The B on Your Thumb: 60 Poems to Boost Reading and Spelling
on Goodreads (60)
What’s inside...
The B on Your Thumb is a book of 60 hilariously illustrated rhymes and delightful ditties that help boost early reading. Each poem teaches a specific sound, spelling, or rule, promoting phonics awareness, thinking skills, and literacy through rhythm and wordplay. The book is designed to delight young readers with the fun and silliness of the English language, featuring characters like the K on your knee and the B on your thumb. It includes an introduction for grown-ups on how to use the book and extensive activities for children to build on their learning, grouped into categories like sounds, silent letters, and spellings. Praised by The Wall Street Journal and author Craig Smith, The B on Your Thumb is a must-have for every young family’s bookshelf, providing endless fun and educational value.
Age
3-8
Length
80 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What was your favorite poem, and what did you like about it?
Can you think of a fun rhyme for your name using the techniques we learned?
How do the poems help you understand new words?
Which poem made you laugh the most, and why?
Do you feel more confident in reading or spelling after enjoying these poems?
Tip: Role play these questions
Let your child choose a few poems to read aloud together, emphasizing fun and enjoyment.
Praise your child’s attempts at spelling and reading, focusing on the effort rather than perfection.
Discuss the meanings of new words introduced in the poems to enhance vocabulary comprehension.
Create a mini-poetry session where you and your child come up with whimsical rhymes together, fostering a creative learning environment.
Encourage your child to write their own short poem incorporating some of the techniques covered in the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Enhancing phonemic awareness
Explanation: Through playful rhymes and clever poems, this book heightens children's awareness of the sounds within words, which is foundational for reading and spelling.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this awareness to decode words more effectively during reading and enhance their ability to spell with greater accuracy in their writing tasks at school.
Example Lesson: Building vocabulary
Explanation: Each poem introduces new words and contexts, expanding a child’s vocabulary and comprehension.
Real-World Application: As children learn new words, they can communicate more effectively and express their thoughts more clearly in both oral and written form in everyday situations.
Example Lesson: Fostering a love for reading
Explanation: The engaging and humorous nature of the poems makes reading enjoyable and motivates children to explore more literature.
Real-World Application: Children who develop an enjoyment for reading often read more often, improving their cognitive skills and academic performance across all subjects.
Example Lesson: Improving pronunciation
Explanation: The rhythmic patterns and focused sounds in the poems help children with accurate pronunciation of words.
Real-World Application: Better pronunciation aids in clearer communication in daily interactions, contributing to improved confidence and social skills.
Example Lesson: Promoting creativity
Explanation: The playful and imaginative use of language in the poems encourages children to think creatively and appreciate poetic expressions.
Real-World Application: By fostering creativity, children can be more innovative in problem-solving and artistic expression in their personal and academic life.