From the series Fairy Tale Phonics
Sal and the Three-Letter Spell
Reading Level Grade 1Interest Level Grades 1 – 2Copyright 2023
Reviewed
From the series Fairy Tale Phonics
Reading Level Grade 1Interest Level Grades 1 – 2Copyright 2023
ReviewedIn Sal and the Three-Letter Spell, beginning readers learn about the phonics concept of consonant-vowel-consonant words (CVC words) and spelling in an exciting, fantastical setting. Follow along as Sal and his pigeon, Pip, encounter an evil witch and attempt to reverse her spell, all while incorporating various CVC words, in this fun decodable book. Vibrant illustrations and carefully leveled text will engage young readers in a supportive educational fiction reading experience.
Children can learn more about CVC words using Fact Surfer, our safe online search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Supplementary back matter helps readers review the story, while a picture glossary reinforces new vocabulary. Sal and the Three-Letter Spell also features reading tips for teachers and parents, an index, and a table of contents.
Grasshopper Books offers simple, fun fiction for emerging readers. Sal and the Three-Letter Spell is part of Jump!’s Fairy Tale Phonics series.
Through the lens of fairy tales and magical creatures, this series presents different phonics concepts through short, narrative stories. Each book shares an original, fictional tale that focuses on one phonics area, such as word families and consonant blends. Readers are invited to look for these concepts throughout the story as they read, creating an interactive approach for exploring how they work. For example, one story features a boy who needs to bring a witch several items featuring three-letter CVC words to reverse a spell. The appealing illustrations are colorful and cartoon-inspired to appeal to beginning readers. A visual glossary is included at the end, along with a practice activity that invites readers to identify the phonics concept being shown. Verdict: With simple narratives, these books provide an engaging way to practice phonics skills in an authentic context. Recommended for early elementary collections.
School Library Journal
