Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills

   

Rocket Writes a Story

Hills, Tad.  New York: Wade Books, 2012.  9780375870866

Quantitative Reading Level: Reading Level 2.8, Lexile 540

Qualitative Reading Analysis:

I would rate this as Low on the “Text Complexity: Qualitative Measures Rubric for Literary Text”.  The story is simple, conventional, and chronological with contemporary language and common experiences.

Summary:

 

Rocket has learned how to read and he loves collecting words but he doesn’t know what to do next.  Then he decided to write a story but it wasn’t as easy as he thought.  With the help of his teacher Rocket learned how to find a topic, how to revise and edit his story, and most importantly how to share his story.

Content Area: Reading/ELA, Writing

Content area standard:

 

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.3 Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.5 With guidance and support from adults and peers, focus on a topic and strengthen writing as needed by revising and editing.

Curriculum Suggestions:

This would be a good mentor text for students who are learning how to write.  Students will identify with Rocket’s struggles and cheer with him when he finished his story.

Author’s Website: http://tadhills.com/rocket/rocket-writes-a-story

Interview with Author: http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/2012/09/an-interview-with-author-illustrator.html

Personal Thoughts: This was a nice story about learning to write and finding inspiration in your surroundings.  I enjoyed how Rocket wrote his story about the owl he observed and then shared the story with the owl.  The book not only talks about getting inspiration but also about using good words and revising.

Subjects/Themes: Overcoming Obstacles - Writing

Series Information: This is a companion book to Rocket Learns to Read.

High Interest Annotation: Now that Rocket can read it is time to write a story.