Bella the Elephant is feeling uneasy. Her parents say that she is ready for a big girl bed, but she is worried about leaving her beloved crib. Thanks to a special gift, and the love and patience from her mom and dad, Bella learns to overcome her own fears and even help a friend with a similar problem.
BELLA LEARNS TO READ is a picture book/story book focused on teaching non-readers the beginning skills needed to read: learn the alphabet, letter sound recognition, (B is for Bella, C is for cat), visual recognition of the letters, and so forth. The adult interaction is all by way of positive reinforcement and participation in the learning process which varies: songs, games, workbooks, etc. There is no negative experience whatsoever for Bella or her friend that joins the journey.
What I did find difficult was the text coloring. It doesn’t display or stand out well against the color of the pages making for difficult reading. Also, the book won’t display in landscape position on a smartphone. That is incredibly frustrating. It will go to landscape on a tablet and it’s so much easier to enjoy the text and artwork side by side.
My last difficulty was with the vocabulary. There are words that are more advanced than the average pre-reader: diligently, confidently, encouragingly, comforted, to name a few. If these youngsters are learning to read and recognize words, using those that are familiar would be much more effective, especially if they try reading this book.
This is a book with illustrations that look like a family member could have used their personal box of colored pencils to draw them. There are 8 others books in this series. This one is ok as a storybook but I’d look elsewhere for a reading primer📚
'Bella Learns to Read' is a delightful children's story that celebrates the journey of learning to read. Written with warmth and charm, this tale follows Bella, a young and determined child, as she embarks on a journey to discover the magic of reading.
One of the most endearing aspects of the story is Bella's resilience and perseverance. She learns the value of patience and the importance of accepting help from others. This message is sure to resonate with young readers who may be navigating their own learning experiences.
The illustrations are simply adorable. Each page is brought to life with expressive characters, capturing the imagination of both children and adults alike. The artwork beautifully complements the heartwarming narrative, making it a joy to read from start to finish.
Overall, "Bella's Big Adventure" is a sweet and uplifting story that entertains and inspires. It encourages young children to embrace the learning process with enthusiasm and reminds them that with perseverance and support, anything is possible.
BELLA LEARNS TO READ is an unpretentious but educational picture book about the pleasant feelings children experience when learning to read. The storyline is simple but strong enough to defend the notion that playing with letters, learning the meanings of words, and enjoying reading allow children to express themselves. The author used uncomplicated words young readers can easily pronounce and memorize. The visuals are a bit gloomy and the expressions of the anthropomorphized protagonists are - according to me - unfriendly. There is a list of an impressive number of team members on the copyright page - they should have done a better job because the book has potential. BTW, which one is correct -"elephant lovely" on page 2 or "elephant lovey" on page 42?
A charming, inspirational and encouraging book for emerging readers. I really appreciate the effort author-illustrator Kristin Lucia Pezza put into the story, the illustrations, and her carefully written activities in the back. Her illustrations are heartfelt and handmade, and I think they'd inspire kids not only to start trying to read, but eventually, write and illustrate their own children's book. I can see this book becoming someone's favorite bedtime story. Well done!