fran The Perfect Christmas Picture Marshall, Edward Troll Country Matinband, Gerda Bing Bong Bong and Fiddle Dee Dee McCall, Edith Buttons'Series McClintock, Marshall David and the Giant McClintock, Mike What Have I Got McClintock, Mike A Fly Went By McClintock, Mike Stop That Ball McIntire, Alta Beginning to Read Picture Dictionary McKie, Roy Snow MikIowitz, Gloria Barefoot Boy Minarik, Else Holmelund A Kiss For Little Bear Minarik, Else Holmelund Little Bear's Friend Minarik, Else Holmelund No Fighting! No Biting! Minarik, Else Holmelund Little Bear Monjo, F.N. The One Bad Thing About Father Monjo, F.N. Indian Summer Moore, Lillian The Riddle Walk Morris, Robert Dolphin Murphy, Sara Bing-Bang Pig Myrick, Mildred The Secret Three Palmer, Helen A Fish Out of Water Palmer, Helen I Was Kissed By A Seal At The Zoo Palmer, Helen Why I Built the Boogie House Parish, Peggy Amelia Bedelia Series Parish, Peggy Dinosaur Time Parish, Peggy Zed and the Monsters Penney, RL. The Penguins Are Coming

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C HILDREN'S BOOK REV IEW

Perkins, AI Don and Donna Go To Bat Perkins, Al Tubby and the Lantern Perkins, AI King Midas and the Golden Touch Perkins, Al Dr. Doolittle and the Pirates (Adapt.) Peter, Jonathan Jokes and Riddles Peter, Jonathan More Jokes and Riddles Phleger, Fred Ann Can Fly Phleger, Fred Off to the Races Phleger, Fred Red Tag Comes Back Phleger, Fred You Will Live Under the Sea Piers, Helen The Kitten Book Platt, Kin Big Max: Platt, Kin Big Max: in the Mystery of the Missing Moose Porte, Barbara Harry's Visit Putnam, Polly The Mystery of Sara Beth Ricciuti, Edward An Animal For Allen Rockwell, Anne Walking Shoes Ryder, Joanne Fireflies Schwartz, Alvin Ten Copycats in a Boat and Olher Riddles Schweitzer, Iris Tiglis and the Bird-Machine Selman, LaRue Boots. Book 2 Selman, LaRue The Hero Selman, LaRue Rain Frog Selman, LaRue JD and the Bee Selman, LaRue Sammy Skunk Plays the Clown Selsam, Millicent Benny's Animals Selsam, Millicent Egg To Chick Selsam, Millicent Hidden Animals Selsam, Millicent Terry and the Caterpillars Selsam, Millicent Tony's Birds Selsam, Millicent When An Animal Grows Seuss, Dr. The Cat in the Hat Seuss, Dr. The Cat in the Hat Comes Back Seuss, Dr. I Can Read With My Eyes Shut! Seuss, Dr. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish Seuss, Dr. The Shape of Me and Other Stuff

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Children's Book and Media Review, Vol. 6 [1985], Iss. 3, Art. 2

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

Shannon, George The Gang and Mrs. Higgins Sharma!, Marjorie Weinman Burton and Dudley Sharma!, Marjorie Weinman Mooch the Messy Sharma!, Marjorie Weinman Nat the Great Series Sharma!, Marjorie Weinman Uncle Boris and Maude Sharma!, Mitchell Reddy Rattler and Easy Eagle Shaw, Evelyn Alligator Shaw, Evelyn Elephant Seal Island Shaw, Evelyn Fish Out of School Shaw, Evelyn A Nest of Wood Ducks Shaw, Evelyn Octopus Shaw, Evelyn Sea Otters Shebar, Sharon Groundhog Day Sheeter, Ben Hester the Jester Smith, Glenna The Little Mouse Was a Grouch Smith, Susan The Night Light Springstubb, Tricia The Blueberry Troll Stolz, Mary Emmet's Pig Stone, Rosetta Because a Little Bug Went Ka-Choo! Sutton, Larry Ghost Plane Over Hartly Field Taylor, Sydney The Dog Who Came to Dinner Tensen, Ruth Come to See the Clowns Udry, Janice Thump and Plunk Van Leeuwen, Jean More Tales of Oliver Pig Van Leeuwen, Jean Tales of Oliver Pig V reeken, Elizabeth The Boy Who Would Not Say His Name Williamson, Stan The No-Bark Dog Winder, Jack President's Day Winder, Jack What Are Faces For Wiseman, B. Morris Goes To School Wiseman, B. Morris is a Cowboy Wittman, Sally Pelly and Peak Wittman, Sally Plenty of Pelly and Peak Zelasney, Jean Do Pigs Sit in Trees? Zion, Gene Harry and the Lady Next Door Zweifel, Frances W. Bony

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Blake: Controlled Vocabulary/Beginning-to-Read Books

CHI LO RE 's BOOK REVIEW

Very Easiest Books

BedeU, Beverly The Magic Lillie Ones Burke, Suzanne Ollie Owl Burke, Suzanne Our Parade Cox, Mike Fire Drill Cox, Mike Flowers DeCaprio, Annie A Happy Day DeCaprio, Annie One. Two DeCaprio, Annie The Bus From Chicago DeCaprio, Annie Willie and the Whale Grey, Ruth Mud Pies Grey, Ruth What Time Is It? Grey, Ruth Yummy. Yummy Greydanus, Rose Double Trouble Greydanus, Rose Hocus Pocus. Magic Show Greydanus, Rose Let's Pretend Greydanus, Rose Trouble In Space Greydanus, Rose Valentine's Day Grump Hilliert, Margaret Most of Her Books Jardine, Maggie Up and Down Kim, Joy Come On Up Kim, Joy Rainbows and Frogs McLenighan, Valjean Known When To Stop McLenighan, Valjean Three Strikes and You're OUi McLenighan, Valjean Turtle and Rabbit McLenighan, Valjean What You See is What You Get McLenighan, Valjean You Are What You Are McLenighan, Valjean You Can Go Jump McNulty, Faith The Elephant Who Couldn't Forget McNulty, Faith Woodchuck Moncure, Jane Belk Word Bird Series Peters, Sharon Five Lillie Kittens Peters, Sharon Here Comes Jack Frost Peters, Sharon Santa's New Sled Peters, Sharon The Tooth Fairy Reese, Bob Arbor Day

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BRIGHAM YOUNG UN IVEHS ITY

Reese, Bob CrabApple Reese, Bob Huzzard Buzzard Reese, Bob lActus Cactus Reese, Bob Uttle Dinosaur Reese, Bob Little Robert Rapid Roadrummer Reese, Bob St. Patrick's Day Reese, Bob Sunshine Reese, Bob The Critter Race Reese, Bob Tweedle-De-Dee Tumbleweed Reese, Bob Who's A Silly Egg? Reese, Nancy I Can Eat An Elephant Reese, Nancy New Year's Day Reese, Nancy Purple Bear Reese, Nancy The Bee Reese, Nancy Valentine's Day Reese, Ron Crazy Cal Reese, Ron Crazy Cat's Bad Day Reese, Ron Halloween Reese, Ron Sammy Skunk Reese, Ron Silly Egg Reese, Ron Smiley Snake Reese, Ron Toy Bear Sabin, Francene The Magic String Seymour, Dorothy Ann Likes Red Seymour, Dorothy Big Beds and Uttle Beds Seymour, Dorothy Bill and the Fish Seymour, Dorothy On the Ranch Seymour, Dorothy The Pond Seymour, Dorothy The Rabbit Seymour, Dorothy The Sandwich Sharp, Adda Mai Daffy Shebar, Sharon Milk Willoughby, Alana Christmas Willoughby, Alana Rain Willoughby, Alana Spring Willoughby, Alana The Little Mouse Willoughby, Alana What Is Love Winder, Jack Hands Winder, Jack Listening

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Winder, Jack Your Face Wolcott, Patty Beware of a Very Hungry Fox Wolcott, Patty Double-Decker, Double-Decker. Double-Decker Bus Wolcott, Patty I'm Going to New York 10 Visit the Queen Wolcott, Patty My Shadow and I Wolcott, Patty Pickle Pickle Pickle Juice Wolcott, Patty Super Sam and the Salad Garden Wolcott, Patty The Cake Story Wolcott, Patty The Dragon and the Wild Fandango Wolcott, Patty The Forest Fire Wolcott, Patty The Marvelous Mud Washing Machine Wolcott, Patty Tunaf ish Sandwiches Wolcott, Patty Where Did That Naughty Lillie Hamster Go?

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