Scholastic, Inc., (2016)
Classic children series have excelled in improving reading skills and comprehension. The series interest all young readers and encourage them to keep reading. Some of these series include The Boxcar Children, Junie B. Jones, Nancy Drew, Captain Underpants, and Magic Tree House. These classic series have been around for many years. A new series, The Notebook of Doom, written by Troy Cummings just may become a new favorite of many readers. In the novel, The Notebook of Doom: Rumble of the Coaster Ghost, sparks an imagination of young friends, pulling young readers into the novel. Through Cummings captivate approach, grabs young reader's attention and fully engages them in a book, creating an effective learning experience for all.
Throughout the entire illustrated early chapter book, it challenges young readers from grades first through third, expanding their vocabulary and their reading literacy skills. The intellectual context of the book rated at a second-grade level is effective in the learning of young students. The early chapter book is 89 pages long. This is a great challenge for second graders as the book is long. This is effective because it is helping their attention span, comprehension of a longer book, and their focus. To many, they have never read a book with that many pages in. It is not too long where no child will be interested in it, but long enough to challenge the new, young reader. The vocabulary within the books, some words will be new to many readers, but will be able to use their reading comprehension skills to figure out the meaning of the word. For example, in the beginning of the book, Alexander, Rip, Nikki, and Dr. Tallow are in class and Dr. Tallow says to them, "All right class", pocketing the note. "Now about that surprise" (Cummings 3). The word "pocketing" is a new word for young readers but because of the context clues, they will be able to figure it out. That is the most effective part of this book is because of the literacy skills used throughout the book. It challenges the children reading the book, but makes them apply knowledge that they learned in class. The intellectual context of the book is effective in the reading of young readers. It broadens both girls and boys imagination and lets children get lost in the book.
Secondly, this book grabs the attention of children by just looking at the cover. The cover with bright yellow and monsters on it looks like a notebook. This cover will get students attention to grab the book and read it. The illustrations are effective for the reading of children because it enhances the information in the book and breaks up the text so it isn't too long. The use of black and white is effective because it is preparing young readers for harder and unillustrated novels. The illustrations are still children friendly. They are close to the text and wrapped in some part of the text. This is the most effective way for second-graders. They are moving away from color illustrations to going into harder illustrations. The use of black pages throughout the mid of the work changes the view a little and keeps readers interested till the end of the book (Cummings 61-78). The illustrations are relevant and enhance the information. This helps students visualize what they are reading and helps them use their own imagination. It is the perfect amount of use of illustrations to get students to read the book and enhance their reading levels.
In conclusion, overall the early illustrated chapter book, The Notebook of Doom: Rumble of the Coaster Ghost is a book that will begin to fill many libraries and classrooms throughout the nation. It is a series and book that many teachers, librarians, and parents will encourage young readers to read, as it will be something they will enjoy. This gender-neutral book grabs the attention of all students. With the use of illustrations, it corresponds with the intellectual context making the book engaging and effective for reading comprehension, attention-span, and reading literacy.
Review by Brittany Kahle
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