Two Tales of Twenty-Six
A brilliant new early reader in a “flip the book” format, Two Tales of Twenty-Six by Stephanie Simpson McLellan and Mike Deas encourages readers to persevere in their reading journey.
It doesn’t matter which side to start with. In Liam and the Letters, readers join Liam on his journey to learn how to turn the shapes and lines of letters into words so that he can not only enjoy the pictures in his book but also the words. Learning is frustrating and he wants to give up more than once but slowly he is able to access Walter’s story. Walter and the World is the story that Liam is trying to read. The story of a mouse that needs to conquer twenty-six cats. Walter’s journey is frustrating as well but with time and practice, Walter is able to break free and get outside into the big world in time to meet Liam.
Stephanie Simpson McLellan has created a dynamic story that will very much appeal to readers ages 4 and up. While Liam and the Letters follows a traditional story format, Walter and the World offers readers lots of rhyming words so reads a little more poetic, almost like a story in verse perfect for emerging readers. I love how Liam’s story is encouraging and provides readers with some phonics tools to use in their own reading life and how Walter’s story offers similar words to readers so they can begin to build word families. It’s an excellent story for not only home reading but also for teachers to use in their classrooms.
The illustrations by Mike Deas provide access to the story for readers who aren’t quite getting all of the words just yet. Through the illustrations, which are so sweet and joyful even in the frustration, provide enough context so that readers can begin to read independently and use inferences to figure out some of the words in the story.