The Stupids Have a Ball by Harry G. Allard Jr.
The Stupids Take Off by Harry G. Allard Jr.
The Stupids Step Out by Harry G. Allard Jr.
The Stupids Die by Harry G. Allard Jr.
The Stupids by Harry G. Allard Jr.
The Stupids are not for everyone, but the books are funny not because the characters are stupid but because the jokes are understandable for beginning readers. The pictures on the wall especially delight children who are beginning to understand jokes they are reading. Many children find the pictures more fun to read than the story. The picture of the mountain says, “LAKE.” The picture of a cat says, “DOG.” This is really hilarious to children, even beyond the story lines. They are delighted not in finding stupid people to laugh at but at their increased reading ability to understand something beyond very simple words, vocabulary, and frankly boring stories. The reason children need us to read to them even when they can read themselves is that many beginning readers are quite dull. I’m a teacher and I’m saying that, yes. It is necessary when learning to read to not overwhelm a child with an entertaining story and difficult vocabulary. First things first.
Art Work for The Stupids to Hang on Their Wall (PDF)
Children are so wanting to read chapter books they carry them around acting like they can read them, or struggle through a first page of a chapter book and abandon it on page two. They want to be interested in what they are reading. We, as adults, must keep the reading entertaining during this phase or children will suffer though the difficult struggle to learn to read. Be interesting! Make the wide world of books accessible to your child or students available by being willing to read aloud some of the thousands of wonderful stories in children’s books. Read fables, fairy tales, nursery rhymes, nonfiction, silly books, math stories, stories involving other cultures, dog stories, educational stories, historical fiction, information about authors, nature stories, sports books, thinking skill books, books about weather, and books that are supported by YouTube Videos and online educational links. Give your child the world. When children are able to read interesting books themselves is when adults can stop the read-alouds, not when they are struggling to get through the text and are even missing the plot or informational text.
Some parents may find The Stupids objectionable. Then these books are not for you. Amelia Bedlia books may be more acceptable, although they too are not for everyone. Find what suits your child at his or her level to be entertaining and understandable.
Have some fun reading, Carolyn
