Michael Clay Thompson’s writing series begins with the lavishly illustrated Sentence Island. This is an entire book devoted to the sentence. After all, a child who cannot write a sentence cannot write and will never be able to write, so it is essential that children master sentence writing. Most programs do not devote enough time and attention to the sentence, and hence many children do not master writing sentences at a level that provides an adequate foundation for more advanced writing.
Sentence Island tells the story of a fish named Mud who travels to Sentence Island to learn how to write correct sentences. There, he meets an array of quirky animals and a wise talking tree. From each character, Mud learns a different aspect of sentence structure and discovers that the careful construction of sentences is both a science and an art. Understanding these concepts enables children to write sentences that make sense, communicate ideas, and impart information. The book's approach and the wonderful illustrations demonstrate that it can be fun to write well. Although the information is sophisticated, the presentation is simple, and children will delight in following Mud's story as both he and they learn the rules and concepts that are the essential foundation for formal writing.
Did you find this review helpful?