Reading to Peanut

by Leda Schubert

Lucy works hard to learn to read and write before her dog's birthday.

Genres: Picture Books, Dogs, Childrens, Fiction, Family, Animals, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2011

About the author

Leda Schubert is the author of several picture books, including Nathan's Song, illustrated by Maya Ish-Shalom; Trailblazer: The Story of Ballerina Raven Wilkinson; Listen: How Pete Seeger Got America Singing, and Monsieur Marceau, which won the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children. She lives in Vermont with her husband and two dogs.

Reviews

[Aryana Ahmad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named Lucy who wants to learn how to spell and read for a secret. While her parents spend time with Lucy to learn it helps her have a better understanding on how to spell and read. While she is learning how to read her dog (Peanut) keeps chewing up the papers her parents write on for her to learn how to spell. Eventually her secret comes out she learned how to read and write and made Peanut her dog a birthday card and cake. Her parents are really proud and now understand why she learned how to read and write.
Personal Reaction - The concept of this book is really good for students learning how to read. This book does a good job in spelling out words.
Purposes: Read aloud to K-2 children for several potential purposes: enjoyment and understanding about spelling. It is a good way to engage students with learning how to spell. The illustration is really well done and helps tell the story and keep the students engaged.
Curriculum: read aloud
- discussion of reality
- narrative structure: Great to use and demonstrate how to spell. It helps show that the family worked together and made Lucy be able to read and write. Lucy is considered to be a flat character she is happy, positive, and interested in learning. She spends time to understand how to spell and she enjoys every moment of it.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy wants to learn to read and write. Her parents use sticky notes to label things but Peanut, the dog, eats the notes. Lucy's reason for wanting to learn to read and write is sweetly revealed at the end. I enjoyed the colorful artwork and Lucy's charming family and dog.

This book is really for children just learning the basics of reading and writing. The story, at least to me, has some homeschool overtones and Lucy's learning is very much supported by her patient, helpful parents. A great addition for a public library, this is one I'll skip for my elementary collection. There are lots of good books about learning to read and this one doesn't quite fit the needs of teachers or children in my school.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy is motivated to learn to read and write because she wants to create a surprise for someone special. To help her, her parents print out the letters for various words on post-its, which are then stuck to the objects or individuals they represent. When they loosen and fall off, Lucy's puppy Peanut eats the paper. Lucy copies the letters and words she is learning so she will know them, and then she prepares her surprise. This is a delightful book illustrating good early literacy practices for parents and children. The acrylic, gouache, colored pencils, and pastel pencils combine in a vibrant palette of colors featuring smiling faces, alight in the joy of living and acquiring literacy.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful! Give READING TO PEANUTS as a gift to any parent whose child is about ready to read and write, along with some crayons and oversized sticky notes. Lucy announces she wants to learn to read and write but doesn't tell Mom and Dad why but they help her out in the process. So does Peanut her dog - he eats the sticky notes that fall off, such as MOM, DAD, EAT, NAP, etc. You and the child you are reading this picture book to will chuckle in delight when you discover why Lucy just has to read and write. Amanda Haley's humorous illustrations bring life to Lucy's antics.

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lucy has a secret goal that motivates her to read. She wants to create a surprise for someone special. So Mom and Dad print signs that they stick to the objects they represent throughout the house, just as Lucy’s teacher does at school. As fast as the family posts the signs, Lucy’s pet dog, Peanut, chews them up!

After some time Lucy makes a doggy treat for Peanut and shares her secret ambition -- she learned to read and write so she could make Peanut a birthday card.

Amanda Haley’s vibrantly colorful pictures add humor and life to Lucy’s antics.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read this because the dog's name was Peanut and I wanted to be able to recommend it to Hannah. I thought the book was just all right. Probably best read as a lap-read, and may be very enjoyable for a child who is beginning to learn to read and write. Maybe also for the animal/dog lovers. But I am not one with a fondness for a pet, so that aspect of the story was lost on me. Kids will probably enjoy the pictures. Just not quite the book for me.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy wants to learn to read and write so she starts write notes and reading them aloud at every opportunity. Mostly her dog, Peanut, eats the notes. Why is Lucy in such a hurry to learn to read and write?

A happy story about a happy family, planning for a happy event.

“She drew another picture on a sticky note, and Dad wrote M-O-M. Lucy stuck it on Mom’s chin, but the note fell off, and Peanut chewed it.

‘Silly dog,’ Lucy said. ‘You’re not helping!’”

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy needs to learn how to read and write (for an important, but secret reason). She and her parents write signs, naming various things around the house, but her dog, Peanut, eats the notes. A delightful book about learning to read and write for authentic purposes.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used this one for storytime today and it's a fun book to reading about learning to read and write! the older kids liked saying the words out loud which Lucy had her parents write out to help her learn. Peanut the dog is a unique dog character because he likes to chew...paper!

[Meg McGregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

When my daughter was little, she used to go to the public library and read books to a wonderfully mellow black lab as part of an early reader program.

So of course this book holds special meaning to me.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cheerful, lively and colorful.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute book for a child learning to read. And one who loves dogs as well!

[Carol Royce Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story of a girl who has a special reason for learning to read and write.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Might be a tad long for storytime, but because it depicts so much writing with the intent of learning to read, I would use it--especially at a storytime where parents are present.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute book promoting the importance of reading

[Katie staley staley-lannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

https://youtu.be/dcLyGwHWXvc