Love, love, love Margaret Hillert's classic primers. I used them as the first practice readers for my children. Girl and boy, they both loved being able to read their favorite stories to me, and I loved the way these little books built up their confidence.
Pam
Somewhere in the X-burbs
On this page we feature Margaret Hillert's Absolutely Easiest Practice Readers. These are books written at what educators call the pre-primer level. That's because they are so very simple. AR (Accelerated Reading) Levels of 0.5 to 0.6!
Where to find them? Most children will outgrow these practice readers quickly, so unless you are a teacher or are planning to hand them down, you should definitely go the borrowing route, and check them out of your local library.
Where to find them? Most children will outgrow these practice readers quickly, so unless you are a teacher or are planning to hand them down, you should definitely go the borrowing route, and check them out of your local library.
The Birthday Car
Description: You can probably guess from the cover what this little boy got for his birthday. Children will relate to the children's joy in things that go!
- Paperback: 28 pages
- Publisher: MODERN CURRICULUM PRESS
- ISBN-10: 0813655315
- amazon
Technical Stuff
Word Count: 171
Reading Level: 0.5
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 0.5 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 9353
Lexile: BR
The Little Runaway
If you look at the cover you can see the little orange kitten that is the subject of this delightful story.
Though there are three other kittens and an orange mother cat, it is the little orange one that runs away when mother calls.
Though there are three other kittens and an orange mother cat, it is the little orange one that runs away when mother calls.
Come here, little one.
Come here to me.
No, no.
I want to go away.
Here I go.
One, two, three.
The kitten then has lots of adventures. It plays with a hose and sees a mole. It sees Mallard ducks flying in formation. It plays in fall leaves and ouch! gets bonked on the head by a ripe apple that falls from a tree. The first misadventure comes when orange kitten falls into the pool while admiring a fish. His spirits are bolstered though when he/she watches a squirrel gathering nuts.
Work, work, work.
You can work.
I see you work.
When the squirrel won't stop and play, the kitten has his second misadventure when he finds a scary pumpkin on the front steps.
Oh, oh, oh.
Where is my mother?
Help, help.
It all ends well, of course, with momma and baby reunited.
This is a very good example of where you see Margaret's experience as a first grade teacher shining brightly. This book is not only an excellent beginning reader, but it can also be tied into a study of colors and the seasons.
- Pages: 28 pages
- Publisher: Modern Curriculum Press
- ISBN-10: 0813655528
- amazon
Technical Stuff
Word Count: 196 [45 pre-primer words]
Reading Level: 0.5
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 0.5 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 9382
The Funny Baby
Description: A retelling of the story of the ugly duckling who becomes the most graceful of all.
Technical Stuff- Paperback: 28 pages
- Publisher: Modern Curriculum Press
- ISBN-10: 0813655161
- amazon
Word Count: 213
Reading Level: 0.6
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 0.6 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 9364
The Three Bears
Description: Goldilocks and the Three Bears story told in the very simplest language.
- Paperback: 28 pages
- Publisher: Modern Curriculum Press
- ISBN-10: 0813655153
- Look Inside
- amazon
Technical Stuff
Word Count: 201
Reading Level: 0.6
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 0.6 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 9391
The Three GoatsDescription: The Billy Goats Gruff retold in very simple words.
Technical Stuff
Word Count: 219
Reading Level: 0.6
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 0.6 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 9392
The Magic BeansThis little Margaret Hillert primer retells the story of Jack and the Beanstalk using 44 pre-primer words. I especially like that many of the elements, like the goose and the lyre, are kept in this story.
The text may be very simple, but along with the pictures by Mel Pekarsky the story is retold and little ones can read it for themselves, and to you.
Here is something.
It is not big.
It is little and red. (the goose)
Look, look.
It can work.
It can make something.
Come to me.
Come to me.
I want you.
Come to my house.
Away we go.
Oh, look here.
Here is something for Mother.
Something for my mother.
The text may be very simple, but along with the pictures by Mel Pekarsky the story is retold and little ones can read it for themselves, and to you.
Technical Stuff
Word Count: 240 [44 pre-primer words]
Reading Level: 0.6
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 0.6 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 9383
Three Little Pigs
Description: 3 Little Pigs story in very simple language.
- Paperback: 28 pages
- Publisher: Modern Curriculum Press
- ISBN-10: 0813655358 and 1599530503
- amazon
Technical Stuff
Word Count: 189
Reading Level: 0.6
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 0.6 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 9393
Lexile: BR
The Yellow Boat
Description: The story of a little yellow boat which sails away and the things that can be seen from the boat.
You are probably expecting a simple story about a yellow boat, but Margaret always gives us more. Right after the boat goes, we get to see 'something funny'. The 'something funny' is a frog which jumps. We also get to see turtle, which goes down, and fish.
The boat takes us on a journey past frogs that jump, turtles which go down, fish and cattails. A dragon fly which goes up. And a mother and yellow baby ducks. And a crayfish which the narrator says makes them want to run. The boy and boat meet up again and he takes the boat home.
Look here, look here.
See the little boat.
A little yellow boat.
The boat can go.
It can go away.
Go, little boat, go.
You are probably expecting a simple story about a yellow boat, but Margaret always gives us more. Right after the boat goes, we get to see 'something funny'. The 'something funny' is a frog which jumps. We also get to see turtle, which goes down, and fish.
The boat takes us on a journey past frogs that jump, turtles which go down, fish and cattails. A dragon fly which goes up. And a mother and yellow baby ducks. And a crayfish which the narrator says makes them want to run. The boy and boat meet up again and he takes the boat home.
Technical Stuff
Word Count: 209 [43 pre-primer words]
Reading Level: 0.6
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 0.6 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 9400Other resources:
Starfall.com -- a great online site that teaches phonics in a fun way
Leapfrog Letter and Talking Words Factory -- these inexpensive videos give children a fabulous phonetic background. Absolutely great to use with active children that won't sit for more traditional lessons.
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