Splish’s simple story entered into our family’s life the day after I heard my own five-year-old daughter voicing her frustrations with her lack of reading skills. “I can’t read, and I’m never going to be able to!” her sentiments echoed Splish’s precisely. Though I reassured her that night that yes, she would read, but it took time and practice, I heard doubt in her voice. Just learning to blend three letter words, she had her eyes set on lengthy picture books and the meaty, read-aloud chapter books we share together as a family. Children raised in a reading home find this waiting period particularly difficult.
Sharing the story of Splish’s frustrations and eventual triumph seemed to settle her fears and anxiety. Never drawing conclusions between her situation and the little frog’s we simply read through the story several times together. She noted similarities between the frog family and ours, “Oh Mommy, those frogs are Christians. Oh! They homeschool too!” Having the reassurances of her father and myself echoed by an independent third party – in this case a storybook – finally convinced her that we were telling the truth. Despite the worst of her fears, she would learn to read with time.
This proven ability to calm the anxiety of impatient young students, paired with guidance for mothers to persevere in patience, establishes Suarez’s picture book as an essential addition to the library of all parents of pre-readers.
Autographed copies and a free downloadable .pdf study guide are available when purchased from The Old Schoolhouse Store.
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