In Reading to Peanut by Leda Schubert and illustrated by Amanda Haley (Holiday House, August 2011), Lucy is determined to learn to read and write so she can write a birthday card for her dog, Peanut! As she learns her letters with help from her mom and dad, they also work on planting a vegetable garden. By the end of the summer, she’s learned to read and she can also make a vegetable treat for her dog.
Acrylic pain, gouache, colored pencils, and pastel pencils give Lucy’s story life. Although something about this book didn’t work for me, My four-year-old son loved it and wanted to read it again and again. He’s also learning to read, and he loved Lucy story, wishing for his own dog to read to.Â
