Margaret Hillert has written over 80 books for children who are just learning to read. Her books have been translated into many languages and have helped children throughout the world learn to read. She first started writing poetry as a child and has continued to write for children and adults throughout her life. As a first grade teacher, Margaret realized that the books available for students just learning to read were beyond their comprehension. She then began to write her easy readers and poetry for children. Her first collection of poetry Farther Than Far was published in 1969. Her many awards include the Chicago Children's Reading Round Table Annual Award for outstanding contributions to the field of children's literature. Other honors include the David W. Longe Prize and the Michigan Bookwoman of the Year Award. A teacher for 34 years, she is now retired and lives in Michigan where she continues to write stories and poetry.
Happy Mother's Day, Dear Dragon is about a little boy and his pet dragon preparing a special surprise for his mom on the national holiday. They create a handmade card carefully crafted with scissors, stick glue and multi-colored crayons, grab the newspaper sitting on the front stoop and even throw together a steaming-hot breakfast that they bring to her in bed. This book captures the essence of Mother's Day and teaches kids how to show their undying love and admiration for their own moms, aunts or grandparents on this world-renown holiday.
This E-book by Margaret Hillbert is perfect for early readers. The book gives the reader the option to either have the whole passage read aloud to them or they can highlight specific words or sentences to help them along their reading journey. The book also encourages the child to interact with the characters in the story by giving them the option to click certain items in the pictures. For example, if the reader were to click the yellow clad glue stick located within the first couple pages, it would suddenly stand straight up or if the reader clicked the Mother's Day card it would fill up the page with crayon letters. This is perfect because there is movement but the readers chooses if they want to enable it or not.
I remember as a kid there was a website I used to get on and read the Dear Dragon series. I recently found it again and I just looked back at the Dragon books. This one is about Dragon and his unnamed owner (at least of what I know of) giving the mom of the owner's family a really good Mother's Day. Pretty short plotline. I don't particularly like the books now because I've realized the books are like an episode of Oobi. The grammar is incorrect so it's easier for kids. So I guess it's good for your kids but today I didn't find it that great.