Starfall

Recommended grades K-3.  Starfall is an interactive read-aloud site for emerging readers.  Young users can easily access four levels of digital material through the webpage.  Much of the material is free to access, though some pages require paid accounts.  Books can be read-aloud to users all the way through or by clicking on individual words, an excellent feature for readers trying to practice their own fluency and accuracy.  Another great benefit is that stories are broken into specific sounds, so they complement reading instruction in the early grades.  This is an excellent resource for teachers working on guided practice and read alouds to build confidence on specific sounds.  Recommended, ***

Pinkalicious on Ice

Recommended grades K-2.  In Pinkalicious: Pink around the Rink (HarperCollins, 2010), Pinkalicious, the perky brunette who simply cannot get enough pink in her life, is slightly disappointed when her parents give her boring white ice skates.  Luckily, she knows just what to do!  She paints her shoes pink and creates quite the impression on the ice rink!  Creator Victoria Kann writes and illustrates her Pinkalicious series for HarperCollins I Can Read! Series for developing readers.  As a level 1 book, Pink around the Rink is specially written to include, "short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts for children eager to read on their own."  Though these books were designed for independent readers, adults will appreciate Kann's subtle humor in the characters of Pinkalicious' parents who try to encourage their daughter's unique stylistic preferences.  Kann's illustrations in bright shades of pink and orange capture Pinkalicious's ideal world, where she is most comfortable.  Kann leaves the "boring colors" (white) for places where Pinkalicious feels the least comfortable.  Kann based the character of Pinkalicious on her own daughters, and the book is genuinely tender while still conforming to the design of an easy reader.  Recommended, ***

Max Celebrates Ramadan

Recommended Grades K-2.  In Max Celebrates Ramadan (Picture Window Books, 2009) developing readers can go with Max, a young boy with a round and smiling face, to his friend Omar's house to join in Eid-Al-Fitr ("Celebration of the end of fasting") feast.  Omar and his extended family teach Max the traditions of the Islamic month of Ramadan and share their celebration with him.  Illustrated by Mernie Gallagher-Cole in simple lines and bright hues, characters are represented with a variety of skin tones but with the commonality of round, laughing, smiling faces.  Author Adria F. Worsham works in new vocabulary having to do with the Islamic holiday within a repetitive structure designed for newly developing readers as part of their Read-it! Series.  This easy-reader is labeled under the Red Level, specially designed to "present familiar topics using common words and repeating sentence patterns," according to the Read-it! guide on the opening page.  Though sentences are simple and repeat in structure, struggling readers may trip over the non-familiar words that don't follow the phonetic structures they may be learning.  With the guidance of a mature reader, young readers can learn as much as Max about Islamic holidays and traditions.  Recommended, ***