Book Review - The New Start Suspense Series
Another positive review of The New Start Suspense Series, in both newspaper/magazine and online formats through two different organizations. Sales of the educational books continue well and the company is evaluating publishing and/or distribution proposals for the US and Canadian marketplaces
(PRWEB) September 20, 2004 -- Patnor Publishing (http://www.patnorpublishing.com/) is proud to announce the
most recent review of its educational books for reluctant readers, students with
learning disabilities or adult literacy programs. Once again, the review is very
positive. The original review was published in the California HomeSchooler
Newsletter/Magazine (http://www.hsc.org/) and then was reprinted, in its entirety,
online by possibly the largest home schooling website on the Internet, A TO Z
HOME'S COOL HOMESCHOOLING (http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/).
High Interest
Approachable Vocabulary - Book Suspense Series for Tentative Readers by Ruth
Pell
Published with permission of Tammy Takahashi
Editor - California
HomeSchooler Newsletter/Magazine
HomeSchool Association of
California
"A hand was there in the mud. On the hand was a ring with a
big red rock. By the hand was a locked bag. It was spooky!"
Thus begins
The Swamp, Book One of the New Start Suspense Series, a series of six short
novels by Patricia Birtwistle that consists of exciting stories of intrigue and
suspense. Each story follows the same group of five characters on a new
adventure. As with most "high-interest low vocabulary" readers, the content is
appealing to most students ages 10 and older, while the author uses shorter
sentences and simpler vocabulary typical of a second to third grade reading
level.
Each story is divided into short, manageable chapters, and uses a
carefully controlled vocabulary and frequently repeated words to reinforce
reading success. Included with the set of six paperback novels is a
comprehensive Resource Guide that includes story summaries, discussion
questions, and a vocabulary list that is sorted by vowel words, word families,
and sight words.
I sat down to read these with my 10-year-old autistic
son, who currently reads at about a third grade level. He had no trouble with
the vocabulary, and the short sentences encouraged his comprehension. The
characters are well developed and the stories are fun to read. The story endings
cleverly lead into the next story, encouraging the reader to keep reading. Each
successive book seemed to use a bit more advanced vocabulary and increasingly
complex sentences.
In The Swamp the kids find stolen money after being
trapped by a rockslide; in The Old House they find a lost child. What a Day
takes the kids swimming at the lake, and The Junk Yard finds one character at
odds with a guard dog. Our favorite, The Trip, is an adventure on horseback, and
the final book, At the Mall, involves the kids in a back-to-school mystery. The
story lines are appropriately suspenseful, though they may be too tense for very
young children.
Using the same familiar characters in each book made it
easier for my son to follow the storylines. My son had a lot of fun reading
these stories, and his sisters found themselves drawn into the suspense as they
listened to him read. We all would then join in discussing the events and
conclusions. After reading them aloud, my son could be seen reading and enjoying
them on his own, too.
- Originally printed in the California HomeSchooler
August 2004 Vol. 12 No. 4. Copyright 2004 by HomeSchool Association of
California. Not to be reprinted or redistributed without permission.
The
books have been extremely well received across Canada and distribution has begun
in the US. The company is currently evaluating publishing and/or distribution
proposals for the US and Canadian marketplaces in an effort to make them more
readily available and affordable to parents and educators.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/9/prweb159776.htm