Dedra's Drum is designed to be read early in the year. It is a good book to show how letters and sounds contrast when this book is compared with Bejay Bounces. “b” is a lip sound, with the circle of the b on the outside of Bejay's face. But the circle of the “d” is the inside of Dedra's mouth. The circle is attached to a tall line that looks like a drumstick. Have the children make their tongue so tall it touches the top of the mouth behind the teeth. Have them use their tongue to make a drumming sound inside their mouth. Have the children make this drumming sound throughout the story, drumming different rhythms, speeds, and levels of loudness. Have children write letter d's, adding a drumstick head to the line of the d.
