Gran on a Fan: Silly Short Vowels – Funny Comics Teaching Phonics to Kids

by Kevin Bolger, Ben Hodson (Illustrator)

Written by elementary reading specialist Kevin Bolger, these short, wacky comics are designed to teach beginning readers the five short vowel sounds and will make anyone a fan of phonics. Zany, graphic illustrations from award-winning artist Ben Hodson and carefully controlled text make Gran on a Fan perfect for both beginners just learning to decode and for older or reluctant readers who need a refresher in foundational phonics rules. Readers who are fans of Gran on a Fan can also brush up on their long vowel sounds with the companion book, Lazy Bear, Crazy Bear . Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

First published June 23, 2015

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another primer that helps Neo with his spelling and pronunciation, this time dealing with short vowel sounds. While the reader works through some sort sentences, they are able to learn about how each vowel sounds when not influenced by other vowels (short). Neo was able to push through this one with ease, laughing at the silly stories and seeing how it differed from last night's long vowel primer. We have a few more to tackle, but Neo is learning so much and loves reading as he does.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son really enjoys this book. It’s an great book for kids learning to read. Lots of visual clues, rhyming words and words with similar sounds making deciphering easier. He found the book humorous too.

[Christine Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for early independent readers. It focuses on simple words, often CVC with some CCVC. The stories are silly and in comic book form so I feel it would hold the attention of budding readers, even when they get frustrated from time to time.

[Terry]

Read. Not reviewed.

[Rachel Ziebell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for end of Kindergarten reading or first grade.

[Villain E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of like Hop on Pop. The book focusses on soft vowel sounds and introduces playful phrases and occasionally complete sentences. The art is consistently silly.

[Scholastic Squid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Milo had fun reading this and did a great job.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent for beginning readers to decode fun and silly stories.

[Becca]

A little busy.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written. To type. Arc. These Canadians have got it!

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Gran on a Fan (Silly Short Vowels) 5 stars

Notes: Edelweiss illustrations
Juvenile Fiction/Readers/Beginner
Ages 4-8 Preschool-3rd Grade
summer reading lists
40 Hardcover

I started with Silly Short Vowels and these Canadians have got it! Super silly (yet not vulgar, yay! - often silly = ugh). My K5 is reading it now with facial expressions galore at the silly antics. I think this is delightful, maybe a little long for one sitting, but working on one vowel at a time would be great. I’m encouraging my daughter to pick a vowel for full reading, and then continue on her own desire. She can read it all and loves that it is on her level!

Lazy Bear, Crazy Bear (Loony Long Vowels) 5 stars

What a perfect companion! This long vowel reader is pure silly fun. It goes beyond just long vowels as there is usage of /ea/, /ee/, /ie/ as well as as reference back to short vowels.

/ow/, /ou/, /igh/, /y/, /gh/, /oa/, /oo/, /ai/, /ue/

Rule #1 Long vowels say their own names.
Rule #2 A silent e at the end of a word makes the vowel in the middle say it’s own name.
Rule #3 When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking and says it’s own name.

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I Thought- These are great books. I really like the unique idea of using comics to teach kids about the vowel sounds. The mini-stories in the books are hilarious and crazy – in a good way, of course! My favorite(s) is in the Gran on a Fan book. Nell falls into a well early on, and nobody gets her out. The last few pages of the book? The return of Nell! I laughed out loud when I read that. Mr. Hodson’s illustrations are great attributes to the story, putting even more humor into the book. The cartoon feel will make kids smile. I can promise you that! I think that this book series will be a huge hit with kids. It’s perfect for reluctant readers, and for bedtimes, you just read one comic per night!
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Elaine Fultz, kinda retired librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Silly indeed in both text and illustrations, Gran on a Fan offers its beginning readers and their teachers/families a tool for vowel sound word families. Gran tans on a van, she pats a cat who is grabbed by Matt. A sub is in the tub with Mutt, Pop jogs by a shop robbed by a mob, and Nell fell in a well. Word lists are included at the end of the vowel stories. Useful and pair-able with Seuss’s Hop on Pop.

[Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO FUNNY! I love them more than my daughter but she enjoys seeing me laugh when she reads and really enjoy that she is learning at the same time.