Discovery in the Cave (Step into Reading) Paperback – Picture Book, May 25, 2010

Normally, I don't like the "step into reading" books much as I find the text dry. But, I was desperate for a book about Lascaux for my 5yo. I am SOOOOO glad I got this. She loved it. I loved it. the text was not dry but suspenseful. I connected the dates in it to people she loved (what was her grandpa doing on the day Laxcaux was discovered?) It talks both about the discovery as well as the paintings inside. She asked what the painters were called (Indians? Neandertals?) which was exactly the kind of dialogue I was hoping for. She then asked if we could buy The First Drawing, which we had checked out from the library, about Chauvet cave. I was happy she made the connection between the two books. I am very pleased. Now, if I could just get my hands on a now out of print Lascaux coloring book, we'd be all set!

This book is basically a summary of how the world-famous paintings at Lauscaux were discovered. It then shows a recreation of how the paintings were made. It has a surprise ending, which you can read about more in an issue of National Geographic. I would recommend this book for anyone with a kid who loves Step-Into-Reading, as well as prehistory.

My grandson couldn't read in second grade so I let him pick the things he was interested in.By the end of second grade he got a award for most improved reading. Now at the end of third grad he got another for reading. Finding the topics they are interested in really helps. Some of the stories he was reading in class were awful.

We have loved the books in this series, from level 3 to level 5. We love them because they contain enough factual details to satisfy a 6- and 7-year-old's curiosity. In particular, we saw that someone rated the Ice Man with just one star because it was too gruesome. That book is our son's favorite. So it depends on the parents and kids. But overall, we wish the company would make more of these.

This is a nice story about the discovery of cave paintings at the Lascaux Cave in France. This discovery was made by a group of boys who were not entirely certain whom they should tell since this was 1940, and France was at war with Germany. They finally decide to trust their former science teacher, and he gets a look inside of the cave. They also contact a French priest who is an expert on prehistoric animals. He comes to view the cave and realizes that some of the paintings depict extinct animals. After the war, the cave becomes an important scientific site, which can also be viewed by the public. The leader of the boys who found it has by now grown up and has a job helping to safeguard the cave paintings.

My 6th grade art students gave me dubious looks when they saw the level of this book, but I told them I wanted a quick story to read about the cave paintings so we could get to actually making our own paintings. They actually really enjoyed the story, and it gave them an excellent background to why the paintings are there, and why they are special.

I love these series. But most important that my son does. I got 40+ books and he loves to read them (usually it is not that easy to make him read). I got mix of 2-3-4 levels for the second grader, second level is too easy, but it creates some fun and he reads them with pleasure. Love it, I would recommend it.

A great little book that serves as a nice introduction or supplement to an art or prehistory lesson. I found it appropriate for a six year old to read (with a small amount of help) and understand.