Bob and Dot return and ride their bikes at the boat dock with their parents. Detailed, rich illustrations depict Bob and Dot using safety practices such as life jackets and locks for their bikes, and having fun learning about fish, feeding seagulls, and taking an exciting speedboat ride. Similar sounding words and longer sentences that build on previous stories in the Sommer advanced series create a fun-filled learning experience for the early reader and support the importance of exercise for a healthy lifestyle.

Children join Ben and Nell on their adventures to visit their grandparents, a trip which many children have taken. Bell, their flamboyant and arrogant pet monkey, intrigues young readers when he misbehaves on the plane and with the ponies on the farm. The family’s adventures are built on the phonic sounds of similar words, slightly longer sentences, and hilarious dialogue, creating an enjoyable book for the advanced early reader.

Cheerful colors in this spirited story build excitement on the pages when Tad’s dog leads a frantic chase to retrieve a cleaning rag and tracks mud in a van. Tad teaches responsibility to the readers when he offers to help the man clean his car and learns that training pets to obey is important to avoid similar situations. Children enjoy trying longer sentences that incorporate one-syllable words and more dialogue, and this delightful book opens the discussion for parents to teach how to handle conflict in a positive way.

A family-friendly ferry ride, illustrated with bold colors and nice detail, depicts the action beautifully in this advanced early reader’s action. The story includes two-syllable words and rich dialogue, enhancing a child’s growing reading experience. A bonus is the variety of new experiences included in the story: riding in their van as dad drives onto the ferry, discovering that seagulls also like dog food, and learning not to kick the ball when playing on a ferry.