Fly Guy Phonics

Fly Guy Phonics. Tedd Arnold. 2017. Scholastic. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence from first book: Fly Guy likes to go to school with Buzz. He likes going to class. But most of all he likes lunch. The lunchroom has the best trash cans! He loves to grab a snack in the trash can. Until the day he meets the lunch lady, Roz. "This is bad," thinks Fly Guy.

Premise/plot: This boxed-phonics set features ten books and two work books. Each book focuses on a short or long vowel sound. One workbook focuses on short vowel sounds; the other workbook focuses on long vowel sounds. Within each story, the words in bold are the "practice" words illustrating the sound.

My thoughts: I don't know why I always associate phonics books with being short, simple, not much story, and having a very limited vocabulary. The books in this phonics boxed set certainly break that pattern. The books have a lot of text. If a reader is truly only learning about short vowel and long vowel sounds, I'm not sure how they'd read the rest of the text on their own. These do not seem to be written for a very beginning reader. I'm not sure where they'd be on the scale of things--but I'm not seeing these as being A, B, C, or even D. But that being said, I think the stories are fun enough for what they are.

Though the books all have a copyright of 2017, I feel that some of these stories are taken from earlier Fly Guy books. Perhaps not word for word, perhaps with some changes to highlight the particular vowel sound being highlighted in that specific book.


© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Lego Phonics (2014)

Lego Super Heroes Phonics. Quinlan B. Lee. 2014. Scholastic. Includes 10 Books and 2 Workbooks. [Source: Review copy]

The Lego Super Heroes Phonics pack includes ten books: five books focusing on short vowel sounds, five books focusing on long vowel sounds. The books are all set in the DC Universe.

The writing. I won't lie. It's a phonics book. Even though the characters are super heroes, it feels like a phonics book. But. I suppose they have a purpose!

Book #1 Meet Batman (short a)

What is that in the sky?
It is a flash!
It is a bat!
We need the man in the mask.
We need Batman!
Batman jumps in the Batmobile. He needs a plan. He needs to get to his lab. Fast!

 Book #2 Get That Cat! (short e)

"Help!" a man yells. Catwoman has a gem. Quick! Get help!
"Meow! Come here, my pet," she says. Catwoman is set to get away.

Book #3 Come Quick (short i)

Superman hears Batman from far away. Batman says, "Come quick!" "Quick is what I do best!" the Flash says. "I will be there in a flash!" The Flash gets to the spot. There is just a big hill of bricks. "Why did Batman say to come quick?"

Book #4 Stop the Bot (short o)

Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Lex has a big robot. The bot has got Wonder Woman.

Book #5 Up, Up, and Away (short u)

This is Superman. He can run fast! He can jump high! He can do much more than any man! The sun makes Superman strong. He can pick up a bus so it does not get crushed.

Book #6 Two-Face Chase (long a)

Batman races to the bank! There is a crane in the way. He hits the brakes! "I hate to be late!" Batman yells.

Book #7 Mr. Freeze (long e)

Batman and Robin are in the Batboat. "I feel the need! I feel the need for speed!" says Robin.

Book #8 Ride On! (long i)

"You cannot hide this time, Bane," says Batman. A bike rides by in the dark. Is it Bane? It is Catwoman! she smiles. "Are you looking for me?" she says. "I will not hide this time."

Book #9 No Joke (long o)

All of Gotham City is at home in bed. No one is out. Except one lone man...
The Joker! "This smoke will help you sleep...forever!" he yells. "And that is no joke."

Book #10 Get a Clue (long u)

Batman gets a note. It says: "I have the guy in blue. Do you want him back? You know what to do. Look for me and get my clues." 

© 2014 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Star Wars Phonics (2012)

Star Wars Phonics. Quinlan B. Lee. 2012. (September 2012). Scholastic.

This boxed phonics set features ten books and two workbooks. The books tell stories from most of the Star Wars films; there is a nice blend of stories from the original trilogy and the new trilogy. My favorite book is Hide Out! And here's my favorite quote not only from this book but from the whole set:

 "No one likes Vader. Now no one likes Lando. 'But I am on your side,' says Lando. 'You are not on our side!' Leia says. 'You are slime!' Is Lando really slime? Only time will tell."

#1 Meet Anakin (short a)

This is Anakin. He lives in a flat land. There is a lot of sand. He can race a Podracer fast! Anakin goes fast, fast, fast! But can he win a race?

#2 Friends to the End (short e)

 This is Chewie and Han. They do not look the same. They do not talk the same. But they are best friends. Han flies the ship. Chewie helps him. They jet right! They jet left! 

#3 Jar Jar's Trip (short i)

The Jedi must take a trip. They need a ship. The Jedi get a ship. They also get Jar Jar. Jar Jar wants to skip the trip. The ship goes zip zip zip. The ship zips through the water. 

#4 Here Come the Ewoks (short o)

The Ewoks are not big. But that does not stop them. Ewoks live in rock and log huts. The huts are not big. The huts are on top of trees! Ewoks use ropes to get to the top. They hop up, up, up to the top. 

 #5 How to Be a Jedi (short u)

Being a Jedi is hard. A Jedi must learn a lot. A Jedi must be strong. A Jedi must be fast. A Jedi will need help. So a Jedi learns to trust his friends. A Jedi will not always win. So a Jedi learns to not give up.

Other books include:

• #6 Chase on Endor (long a)
• #7 Meet Han Solo (long e)
• #8 Hide Out (long i)
• #9 Here Come the Clones (long o)
• #10 Use the Force, Luke (long u)

The back of each book lists which words a new reader will be practicing as they read that book and work on that phonics skill. 

I enjoyed reading this set of early readers. The books are simple and at times amusing. If you've got a little one who loves Star Wars and needs a little reading practice, this would be worth considering.

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews