Reading and books are top priorities in my house. My daughter learned to read a little bit after she turned four. She is now an avid reader on her own. I encourage my daughter to read a least a couple of books for fun each day. I especially appreciate fun books that also include an educational element. When recently offered the chance to review a copy of Alpha-Mania Adventures: Captain Ray and the Rhyming Pirates written by Jennifer Makwana and illustrated by Jalisa Henry in exchange for my honest opinion, I eagerly accepted the opportunity to add a new title to my home library. The Alpha-Mania program was created by Ruth Rumack. The 40-page book currently costs $15.00 on Amazon.
Creator/Author
Currently residing in Toronto with her husband and two children, creator Ruth Rumack began her career as a Children’s Program Director at a community center after completing her Bachelor of Education. As an educator, she developed a particular interest in working with students of all ages who experience reading difficulties and who have been diagnosed with learning differences including ADHD, anxiety, and executive functioning issues. She founded Ruth Rumack’s Learning Space to incorporate reading skills with playtime. The goal of the Learning Space is to provide all students with a strong academic foundation achieved through active, kinesthetic learning. Alpha-Mania Adventures is an innovative five-book set that ignites imagination and gives children the foundation to become capable and joyful readers.
Author Jennifer Makwana is a certified teacher at Ruth Rumack’s Learning Space with a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, and diploma in Early Childhood Education. She has instructed and expanded the Alpha-Mania program at the Learning Space since 2008. She currently lives in Toronto with her husband and two children.
Synopsis
Alpha-Mania Adventures is an innovative five-book series that ignites imagination and gives pre-reading children the foundation to become successful readers in the future. The exciting and colorful stories are the perfect tools to teach pre-reading skills through play. Each adventure combines the heroic quests of five intrepid kids with phonological awareness and phonics. In addition to an exciting story, every book includes an introduction to phonological awareness and tips for using the book, hidden objects phonics activities, bonus activities, and easy-to-use guides on letter sounds and/or letter formation.
The first book in the series, Captain Ray and the Rhyming Pirates, practices the first phonological awareness skill: rhyming. In the story, Alex, Eddie, Izzy, Olly, and Umber — five adventurous friends known as the Alpha-Maniacs — help a band of bumbling pirates who speak only in rhyme. The clever kids jump at the chance to train the clumsy buccaneers in all aspects of being proper pirates, setting the stage for many exciting adventures to come.
Evaluation
Alpha-Mania Adventures: Captain Ray and the Rhyming Pirates is a fun book to read to pre-readers and for early readers to read on their own. My daughter, who has been reading on her own for almost a year now, can read most of the text by herself with ease. She had to ask for help with only some of the bigger and unfamiliar words. My toddler son also enjoyed listening to me read the book aloud.
As a homeschooling mother, I appreciate the additional educational activities at the end of the story. Because Captain Ray and the Rhyming Pirates focuses on rhyming, the first activity offers some ideas to help kids practice the skill. Each set of pages throughout the book also contains a picture finding activity. As a child reads the book, he or she can look for hidden pictures in the illustrations. The hidden picture activities reinforce beginning sounds. I can use this fun book as part of a homeschool reading lesson.
In addition to the story and activities, my kids and I also really enjoy the illustrations in Captain Ray and the Rhyming Pirates. The illustration-style reminds me of a comic book or graphic novel, which are quite popular at the moment. The pictures are all very colorful, which draws the attention of the youngest readers. My toddler son especially loves pointing out the familiar objects throughout the pages of the book.
Final Verdict
If you are searching for a book series to help your child with reading skills, definitely check out Alpha-Mania Adventures. I received a copy of the first book, Captain Ray and the Rhyming Pirates, which focuses on rhyming skills. The other four books focus on blending, alliteration, segmenting, and sound manipulation. The book is fun to read to pre-readers and for early readers to read on their own. I appreciate the additional educational activities at the end of the story, which allow me to further use the book in homeschooling lessons. The pictures are bright and colorful. Overall, my kids and I are quite pleased with Alpha-Mania Adventures: Captain Ray and the Rhyming Pirates created by Ruth Rumack, written by Jennifer Makwana, and illustrated by Jalisa Henry.
Purchase Alpha-Mania Adventures: Captain Ray and the Rhyming Pirates on Amazon via my affiliate link. You can also follow Alpha-Mania on Facebook.
Image Credits
‘Alpha-Mania Adventures: Captain Ray and the Rhyming Pirates’ Book Review © 2017 Heather Johnson
Cover of ‘Alpha-Mania Adventures: Captain Ray and the Rhyming Pirates’ © 2017 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of ‘Alpha-Mania Adventures: Captain Ray and the Rhyming Pirates’ 1 © 2017 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of ‘Alpha-Mania Adventures: Captain Ray and the Rhyming Pirates’ 2 © 2017 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of ‘Alpha-Mania Adventures: Captain Ray and the Rhyming Pirates’ 3 © 2017 Heather Johnson
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