Rocket is as cute as can be, and he’s all dog. He plays with leaves and sticks, sniffs everything around him, listens to the birds and takes long naps. Then an enthusiastic yellow bird appoints herself his teacher, coaxing him with alphabet banners and singing him captivating stories that leave him wanting more. Through the summer and autumn, he learns his letters and some useful words. During the winter, Rocket is on his own, practicing his letters, sounding out and spelling words. When his teacher returns in the spring, they read happily ever after. Hills’s gentle, sweet tale is a paean to the joy of reading and the teachers that inspire it. He emphasizes Rocket’s steady progress and patience with admiration and gentle humor. His soft oil-and–colored-pencil illustrations create a sweetly warm and fuzzy atmosphere. Teachers and librarians will read this book to youngsters just beginning their first encounters with “the wondrous, mighty, gorgeous alphabet,” and those new readers will identify with Rocket’s accomplishment. Lovely. (Picture book. 3-7)
