Malls: The Sound of M

by Cynthia Amoroso, Peg Ballard

Simple text and repetition of the letter 'm' help readers learn how to use this sound.

Genres: Childrens

24 pages, Library Binding

First published August 1, 2011

About the author

Per Library of Congress Authorities:
670 __ |a E-mail from author, 25 April 2011: |b (Remarried and changed surname to Amoroso; several series being re-issued under new name)

Previous/other names:
Cynthia Klingel
Cynthia A. Klingel

Reviews

[Lstirl]

A very beginning phonics reader that showcases the letter ‘m.’

Ages 4-8

This phonics reader fulfills most of ‘what a phonics reader should be’ in the lecture. The first page starts “I made a map of the mall.” The following pages all begin “The map of the mall shows us….” This sort of repetition means only a couple of new words are introduced on each page and makes for easy success at completing the text on the page for the beginning reader. The illustrations are photographs and provide excellent visual clues to the text. For example, the page that says “The map of the mall shows us where the games are,” shows a photo of the two girls looking at games. Ditto on the ‘shoes’ page. I would prefer the photos be brighter, but this is just a personal preference.

The font is very large and while the sentences are longer, around ten words rather than five, because of the repetition and there being only one sentence per page, it does not seem overwhelming. There is no story or plot, per se, and this book is very contrived to be just a reader, however, the setting of a mall is a familiar one and the format allows for easy success. The series looks like a good one for practicing beginning reading skills.

I found no reviews for this book.

[Jacquelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Materialism starts with an “m”, but this word will not be found in the first of Wonder Books® Phonics Readers. A young African-American girl makes a map of the mall, and she and her sister then set out to find all the best places to go. Color photographs of the girls exploring different stores in the mall help the young learner to capture the new words in the sentence. Prolific author Cynthia Klingel has teamed with Peg Ballard to bring a common family outing to the pages of Malls: the Sound of M.

Although there is no story, per se, the inclusion of African-American girls and a fun setting in the book has the potential to snare reluctant readers. The repetition of the same words in the short sentences can heighten the sense of success for the earliest readers. While this book lacks imagination, it may attract the future fashion divas and mall princesses to the pleasures of reading.

[Azure]

I like the mall map, it's cool. I like the book.

[Elizabeth]

I can see why the 2023/2024 update is about maps, not the mall, but I enjoyed the throwbacks in the photos, like the Teletubbies and CD-ROM games at the games store.