Ella’s World: Big Kids by Yvette Poshoglian and Camilla Frescura

Title: Ella’s World: Big Kids

Author: Yvette Poshoglian and Camilla Frescura

Genre: Fiction, Readers

Publisher: Scholastic Australia

Published: 1^st December 2024

Format: Paperback

Pages: 48

Price: $9.99

Synopsis: Ella is a big kid. She goes to school. Her bag is on her back. Off she goes!

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The world of Ella and Olivia covers a wide range of readerships and age groups, from newly solo readers with Meet Ella, junior fiction with Ella and Olivia, Ella’s Diary and Olivia’s Secret Scribbles for early middle grade readers, and Ella at Eden for middle grade and early young adult readers. And now, for kids starting out on their reading journey can get in on the Ella and Olivia action with a new series for readers four and older by Ella and Olivia creator, Yvette Poshoglian! It means that the Ella adventures never end!

There are two books out already, and the second one is about Ella starting big school in a school uniform, where she will learn to read, write, and make friends. Every kid eventually goes to school, and it’s a big step. Ella’s new adventure is one that we can all relate to- which makes it the perfect topic for a reader like this for kids starting to learn how to read.

Readers have never been more fun, and using these fantastic Ella and Olivia readers will set up a lifelong journey with these characters who are fun to spend time with, because not only does each stage have fun stories and fabulous characters, but they give readers a chance to build on their reading skills and learn all sorts of new things as they grow up with Ella and her sister, and see how their world changes across each of the series and how they are connected. I have loved all the ones I have read, because each one has something different in it for their respective audiences.  

These new books use decodable phonics and large foundation handwriting font to help little readers see the words, combined with colourful illustrations in a large format reader to help keep them engaged as well.

For parents, carers and educators, there are helpful charts for phonemes, the words learnt and tricky words in the back to enrich the reading lesson and help build confidence and vocabulary as reading comprehension increases. And in the front, there is a handy guide on the best way to use the book at home. These are fun stories that are engaging, because going to school for the first time, and growing up is something that a lot of children can relate to, and a reader that uses a fun, fairly universal experience to teach children to read, and brings new life into learning to read.