Splat the Cat

Splat the Cat

by Rob Scotton

Product Details.

Original Language   :  English

Binding                     :  Hardback, 12 pages

Type                          :  Picture book

Publisher                   :  HarperCollins, 2008

What to expect : first school day mixed emotion.

Book Review

Remember your child's first school day? It took a whole bunch of patience (parent's side) and a mountain high of courage (from child's side) to make it a go.
Children are always restless about school first day. How’s the teacher? How’s the class? And furthermore, will I make new friends?

Some children make excuses not to go to school, like Splat does. Playing sick or cannot find the right clothes are the most excuses they make

Splat the Cat is an unusually amusing book. The illustration, that I have to bring up first, is irresistibly adorable. I just can't help myself not to touch (or feel) it. Splat was so anxious with the uncertainty of school first day. He needs every single thing that comforts him, Mom's big hug and the accompany of an old-buddy. Rob Scotton ingeniously presents Mrs. Wimpydimple, the name that spreads out school's warmth, a loving motherly teacher. Last but not least, is Seymour. The little mouse successfully made me laugh to see how happy he is to be able to scare and chase back the cats.

I can see many kids will love Splat as they share the same feeling (Splat feels what they feel). This book can help you showing your children that school is not as horrible as they thought. 

School is cool. School is fun. They’ll learn many new lessons, get smarter everyday and have terrific friends. There’s absolutely nothing to worry about.

As Reading Literature

The story is written in short and simple sentences. But the whimsical illustration make it speaks the story louder than the text itself. Your children will understand the story easily. Superb. I love this book very much.

The Very Lazy Ladybird (Kepik yang Sangat Malas)

The Very Lazy Ladybird (Kepik yang Sangat Malas)

by Isobel Flynn and Jack Tickle

Product Details.

Original Language   :  English – Indonesian (Bilingual)

Binding                     :  Paperback, 12 pages

Type                          :  Picture book

Publisher                   :  Erlangga for Kids, 2006

Dimensions               :  28 x 22 cm       

What to expect : animal story, a bad habit.

Book Review

Ladybird is a diligent animal by nature. But in this story, you will meet an unusual ladybird. He likes to sleep all day and night. Because of his laziness he doesn’t even know how to fly.

One day he gets bored of his place and wants to sleep somewhere else but too lazy to fly. So he decides to hop on any animals that passes near him. From a bouncy kangaroo, a roaring tiger, a swishy crocodile, a swingy monkey and many more. But none of these animals fits his wish. Until finally he finds the right animal where he can sleep on. Will it be his last sleeping spot?

I find this book really amusing. The ladybird, as lazy as he can be, was so persistent to avoid flying. Until one day he couldn’t get away from it anymore. It just reminds me of my children who frequently try to avoid their task. So I used this book to talk sensibly to them, that no matter how hard we try to avoid our task, it’ll keep coming back to us. Worse case, one day we might be forced by the situation to do it. And this is very undesirable.

As Reading Literature

Regarding the size of the book, I use this book in tell-a-tale time in my class. The students can easily see the whole picture. And the double page illustration attracts their attention. But they find the double text on the page rather distracting. Two texts at the same page with the same font size confuses them.

Above of all, I love the moral value of the story the most.

Preschool Vowel Sounds

Preschool Vowel Sounds

by Warner Bros. Worldwide Publishing Editorial/Production Team

Product Details.

Original Language   :  English

Binding                     :  Paperback, 72 pages

Type                          :  Activity book

Publisher                   :  Sterling publishers, 2007

Dimensions               :  17.5 x 12 cm    

What to expect : English workbook for preschoolers.

Book Review

Teaching beginner readers has always been a challenging work. It takes a tremendous motivations to make children engaged in the activity. One of the common way I use to tackle this in reading class is by using lovable or famous characters. This book works perfectly with them. From the first time the students see Taz, they just can’t wait to open it. Unlike other activity books that are illustrated in black-and-white, this book uses colourful illustrations! It makes a whole lots of difference. Just perfect.

As Reading Literature

By the end of this book, children will be able to recognize vowel sounds (short and long).

English made Easy, Ages 6-7

English made Easy, Ages 6-7

by Carol Vorderman and Brenda Apsley

Product Details.

Original Language   :  English

Binding                     :  Paperback, 32 pages

Type                          :  Activity book

Publisher                   :  Dorling Kindersley, 2006

Dimensions               :  17.5 x 12 cm    

What to expect : English workbook for elementary students.

Book Review

This book contains work sheets for reading activity. Children will learn to recognize bi-vowel sounds, to read short passage (independent reading), to recognize compound words, punctuation, antonyms prefixes and to use question mark in a question.

As Reading Literature

This book is suitable for children who is ready to learn double vowel sounds. This is a valuable English reference book, but for ESL students extra work sheets are needed due to limitation of vocabulary.

According to my experience, my students need at least 4 worksheets (of similar topic) to be able to properly understand the lesson.

Sly Fox and Red Hen

Sly Fox and Red Hen

Classic children’s story

Product Details.

Original Language   :  English

Binding                     :  Hardback, 27 pages

Type                          :  Picture book

Publisher                   :  Ladybird, 2006

Dimensions               :  17.5 x 12 cm    

What to expect : amusing classic children’s story.

Book Review

This is the story of Sly Fox who wants to eat Red Hen. He picks up his big bag and go to Red ‘s Hen’s house to catch her. But the Red Hens tricks him and runs free.

As Reading Literature

This book is suitable for beginner readers who is familiar with simple sentences and can read short simple sentences with help.

I used this book in my class for reading practice. My students find the illustration interesting. Whenever they find unfamiliar words, they simply look at the illustration and guess its meaning.

Power Crazy Ms Wiz

Power Crazy Ms Wiz (Ms Wiz Gila Kuasa)

by Terence Blacker

Product Details.

Original Language   :  English – Indonesia (Bilingual)

Binding                     :  Paperback, 128 pages

Type                          :  Chapter book

Publisher                   :  Gramedia, 2003

Dimensions               :  20 x 13 cm       

What to expect : whimsical adventure in world history setting.

Book Review

Ms Wiz, an eccentric time-traveler witch, is back in town. This time he visits Podge Harris to help him out of trouble. Can it be true?

Podge is having parent problem. Today is the start of school holiday. And his father wants him to change and starts setting some ridiculous rules. First he wants him to stop reading books all the time and start spending more time learning for exams. Then he tells him to put off some weight. That means no more chocolate cookies for him. Worst, he moves him out from his school.

And Ms Wiz comes to the rescue. She takes them to travel through time to settle up the problem.

But as always, Miss Wiz’s unpredictable behaviour leads them to many bizarre incidents. But don’t you worry, they finally have got a happy ending. I found this book amusing.

As Reading Literature

This book is suitable for fluent readers who is ready for a rather long story. But still there’s a slight possibility that children might be unfamiliar with some specific words, such as House of Common and MP (Member of Parliament). And the house at Downing Street? Why is that house so important? Non-UK resident children probably need further explanation about this.

And as a bilingual book, the texts are printed in two different sections (Indonesia first, then English). This book is good for children who wish to read a full English text story.

Little Lily at Clockland

Little Lily at Clockland (Lily Kecil di Negeri Jam)

by Arleen A.

Product Details.

Original Language   :  English – Indonesia (Bilingual)

Binding                     :  Paperback, 23 pages

Type                          :  Picture book

Publisher                   :  Gramedia, 2006

Dimensions               :  20 x 20 cm       

What to expect : easy children story.

Book Review

Little Lily and her class are learning to tell the time. She does perfect in her worksheet and has got good mark. His friend calls her a clock expert.

But when she’s about to leave school, she’s got a letter from the Clockland. All clocks are in despair. Each of them tells different time so they don’t sing at the same time. Lily helps setting the time correctly so they can sing harmoniously. 
I find Lily helpful and I used this story to encourage my children to help others who need help.

As Reading Literature

This book is suitable for children who wants to read by himself and ready to tackle new words. 
Like any other fiction book, the texts are written in simple past tense. So I use this book to introduce the simple past tense concept to my English students.