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Dear Deer: A Book of Homophones
Clever Aunt Ant has just moved to the zoo. Speaking in homophones, she describes the quirky animal behavior she sees. There's the MOOSE who loved MOUSSE and ATE EIGHT bowls, and the WHALE who was ALLOWED to WAIL ALOUD--and that's just for starters.
This playful picture book introduces children to the richness of language through the concept of homophones. A romp through the zoo has never been so eye-opening.
A Children's Book-of-the-Month Club Selection
This playful picture book introduces children to the richness of language through the concept of homophones. A romp through the zoo has never been so eye-opening.
A Children's Book-of-the-Month Club Selection
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 4, 2007
30 people are currently reading
1129 people want to read
About the author
Gene Barretta
40 books29 followersGene Barretta is the author and illustrator of Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin and Neo Leo: The Ageless Ideas of Leonardo da Vinci. He is also author and illustrator of Dear Deer, which was a Notable Children’s Book in the Language Arts and listed on the Parenting Magazine Mom-Tested Books of the Year List.
He holds a B.F.A. in Film Studies from New York University, and has worked for many years in film and television production. Gene is also the older brother of Muppet performer, writer and director, Bill Barretta.
He lives in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania with his wife and son.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/geneba...
He holds a B.F.A. in Film Studies from New York University, and has worked for many years in film and television production. Gene is also the older brother of Muppet performer, writer and director, Bill Barretta.
He lives in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania with his wife and son.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/geneba...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
January 26, 2022
I'm sure there are other good homophone books and exercises available, but I particularly like this one. It's told as an epistolary story, with cute illustrations. And it can be appreciated even by pre-readers who can easily see the difference between the words Moose and Mousse, and be ready to apply that learning when they do start to decode the text of leveled readers.
Also good reinforcement for independent readers who are having trouble remembering to check for spelling errors, and as a mentor text, and in an ESL class.
When I was a student teacher for 4th grade I created a poster with an anecdote-length story to help the kids keep track of their/there/they're and the cooperating teacher really liked it... this book would serve a similar purpose.
Plus it's just plain fun. Look at those expressions! "There's no news from gnus...' indeed!
Also good reinforcement for independent readers who are having trouble remembering to check for spelling errors, and as a mentor text, and in an ESL class.
When I was a student teacher for 4th grade I created a poster with an anecdote-length story to help the kids keep track of their/there/they're and the cooperating teacher really liked it... this book would serve a similar purpose.
Plus it's just plain fun. Look at those expressions! "There's no news from gnus...' indeed!
December 29, 2009
The first time I read this one to my four-year-old we both ended up laughing so hard we could hardly breathe. It's a cool concept, teaching kids about homophones.... words that are spelled differently, have different meanings, but sound the same. The premise of the story is that Aunt Ant is writing to her nephew, Dear Deer, and giving him an update on all her neighbors and friends. Some of the words I had to explain to my son but by and large he got it. It was almost at the end when we got to the gnus that it turned so funny. Jack pointed to the picture of the gnu on the page and asked what that was. I said a gnu. He pointed to the other one and asked what that was. I said a gnu. He said "Well, what about them?" And I read from the page, "There is no news about the gnus. They keep to themselves." Well, that just put both of us in stitches. We laughed so hard we couldn't stop. Ok, maybe you had to be there. But, it's just a plain fun, silly, and yes, educational book. Buy it.
March 27, 2012
This is such a fun book for kids who are learning about homophones, or for kids who are learning to read. My niece and I spent some time with this book today, and we had a lot of fun comparing the words and discussing how interesting it was that words that sound alike could be spelled differently and have different meanings.
The text in this book is not too difficult, which I think really enables new readers (or spellers) to spend time studying the words and comparing and contrasting them. The pictures are helpful in interpretation of the words, and I noticed my niece's eyes darting back and forth between the pictures and the words on the page. Just a great tool to use in teaching about the English language. I could also see it being useful for ESL students.
The text in this book is not too difficult, which I think really enables new readers (or spellers) to spend time studying the words and comparing and contrasting them. The pictures are helpful in interpretation of the words, and I noticed my niece's eyes darting back and forth between the pictures and the words on the page. Just a great tool to use in teaching about the English language. I could also see it being useful for ESL students.
October 14, 2008
Fabulously friendly, humorous illustrations and silly tongue twisting text aside, who would have guessed that a book highlighting use, meanings and spellings of identically sounding words could be so fascinating to a seven year old reader? We didn’t, but it is.
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
March 22, 2011
This was ridiculously cute!!! I loved the homophones and creative rhyming scheme. Words I wouldn't have even thought of flood this book (i.e. you/ewe, him/hymn, feet/feat, etc). This book serves as a fun & interactive read aloud. Students can guess which two words are homophones and maybe even guess their spelling! This would even be a good go to book for vocabulary expansion while in writing centers. The pictures are colorful and engaging!
February 11, 2010
This was such a good book for homonyms. It is very cute and easily appealing to children.
The reason I gave it 3 stars is because while the book offers a great lesson on homonyms, it does not go far past that. I think the story could be about something surrounding more culture and still keep its simplicity.
The reason I gave it 3 stars is because while the book offers a great lesson on homonyms, it does not go far past that. I think the story could be about something surrounding more culture and still keep its simplicity.
June 23, 2012
I loved this clever little book on homophones. This is geared to the early elementary grades but I'm teachers at the higher levels could use this as a fun and funny reminder for any age student. I liked the clever incorporation of so many homophones, the pictures are funny and will help cement the concepts into their little brains. Clever!
April 15, 2015
Good for grades 2-5. Would be good to extend to a writing activity.
April 10, 2018
CLASSSIICCCC
July 9, 2024
Just a children's book full of fun plays-on-words. We enjoyed it.
Read
February 17, 2016I really enjoyed this books and I think students would as well. This books had a creative story line that involved many animals. With every turn of a page you would find a new animal and they all had unique personalities. I enjoyed this, as would many children, and it kept the book entertaining. This books is about an Ant who has just moved to the zoo and takes the reader on an adventure around the zoo as she introduces each animal and what they like to do. This book has wonderful and very colorful illustrations that show the spunky personalities of all the animals. I flipped through the book a few times just to enjoy the illustrations. As a future teacher I value this book because if gives a possible lesson with many examples of homophones. It starts with "Dear Deer," and the examples continue throughout every page of the book. Some examples of homophones from the books are: "ate eight", "tale, tail", and "read, red". The book uses many words that are common from a young age, this book is a good way to introduce homophones. It shows how there are so many words that sound identical, but you have to pay attention to the spelling because they have different meanings. I enjoyed this book because it had a great story and illustrations and also has an educational component. It would be beneficial to have this book in my future classroom for entertainment and educational value.
May 9, 2015
My personal reaction was this book was very creative in showing homophones. For example words sounds the same but have different meanings and spellings. The children will be laughing at the end with the crazy conversations with Aunt Ant and her nephew dear dear.
This would be a great read aloud to make a curricular connection about language arts specifically about homophones. Comparing words and contrasting their meanings is the main purpose. The illustrations really support the different meanings of the words.
This would also be a great independent reader for a beginning reader because the words are not complex. The illustrations really help the reader if they are unsure of a meaning of a word. A independent reader who is interest in bright illustrations and vocabulary or just free reading.
This book gives great information about homophones in a fun way. It does not simply give the definition it compares and contrast words to learn the difference. This is a great skill in writing to know when to use the correct word with the correct spelling.
This would be a great read aloud to make a curricular connection about language arts specifically about homophones. Comparing words and contrasting their meanings is the main purpose. The illustrations really support the different meanings of the words.
This would also be a great independent reader for a beginning reader because the words are not complex. The illustrations really help the reader if they are unsure of a meaning of a word. A independent reader who is interest in bright illustrations and vocabulary or just free reading.
This book gives great information about homophones in a fun way. It does not simply give the definition it compares and contrast words to learn the difference. This is a great skill in writing to know when to use the correct word with the correct spelling.
September 13, 2012
Aunt Ant writes a letter to Dear Deer about her experiences at the zoo. This book is packed with homophones. On every page there are a couple fun homophones to teach children. It isn't a book that you can read without smiling.
The artistic media used in this book is watercolors, which gives the pages a beautiful shiny effect. The illustrations are created in a fun cartoon fashion. This is something that makes learning about homophones silly and interesting for young children. Lines are used in the story to draw attention to the animal being talked about on each page. This isn't the case on every page, but most pages could qualify. The colors are vibrant in this book, with barely any white space on each page. It is hard not to get drawn in by the interesting pictures. I would read this book to my class as an introduction to a homophones unit. Kids could also choose their own animal and make their own homophone page after learning about homophones.
The artistic media used in this book is watercolors, which gives the pages a beautiful shiny effect. The illustrations are created in a fun cartoon fashion. This is something that makes learning about homophones silly and interesting for young children. Lines are used in the story to draw attention to the animal being talked about on each page. This isn't the case on every page, but most pages could qualify. The colors are vibrant in this book, with barely any white space on each page. It is hard not to get drawn in by the interesting pictures. I would read this book to my class as an introduction to a homophones unit. Kids could also choose their own animal and make their own homophone page after learning about homophones.
April 1, 2014
What a spectacular book for children in teaching homophones! I think that this is a super creative book in the it has great illustrations and easy to follow concepts for children to understand. There were so many great examples that had pictures to go along with them. I loved the colors that were used because it really made it a more lively book and more interesting to read. I loved that the book had all to do with different types of animals because animals are something that really interest children and so I think they could easily relate with this book and could have a positive association to go along with homophones. I loved the first example that had to do with comparing a deer- the animal, and dear as in addressing a letter. I think that this would be an excellent book to include in teaching how to write lessons for different content areas in the classroom! I would highly suggest this for teaching homophones to children!
June 6, 2016
Tiara Dietz
Dear Deer: A Book of Homophones is just that... a book of fantastic homophones! The story is GREAT for a read aloud when teaching or introducing homophones to students.
The story is a note written from AUNT ANT to DEAR DEER about all of her new neighboring animals at the zoo that she lives in now! The students don't only learn several homophones like blue/blew, moose/mousse, ewe/you, hair/hair, etc. but they are also able to learn about many new animals as well. The story may be a little tricky to read as many of the homophones will be new to some of the students, so it makes for a good read aloud and discussion of new vocabulary too.
Educators can make anchor charts in order to see what homophones the students are able to come up with on their own before reading the story, add new ones during the reading, and even come up with more at the end of the reading. Students can write their own stories/letters, etc. using homophones!
Dear Deer: A Book of Homophones is just that... a book of fantastic homophones! The story is GREAT for a read aloud when teaching or introducing homophones to students.
The story is a note written from AUNT ANT to DEAR DEER about all of her new neighboring animals at the zoo that she lives in now! The students don't only learn several homophones like blue/blew, moose/mousse, ewe/you, hair/hair, etc. but they are also able to learn about many new animals as well. The story may be a little tricky to read as many of the homophones will be new to some of the students, so it makes for a good read aloud and discussion of new vocabulary too.
Educators can make anchor charts in order to see what homophones the students are able to come up with on their own before reading the story, add new ones during the reading, and even come up with more at the end of the reading. Students can write their own stories/letters, etc. using homophones!
April 25, 2012
1. I really like this book the graphics are really awesome!
2. This is a wonderful story to introduce homophones to young children. This is February the end of the 3rd quater where most kindergarters are beginning to process word knowledge and meaning.
3.Although learning homopones is not apart of the AKS many of the upper grades have express that for many students homophones presents a challenge.
Extended Activity
I think that children love games, and a great time filler could be a homophone game. where the class would take a word and try to find a word that sounds the same, but has a different meaning for example:Dear Deer like the story. This would be a great way to get children envolved with examining words and there meaning.
2. This is a wonderful story to introduce homophones to young children. This is February the end of the 3rd quater where most kindergarters are beginning to process word knowledge and meaning.
3.Although learning homopones is not apart of the AKS many of the upper grades have express that for many students homophones presents a challenge.
Extended Activity
I think that children love games, and a great time filler could be a homophone game. where the class would take a word and try to find a word that sounds the same, but has a different meaning for example:Dear Deer like the story. This would be a great way to get children envolved with examining words and there meaning.
January 19, 2018
Dear Deer is a children's book that takes you through a letter from an ant to a deer. This letter explains that the ant now lives in a zoo and has meant a lot of other animals. The author, Gene Barretta, use homophones to make the book more fun and enjoyable for children to read.
3 book topic ideas
1.) The kids could use this book to study science. I could have them start to study the different animals that appear in this book. (Science)
2.) There are a lot of new words, so I could have the students look up any new interesting words that they want to know more about. (Language Arts)
3.) I could also use this book to begin looking at zoos, what they are, the history of them, what animals are in them, etc. (Science/Special Activity)
3 book topic ideas
1.) The kids could use this book to study science. I could have them start to study the different animals that appear in this book. (Science)
2.) There are a lot of new words, so I could have the students look up any new interesting words that they want to know more about. (Language Arts)
3.) I could also use this book to begin looking at zoos, what they are, the history of them, what animals are in them, etc. (Science/Special Activity)
November 29, 2011
This is a wonderfully playful and imaginative book. After reading it, one will never again forget what a homophone might be! Aunt Ant, is writing a letter to her friend, Deer, about her new life at a zoo. Of course, she begins the letter "Dear Deer." The illustrations are wonderful and the the kids loved this book. I worried that it might not work as a read-aloud since it sounds like the reader is stuttering when reading about a fox that "blew blue bubbles." The pictures give the text more than enough context, and some of the pages come across as tongue twisters. My favorite was the Ewe who has "Been in a daze for days" and then Deer writes his response to Aunt Ant....
January 31, 2011
<3 Absolutly one of my favorite new books, that i will deffintly be purchasing when I get my own classroom. The entire book is full of homophones which makes it a great teaching tool. The illustrations are super cute too. This book also has lots of new vocabulary words that can be taught to older students and even younger. I would suggest this story from about 2nd to 4th grade. And if read in 4th grade I would use it as a review book to recap what they already know but help to reinforce what homophones are.
February 28, 2011
" Dear Deer" is a wonderful way to explore homophones with children of all ages! In this cute and entertaining book, children are definitely able to pick up on homophones. In fact, you can definitely incorporate this as a small group activity where children are working together to pin-point the homophones or you can make it a large group activity where everyone is participating by snapping, clapping or standing up when they hear a homophone. This will definitely be in my classroom library, and I know it will get lots of good use in. :)
December 1, 2016
In this fun book, Deer and Ant write letters to each other about their new neighbors. I hadn't thought about homophones and homonyms since late elementary or early middle school. This book managed to make "language arts" a lot more fun than it sounds like it should be. Using animals as a theme to teach the concept of words that sound alike but are spelled differently produced some very wacky situations. Great for anyone learning English either as a first or second language. Best line:
"There is no NEWS about the GNUS. They keep to themselves."
"There is no NEWS about the GNUS. They keep to themselves."
July 21, 2017
A real cute book about Homophones.
Dear Deer, I now live at the zoo. Wait until you hear what goes on over here. Love, Aunt Ant.
I love the note to the author at the beginning that explains the difference between Homophones (sound the same, spelled differently and have different meanings, moose, mousse) vs. homonyms(spelled the same, but sound the same, but have different meanings, bowl-a dish, bowl- the sport).
Very cute illustrations.
It would be good for word work , where students can play with the language.
Dear Deer, I now live at the zoo. Wait until you hear what goes on over here. Love, Aunt Ant.
I love the note to the author at the beginning that explains the difference between Homophones (sound the same, spelled differently and have different meanings, moose, mousse) vs. homonyms(spelled the same, but sound the same, but have different meanings, bowl-a dish, bowl- the sport).
Very cute illustrations.
It would be good for word work , where students can play with the language.
November 19, 2017
The plot is in the title. This is a book about homophones made into silly pictures and wordplay. Aunt Ant is writing a letter to her dear nephew Deer about what she sees. She sees things like the doe kneading the dough because she needed the dough. And the toad being towed. What else will she see?!
I'd use this book in a younger class with the intent of introducing and giving examples of what homophones are, but it would be great for older kids as a refresher. It's fun for 2nd graders, but witty enough for 4th. Love it for a fun hook before the lesson!
Genre~Children's fiction
I'd use this book in a younger class with the intent of introducing and giving examples of what homophones are, but it would be great for older kids as a refresher. It's fun for 2nd graders, but witty enough for 4th. Love it for a fun hook before the lesson!
Genre~Children's fiction
July 18, 2008
This is a wonderful read aloud to educate children about homophones. It is humorous, featuring a moose that eats mousse and a whale who is allowed to wail aloud. Each homophone is featured in capital letters to bring it to the attention of the reader. The book begins with a helpful note to the reader giving the definition of homophones as well as homonyms. The bold, bright watercolor paintings illustrate each page
June 29, 2010
An excellent look at homophones, the book is an illustrated letter from Aunt ant to her dear deer. She tells him all about the other animals, like the ewe who has been "in a daze for days," the "horse who is hoarse from humming a hymn," and the monkey who will "tell you a tale as he hangs from his tail."
The illustrations take this book from a funny homophone reader to a genuine story. The bold water colors in bright hues show mischevious animals in all sorts of dilemmas.
The illustrations take this book from a funny homophone reader to a genuine story. The bold water colors in bright hues show mischevious animals in all sorts of dilemmas.
September 5, 2010
A clever story about Aunt Ant's new home in the zoo. As she writes to dear deer, she uses lots of homophones to tell about her new neighbors. Read this book instead of a homophone worksheet . . . it will be much more fun! (Also I learned that homophones sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Homonyms, on the other hand, sound the same, are spelled the same, but have different meanings (like "bowl" of soup, and "bowl" , the sport)
November 30, 2011
This book was a very fun read. It was engaging and would be easy for young students to read as well. It introduces homophones and helps understand what they mean. There are many examples of homophones throughout the book to help children understand the concept. This would be great for an anticipatory set when teaching homophones in a classroom. The illustrations are also well done and very bright and colorful. Good book for a classroom!
April 19, 2012
This is an awesome book to teach homophones. The author was so creative in the creation of the homophone sentences. The students can either mimic the examples in the book or write out homophones from the book that they like and illustrate them or think of their own. I have seen this used in a 1st grade classroom but it can be extended past 1st grade considering its effectiveness in teaching the topic.
February 9, 2013
I would use this book as a read-aloud across elementary grade levels. From pre-k to grades 2, onset and rimes and the book's play on words would be a great way to highlight sounds in phonological awareness lessons. Showing the differences in the spellings and meanings of those homophones would aid lessons in phonics and build vocabulary. In third grade, the study of homophones becomes more prevalent and this is a good book to illustrate homophones.
December 18, 2014
Dear Deer was was great educational book, that teaches in a fun way about homophones, or words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings. Because english is my second language, this is a fun book for me to help me learn about english. I know children who are also learning how to spell and read in english, will find this a fun, illustrative learning experience that will teach them how to spell.
I would recommend this book for children ages 6-10.
I would recommend this book for children ages 6-10.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews