Biscuit Flies a Kite

April 1, 2017
PreS-Gr 1-Biscuit the little yellow dog has returned with another fun tale. It's a perfect day to fly a kite in the park. Biscuit and his canine friend Puddles are excited and ready to help their owners. All that is needed is some wind so the kites can take off. The pups soon discover that a little breeze is not quite enough and a huge gust is just too much. The pair have fun playing around before getting down to serious business. When things get tangled, the friends do their best to save the day. Will they ever be able to get the kites to fly high? The bold black sentences are simple and short. Emergent readers will not be overwhelmed by the amount of words on the page. Various types of punctuation marks are introduced. This story will allow children to hear the intonation of an accomplished reader in order to help with their own inflection. Some of the text is repetitive and easy to grasp; however, there are words that may be more difficult to master. The simple and colorful illustrations provide helpful cues to aid young ones in deciphering the context. The puppies and their owners exhibit a variety of expressions that enhance the narrative. VERDICT Whether added to an established -Biscuit- collection or a stand-alone, this book is a good option to share with beginning readers.-Barbara Spiri, Southborough Library, MA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2017
Puppies Biscuit and Puddles accompany their little girl owners to fly kites in the park. They have their kites and string and now just need wind. It takes several tries, but with their pups' (adorable) help, the kites are soon soaring. Repeated words and doggie sounds make this a good pick for very new readers. As ever, Schories's illustrations have a sweet nostalgic feel.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)