Ben and Jen’s cat scares their hen when she tries to play, sending the hen scurrying to the safety of her chicken pen. This charming story in an advanced easy reader set on a farm opens with a bang of excitement and unfolds with short words and plenty of context clues to create a love of reading. Ben removes his cat from the chicken pen, milks the cow, and gives the milk to the cat. Jen quiets the hen and tells her they love her and all ends well.

Children easily relate to this lifelike shopping story and they get a few surprises as they read. The deep, rich colors and fine detail of the illustrations sharpen the story of Kim and Tim’s trip to find Kim a new hat. This appealing book introduces new ideas and words, including a rim on Kim’s hat, a hatpin to hold the hat in place, and a mirror to see what the hat looks like on Kim. The sentences creatively repeat new words to form a comfortable reading experience in this advanced easy reader.

In a fun game of soccer, Ed is cautioned to be careful when he goes into a mud puddle to retrieve the soccer ball. Ed ignores the warning and kicks the ball while standing on a rock. He loses his balance and falls, banging his arm. This precautionary tale includes opportunities to discuss safety tips. Crisp illustrations in bright primary colors and lively dialogue keep children turning the pages in this energetic advanced easy reader.

This is a family-friendly fishing expedition for advanced early readers. Rambunctious Bob ignores his father’s cautions about walking on the jetty, takes a big hop on a rock, and falls. Fortunately, he isn’t hurt. The cheerful, bright illustrations encourage young readers to follow the story and explore new word sounds. The story opens discussion points about listening and following instructions.