In the Mud - (Stairway Decodables Step 1) by Leanna Koch

About the Book

"Ross and Jeff have fun going up a hill. But their pal Dom is not so lucky. Stuck in the mud, he must rely on his friends to help him out of a rut. Stairway Decodables is a supplemental phonics resource that's [meant] for supporting small group instruction, independent reading, or reading practice at home. This title provides practice in decoding words with short vowels"--

Book Synopsis

Ross and Jeff have fun going up a hill. But their pal Dom is not so lucky. Stuck in the mud, he must rely on his friends to help him out of a rut. Stairway Decodables is a supplemental phonics resource that's perfect for supporting small group instruction, independent reading, or reading practice at home. This title provides practice in decoding words with short vowels.

Review Quotes

This set is intended to support early phonics development, but it feels more suited to teacher-led instruction than independent reading. The books lack a clear scope and sequence, which makes it difficult for educators to determine which phonemes are targeted in each title. While the ­illustrations, such as those in Gus the Bus, may appeal to younger children with themes like vehicles, the stories themselves often lack depth and originality, with clunky text that fails to engage readers. Additionally, some of the illustrations come across as too simplistic and may not resonate with the older end of the intended audience. VERDICT Without a more defined phonics focus or age-appropriate content, these books fall short in providing an effective tool for early literacy development.-- "School Library Journal"