Silent Letters Loud and Clear

Gr 1–3—Mr. Wright's students are frustrated by silent letters. "We can't hear them, so who needs them? They should be banned!" proclaim the students in an email to the newspaper. Overhearing the complaints and feeling wretched, the silent letters sneak out of the email, leaving it nonsensical and riddled with embarrassing spelling mistakes. Once it's published, Mr. "Rit's" students see the error of their ways and realize silent letters are "mighty fine," not "mity fin." Pulver's latest grammar lesson (Holiday House, 2008) can be a fun accompaniment to what could otherwise be a pedantic word study. Lynn Rowe Reed's bright and inventive letters are made of an array of odds and ends, textures and media. The silent letters in the text are printed in a simple outline-only font. Children may have an "aha!" moment if they see the email—abandoned by the insulted letters—written out before they begin the story. A spoken-only preface encourages listeners to imagine silent letters all having different personalities and voices. John Beach's narration varies with each letter and character and his pacing pairs well with the non-linear text patterns. The story is enhanced with background sounds, subtle music, and sound effects. Page-turn signals are optional.—Jane Newschwander, Fluvanna County Public Schools, VA