This set of 12 phonetic books follows the story of Mel, a 13 year old who wants to be an astronaut like her brother Dom who is stationed at a base on Mars. Early in the story it transpires Dom has disappeared and Mel is left with the task of finding him. She sets off to the Red Planet with no idea of what she will find or who she will meet. Along the way she encounters a variety of characters both human and alien. The stories are action packed blasting from adventure to adventure and planet to planet. She makes many friends along the way, but will she save her brother?
Like the stories of Get Out of the Game, Mel on Mars is a continuing story that races excitedly from one book to the next. Each book concentrates on adjacent consonants and consonant digraphs and suffixes. There is a different phonic focus in each book. At the start of each book there is a set of reading practice CVCC words and a useful vocabulary list to help with content and understanding. The stories are clearly written in an accessible font with bright detailed illustrations. Although the level of reading is suitable for a year 2 pupil, the story content and its characters are more mature, making it a perfect read for a struggling year 3-4 child who doesn’t want to be embarrassed by reading what they perceive as babyish stories.
Both this, and Get Out of the Game, are of a similar reading ability and interestingly the same phonic focus is looked at in the same book. For example, in book 9 of both books the focus is on ‘ck’
The books are almost parallel but there is a little more to read in Mel on Mars with more reading practice vocab at the start of each book. Another useful set of books for the classroom.
Determined to find her brother, Mel travels to Mars in a space pod.
Phonic Books Mel on Mars comprises 12 decodable books for older readers who can read simple CVC words. This action-packed quest story takes the reader from CVC and CVCC word text through to adjacent consonants, consonant digraphs and suffixes -ed and -ing. This series shares the same phonic progression as the Phonic Books Magic Belt and Phonic Books That Dog! series. The series can be used either independently or in parallel with these series.
Book 1: Dom Gets Lost (CVC, CVCC) Book 2: Mel Lands on Mars (CVCC) Book 3: Lost in the Dust (CVCC) Book 4: Hunted at the Dump (CCVC and -ed) Book 5: Trust Dr Kim (CCVCC) Book 6: Catch that Torch ('ch' and 'tch') Book 7: Will the Ship Crash? ('sh') Book 8: The Myth of the Earth Planet ('th') Book 9: The Quest for Quock Rocks ('ck' and 'qu') Book 10: The Winged Thing with Fangs ('ng') Book 11: The Whispering Wind ('wh' and -ing) Book 12: Out of the Rubble ('le')
Accompanying photocopiable activities for word building, blending, spelling and comprehension can be found in Phonic Books Mel on Mars Activities.
Phonic Books specialises in publishing decodable, synthetic phonics books for beginner readers and reading catch-up. Phonic Books was founded by three special needs teachers passionate about teaching all children to read. Using their expertise, they set about developing phonics reading books for young children and older, struggling readers.