Happy Endings: A Story about Suffixes

Gr 1–3—It's the end of the school year, but Mr. Wright has one final lesson for his students. He explains that after lunch, the class will tackle word endings. Having waited all year to be in the spotlight, the word endings are shocked to hear that it's finally their turn. Believing they will be pummeled by the much larger students, the word endings slide off the blackboard and head for the weight room, hoping to bulk up for a fair fight. When Mr. Wright realizes they have disappeared, he vows there will be no summer vacation until they are found. Within the text of Pulver's story (Holiday House, 2011), the word endings are printed in red and yellow so they stand out to readers. Lynn Rowe Reed's digital and acrylic illustrations feature brightly colored word endings with faces, and these vibrant pictures add personality and fun to what could otherwise be a dry topic. Narrator John Beach uses a different voice for each suffix, which helps distinguish the word endings for listeners. This CD and the companion book would be useful for classroom listening centers so students can review word ending rules at their own pace and supplement language arts instruction.—Anne Bozievich, Friendship Elementary School, Glen Rock, PA