Silent Letters Loud and Clear
1 Paperback/1 CD (see all formats)

Booklist Starred Review- "Pulver’s lively picture book about the importance of silent letters is a spirited read-along. The original book (included in the price) is enhanced by a brief introduction, in which Beach defines silent letters and makes other points about the letters. He speaks in a whiny voice for w; eloquent tones for e; and slower, lazy inflections for l. Beach then reads the book, which begins with a list of silent letters and accompanying words (knee and knot for k). Teacher Mr. Wright introduces silent letters to the class, but the students do not see the usefulness or charm of these letters. Intermittent background music is initially quite vibrant but softens as the letters tiptoe into the classroom. Harsher chords emphasize the letters’ decision to protest because the students think that silent letters “are dumb” and “a pain.” The letters walk out of the classroom and are removed from correspondence the children compose (background computerkeyboard clicks add realism), and disaster strikes. Sighs and eventual cheers when all is resolved add to the message that silent letters should be appreciated and celebrated. Lynn Rowe Reed’s bold paintings add to this excellent title, which introduces the concept of silent letters and the pronunciation of words containing such letters. Pulver’s Happy Endings: A Story about Suffixes (2011), Nouns and Verbs Have a Field Day (2006), and Punctuation Takes a Vacation (2003 ) are also available from Live Oak."

Gr 1-3 "Mr. Wright's students are frustrated by silent letters. "We can't hear them, so who needs them? They should be banned!" Proclaim the students in an email to the newspaper. Overhearing the complaints and feeling wretched, the silent letters sneak out of the email, leaving it nonsensical and riddled with embarrassing spelling mistakes. Once it's published, Mr. "Rit's" students see the error of their ways and realize silent letters are "mighty fine," not "mity fun." Pulver's latest grammar lesson (Holiday House, 2008) can be a fun accompaniment to what could otherwise be a pedantic work study. Lynn Rowe Reed's bright and inventive letters are made of an array of odds and ends, textures and media. The silent letters in the text are printed in a simple outline only font. Children may have an "aha!" moment if they see the email-abandoned by the insulted letters-written out before they begin the story. A spoken-only preface encourages listeners to imagine silent letters all having different personalities and voices. John Beach's narration varies with each letter and character and his pacing pairs well with the non-linear text patterns. The story is enhanced with background sounds, subtle music, and sound effects. Page-turn signals are optional."-School Library Journal

[Editors' Note: The following is a combined review of NOUNS AND VERBS HAVE A FIELD DAY and SILENT LETTERS LOUD AND CLEAR.]"-Robin Pulver takes young listeners into Mr. Wright's classroom for more escapades with phonics, parts of speech, and punctuation. Listeners will chuckle as they refresh themselves on the powerful relationship between nouns and verbs in sentences (NOUNS AND VERBS HAVE A FIELD DAY). They'll smile in agreement as Mr. Wright's students protest the need to include silent letters when spelling (SILENT LETTERS LOUD AND CLEAR). Narrator John Beach plays off Pulver's humor and invites listeners to imagine individual letters' personalities and voices. Beach observes the interaction between the text and its illustrations with leisurely pacing and pauses. As Mr. Wright, Beach is horrified, perplexed, or pleased each time his class surprises him. Background sound effects of school complete the production. "