Possible Clues:

• Method of teaching reading by sounds
• To America you'd have to go for this, by the sound of it
• 'Love Boat' role
• One might go for the sound of this in America
• Go softly with her, being only a little beast
• Might the little beast go for one, by the sound of it?
• It's a little beastly so to go around her softly
• Sounds as if one might attack that rodent across the Atlantic
• Go for the sound of the rodent (6)
• Underground figure?