Dog Ear Publishing releases “A Time of Wonder: 75 Reviews of Classic Books for Beginning Readers” by Joan Louthain Ayer
A teacher and newspaper columnist presents a compilation of reviews of classic children’s books in this new book released by Dog Ear Publishing.
First learning to read is “a time of wonder,” notes longtime teacher Joan Louthain Ayer, a mother and three-time grandmother and newspaper reviewer of children’s books. In this new collection of reviews, Ayer writes about 75 classic books meant for emerging readers, including Newbery and Caldecott Medal winners or runners-up for those awards. Some books work well for independent reading, while others provide perfect read-aloud opportunities.
The reviews in “A Time of Wonder: 75 Reviews of Classic Books for Beginning Readers” offer biographical tidbits about the authors and just enough of each book’s plot to entice young readers (and those helping them select books.) Each review also includes the author’s birth date, allowing teachers to celebrate those days in the classroom if they desire. Selections range from books from the first half of the century, like Edward Ardizzone’s 1936 classic “Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain and Virginia Lee Burton’s 1939 illustrated book “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel,” as well as more recent classics like the1997 book “Is That You, Winter?” by Stephen Gammell. Others include “The Fire Cat” by Esther Averill, “Stone Soup” by Marcia Brown and “Amelia Bedilia” by Peggy Parish.
Nonfiction titles also star in this inclusive compilation. “A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin” by David Adler, makes the list, as well as “It’s Thanksgiving” by Jack Prelutsky and “Johnny Appleseed” by Steven Kellogg. Ayer adds a list of 25 other books she recommends children explore. Part reading guide and part excuse to reminisce about favorite books, the selections in “A Time of Wonder” encourage parents to nurture reading skills and literary discussions. As Ayer writes in the introduction, “As you remember your favorite childhood books, talk to your child enthusiastically about them. Try to track them down and read them aloud as you cuddle on the couch. Nothing else can compare to this magical time you spend together.”
Author Joan Louthain Ayer served as an elementary school teacher for many years in Madison, Wis., Wayne Township in Indianapolis, and in Carmel and other Indiana communities. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Platteville and has a master’s degree from Butler University. She attended several Mid-winter Children’s Literature Conferences at Butler and the Iowa Summer Writing Festival at the University of Iowa. Ayer, who reviewed children’s books in her column “Read to Me” in the Tribune-Star in Terre Haute for 15 years, also wrote “Beyond Good Night, Moon – 75 Reviews of Classic Books for Young Children,” also published by Dog Ear Publishing.
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For additional information, please visit www.JoanAyersReviews.com.
A Time of Wonder: 75 Reviews of Classic Books for Beginning Readers
Joan Louthain Ayer
ISBN: 978-1-4575-1577-4 100 pages $11.95 US
Available at Ingram, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and fine bookstores everywhere.
About Dog Ear Publishing, LLC
Dog Ear Publishing offers completely customized self-publishing services for independent authors. We provide cost-effective, fast, and highly profitable services to publish and distribute independently published books. Our book publishing and distribution services reach worldwide. Dog Ear authors retain all rights and complete creative control throughout the entire self-publishing process. Self-publishing services are available globally at dogearpublishing.net and from our offices in Indianapolis.
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