City Fun

A great basic beginning reader, with lots of good words and repetition. What makes it really good are the African American characters, which is a rare find in picture books.

I liked the illustrations. City Fun seems more modern that most of the Hillert books. They always come off as a bit choppy to me, but they’re good for beginning readers.

Although I am not a huge fan of early readers, I believe this is one of the better ones in that it offers a different viewpoint that many early readers do. The illustrations are great.

Normally I would find it odd that a picture book would <em>need</em> to have new illustrations. Classics such as <em>Make Way for Ducklings</em>, <em>Millions of Cats</em> and <em>Blueberries for Sal</em> would not be the same without their beloved illustrations that fit so well with the story.

However, some books could use with an updated look that better reflects the world today, when it is talking about the world today, as <em>City Fun</em> is. The original was written and illustrated in the 1950s, which for most early readers is not just a life time away, it is when Gramma was a girl, as far removed as <em>Little House on the Prairie<em> is for most of us.

The illustrations are bright, colorful, and show diversity with the people in the story. The new illustrations depict a typical large city, with construction, and parades, and fire hydrants being opened in the Summer.

What is also nice is that though this is one of those books that has a limited number of words, the illustrations tell more stories, and I think children will love pointing to things, and talking about the story behind the words, as they learn to read.

Colorful, clear illustrations with easy to read text. Great book for a beginning reader.

City Fun is a simple tale of two friends who make their way through a day in the city enjoying everything there is to see and do. It is written in somewhat of an old style, but the repetition and use of
basic sight words is excellent for beginning readers. The illustrations also serve as helpful picture clues. If you are currently using Writer's Workshop with your class this book is an great jumping off point for topic selection. If you are living and/or teaching in an urban setting the children will probably recognize most of what they see on the pages and be able to describe something similar in their own neighborhoods. If the city scenes are something new to your children, then the "what if" possibilities are endless.

There are many different ways that this book can be used to foster reading reinforcement skills. The pictures and actions in the story can lead to many class discussions about things happening in your own town. It is a rich source for a daily topic or a story starter for a writing assignment. The end of the book lists the vocabulary words used throughout the story. If you are using a word wall in your room the children will almost instantly be familiar with this.

There is a bit of a downside though. This book was originally published in 1981. The illustrations seem a little dated, although they have been updated from the original version, and the larger problem may be explaining why the two girls are never accompanied by an adult. I would still use the book though. It is an easy read and offers children a chance to use the skills they are honing to become better independent readers.

Title: City Fun
Author: Margaret Hillert
Illustrator: Karen Lewis
Publisher: Norwood House Press
Publishing Date: July, 2016

The Learning to Read series is made up of several books that are easy readers. They use site vocabulary that is printed in the back of the book. It reminds me of the books I learned to read with. These Beginning-to-Read books capture the imaginations of beginning readers and help them on their way to independent reading. They could also be read aloud to young children who are not able to read yet. A great addition to a family library or a primary classroom. At the back of the book there are suggestions for parents, care-givers or teachers to reinforce reading.

In this book, two friends have a day in the city. They go to the park, the library, ride a bus, watch some construction and other things friends do to have fun. The illustrations are large, bright and colourful. They are sure to attract and hold the attention of children as well as provide clues to what they are trying to read. These books would be a great addition to a home and class library for young children who are learning to read.

City Fun by Margaret Hillert is a book with bright illustrations that are colorful, and show diversity. In this book, two friends have a day in the city. Some of the activities are they go to the park, the library, ride a bus, and watch some construction. The illustrations are bright and colorful. The story has limited words, the illustrations in itself tell a story. I believe that children will enjoy pointing to objects in the picture, and talking about the story beyond the word as they learn to read. These books would be a great addition to a home and class library for young children who are learning to read.

The Learning to Read series is easy to read. The series uses site vocabulary that is printed in the back of the book. The book captures the imaginations of beginning readers and help them on their way to independent reading. The books can be read aloud to young children or the children can read the books themselves.

I received this book from Norwood House Press via Netgalley in exchange on an honest review.