Phoebe Sounds It Out

By Julie Zwillich, Denise Holmes (Illustrator)

A kindergartner struggles to spell her name, revealing the humor in learning.

3.7/5 Goodreads · 140 ratings

32 pages· 590 words· Est. 5 min read-aloud

$16.95Save 7%

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Bookroo's summary

Phoebe faces a challenge when her teacher asks her to write her name. As her classmates scribble away, Phoebe's attempts lead to unexpected results. With a mix of doubt and determination, she navigates the tricky world of letters and sounds. Her journey is filled with humor and relatable moments, capturing the essence of a 5-year-old's worries and triumphs. Will Phoebe find pride in her efforts despite the mistakes? This charming tale explores the joy of learning and the importance of perseverance, showing that success isn't just about getting it right, but about trying your best.

From the publisher

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.

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