Lush woodland scenes with beautiful birds, colorful wildlife, and sparkling blue water animate this advanced early reader. Rick and Jan return for a new adventure in the mountains. When they need to decide whether to ride down a big hill and over a big bump, children learn that it’s okay to do something different from their friends. Rick chooses one route and Jan another. Splashing their bikes through a large mud puddle is fun, but the responsible children stop to clean their bikes before going swimming and fishing in the cool mountain water. After Jan catches a large, shiny fish, and the siblings pick fresh red apples and brown nuts, they take the feast home for supper.

An engaging story for children who like to play chase and hide-and-seek. This thoughtful tale reveals what the cat, the rat, and the dog think as they race to win, each using different strategies. Filled with spirited dialogue and colorful illustrations that promote a love of reading, this advanced early reader opens opportunities for parents to discuss helping others, finishing chores, and trying one’s best until the race is over.

Jill and Nick with their new red baseball caps return. When the two friends arrive for ball practice, their friends laugh at them for wearing hats. But when Jill and Nick surprise the team by catching balls with their caps, the whole team rushes to get one. Walking back to the ball field, the team sees an oak tree loaded with acorns, and they discover their new caps are perfect for holding acorns. This advanced early reader offers excellent opportunities for parents to discuss how learning new things can be beneficial.

Pets appeal to young readers and entice them to turn the pages to see what Ted and Jan’s dog, Jed, will do on the farm. Giggles will bubble out as Jed tosses his food around in the car and then chases the chickens at the farm. Detailed, brightly colored illustrations lead new readers through this lively story with amusing context clues. Word building skills include beginning and ending word sounds that are similar, slightly longer sentences, and energetic dialogue to strengthen a child’s reading skills