Teaching a slug to read requires some strategy, but it’s worth it. That’s the premise of this tale, which involves a human boy coaching a slug mother in her efforts to teach a young slug the way of books. Story selection is key, as are gentle steps—or easy, slimy glides?—along the path: learning new words, sounding out words, and spotting repetition. The joy that brightens a young slug’s eyestalks upon realization of a new skill is wonderful to behold.
Susan Pearson’s patient prose is something like a primer for anyone looking to impart basic reading skills on an up-and-coming book enthusiast. It’s easy to imagine a child in the place of Little Slug—and that’s meant to be taken in the best way possible. David Slonim’s illustrations make the little garden pests cute, and kids will surely enjoy recognizing their own tentative forays into the world of understanding print.
“What Kids Are Reading” is a regular feature in the Sun, highlighting children’s books available for young readers in Santa Maria. This week’s recommendation was made by Executive Editor Ryan Miller.
This article appears in Dec 8-15, 2011.