Bob Books

Bob Books, written by Bobby Lynn Maslen and illustrated by John R. Maslen, are a series of children’s books designed to teach reading skills acquisition. With a foundation in phonics methods, each level addresses a single stage in a child’s reading development.

Sets in the series include:
*Bob Books Set 1: Beginning Readers (ISBN 0-439-17545-3) introduces short vowels and three-letter words.
*Bob Books Set 2: Advanced Beginners (ISBN 0-439-84502-5) uses three-letter words and vowel sounds in slightly longer stories.
*Bob Books Set 3: Word Families (ISBN 0-439-84509-2) includes consonant blends, endings and a few sight words.
*Bob Books Set 4: Compound Words (ISBN 0-439-84506-8) includes new word blends, more sight words and longer multi syllable words.
*Bob Books Set 5: Long Vowels (ISBN 0-439-86541-7) introduces long vowels and the silent E.

History

Bobby Lynn Maslen and John Maslen created Bob Books, first published in 1976.

Author Bobby Lynn Maslen was involved in cooperative preschool education for nine years and then became a teacher of 3-5 year-olds at a private school in Portland, Oregon. It was there that she created the Bob Books.

Illustrator John Maslen is an award-winning watercolor painter and architect. He holds signature status in the National Watercolor Society and several other art organizations. He also received an American Institute of Architects Honor Award.

The first Bob Books were individually hand-drawn for Bobby Lynn Maslen's students. When it became too cumbersome to make books for each child, she persuaded the school to print 300 copies. This eventually led to more sets, a cottage industry and self publishing.

The Bob Books became a Children’s Book-of-the-Month Club selection and the series was adopted by home-schoolers and Montessori teachers. In 1993 USA Today ran a story about the Bob Books [cite news |title=Bob Books turn tots into readers |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/4161439.html?dids=4161439&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS&date=Jun+23%2C+1993&author=Kelly%2C+Katy&pub=USA+TODAY&edition=&startpage=D1&desc=%27Bob+Books%27+turn+tots+into+readers |work=USA Today |date=1993-06-23 ] . “By that time we knew the potential was much more than we could handle ourselves.” [cite news |title=Bob Books Success is Built on Giving Young Readers a Big Boost |url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/archives/1995/9505020030.asp |work=Seattle PI |date=1995-05-02] Scholastic Inc. became their publisher in 1994.

References

* [http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA337788.html?industryid=23623&industry=Marketing Backlist Heroes: Perennial favorites prove they can sell themselves] , Publisher’s Weekly, 11/24/2003
* [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72137801.html?dids=72137801:72137801&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&fmac=&date=Apr+16%2C+1993&author=Laura+Sessions+Stepp&desc=Words%3B+Bob+Lends+a+Hand%3B+Paperbacks+for+Preschoolers+Do+the+Job Bob Lends a Hand; Paperbacks for Preschoolers do the job] , Washington Post, 4/16/1993
* [http://familyfun.go.com/parenting/child/skills/feature/FGP_reading/FGP_reading2.html Reading and Books] , Family Fun, 2008

External links

* [http://www.bobbooks.com/ Bob Books]