George and Martha

Pretty much a timeless treasure!

Marshall, James.
George and Martha: Full of Surprises.
July 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Guided Reading Level: L
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Compiled of two stories, "The Big Scare" and "The Amusement Park," readers once again delve into the funny world of George and Martha. George decides it's a perfect day to play a trick on Martha and scare the living daylights out of her. Martha vows revenge and pretends to forget... to forget, at least until George has forgotten to be cautious of her efforts to scare him when he least expects it... and once they arrive at the amusement park, when she's nearly certainly George has forgotten to be wary of Martha, she pays him back, scaring him back, by shouting, "Boo!" in the dark, scary, Tunnel of Love.

Marshall, James.
George and Martha: One Fine Day.
July 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Guided Reading Level: L
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Compiled of three stories, "The Tightrope," "The Diary," and "The Icky Story," George and Martha: One Fine Day will certainly appeal to beginning readers due to short, interesting stories and colorful illustrations. Readers once again join George and Martha as they embark on yet another adventure, teaching young readers simple lessons that will guide them in their daily life - offer support to your friends in need, accept that sometimes friends wish to keep certain matters personal, and sometimes, its okay (and even necessary) to teach a lesson, provided you're not physically harming someone!

I was so happy to see the return (and republication) of the George and Martha series! I distinctly remember checking out these titles from my local library as a child myself, with a cover such as the one shown below. I like the books because even though they are short, picture books, they are broken down into "chapters" of sorts - allowing beginning readers the freedom to read just a little without having to comprehend an entire picture-book worth of information all at once.

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Check out this book series from your local library. Use the books as bedtime stories, and read just one small chapter from the books each night. Discuss the lesson that George and Martha intend for readers to take away from the story. Can your child(ren) relate to this? Discuss the importance of the lesson and how it can impact not only your child, but others as well!
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!