Phoebe Sounds It Out

Meet Phoebe. Unfortunately, her name doesn’t look quite like it sounds. At school, her classmates practice writing their names, but Phoebe struggles. Her teacher tells her to “just sound it out.” Phoebe doubts herself and procrastinates before resolving to try. Readers are privy to her funny, endearing interior monologue and little-kid rationale as she writes the result: FEEBY.

Told in a relatable, introspective voice, this school story conveys the feelings and worries of a 5-year-old and supports learning about sounds and letters. Readers will see from Phoebe’s fellow kindergartners’ attempts that everyone makes mistakes, and that we can take pride in effort and not just perfection.

LEVELING
Grade Range: Pre-K–2
Fountas & Pinnell: J
Reading Recovery: 17
Lexile: AD 590L

COMMON CORE
RL.1.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9
L.1.1,1b,1e,1f,2,2a,2b,2d,2e,4
L.1.4b,4c,5,5a,5b,5c,5d,6
RF.1.1,2,2a,2b,2c,2d,3,3a,3e,4
SL.1.1,1b,1c,2,3,4,5,6
W.1.3,5,6,8

Julie Zwillich is best known as a television personality, writing and hosting shows on Food Network (Summer’s Best), CBC (Surprise! It’s Edible Incredible!) and TVOKids. She is also an actor, voiceover artist and producer. Phoebe Sounds It Out is her first book. Julie lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband and twins.

Denise Holmes is an illustrator who lives in Chicago, Illinois, with her husband and daughter. Her days are spent drawing in her studio and her nights are filled with cooking, exploring the neighborhood and reading many books to her daughter before bed. See more of her work at niseemade.com.