(4) K-3 Kids Can Read series. Illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. In both books, Sam the puppy thinks she will have fun playing human games (like dress-up in Next Door and sandcastle-building in Seaside) but realizes that puppy pursuits are best for her. The pastel illustrations accompanying the somewhat choppy texts range from serviceable to cutesy. Early readers who love dogs may be entertained by Sam's adventures. Review covers these Kids Can Read titles: Sam at the Seaside and Sam Goes Next Door.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Kids Can Read series. Illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. In both books, Sam the puppy thinks she will have fun playing human games (like dress-up in Next Door and sandcastle-building in Seaside) but realizes that puppy pursuits are best for her. The pastel illustrations accompanying the somewhat choppy texts range from serviceable to cutesy. Early readers who love dogs may be entertained by Sam's adventures. Review covers these Kids Can Read titles: Sam at the Seaside and Sam Goes Next Door.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Kids Can Read series. Illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. In Lost, Sam the puppy jumps out of the car to explore, but when she's ready to return she finds her owners are now missing. In School, Sam follows some children to school where she gets into predictable trouble. Although the stories lack originality, the texts are appropriately geared to beginning readers and the sometimes overly cute illustrations provide helpful clues. Review covers these Kids Can Read titles: Sam Gets Lost and Sam Goes to School.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Kids Can Read series. Illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. In Lost, Sam the puppy jumps out of the car to explore, but when she's ready to return she finds her owners are now missing. In School, Sam follows some children to school where she gets into predictable trouble. Although the stories lack originality, the texts are appropriately geared to beginning readers and the sometimes overly cute illustrations provide helpful clues. Review covers these Kids Can Read titles: Sam Gets Lost and Sam Goes to School.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Kids Can Read series. Illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. In Friend, Sam, a lonely puppy, befriends a boy who gives her ice cream; in Halloween, she longs for the candy dispensed to the trick-or-treaters at her door. Some of Sam's expressions are excessively cute, and Friend's story line is predictable and lacks the humor of Halloween, at the end of which clever Sam finally earns a treat by creating and donning a costume. [Review covers these Kids Can Read titles: A Friend for Sam and Sam's First Halloween.]

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Kids Can Read series. Illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. In Friend, Sam, a lonely puppy, befriends a boy who gives her ice cream; in Halloween, she longs for the candy dispensed to the trick-or-treaters at her door. Some of Sam's expressions are excessively cute, and Friend's story line is predictable and lacks the humor of Halloween, at the end of which clever Sam finally earns a treat by creating and donning a costume. [Review covers these Kids Can Read titles: A Friend for Sam and Sam's First Halloween.]

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Kids Can Read series. Illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. After being told puppies don't eat cake and cookies in Pizza, Sam, an English sheepdog puppy, steals a pizza at her owner's party. Sam, thinking she's attacking a monster, shreds a full garbage bag and declares herself a hero in Finds. Although the illustrations verge on being overly cute, they provide visual clues and Sam's amusing antics will tickle beginning readers. [Review covers these Kids Can Read titles: Pizza for Sam and Sam Finds a Monster.]

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Kids Can Read series. Illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. After being told puppies don't eat cake and cookies in Pizza, Sam, an English sheepdog puppy, steals a pizza at her owner's party. Sam, thinking she's attacking a monster, shreds a full garbage bag and declares herself a hero in Finds. Although the illustrations verge on being overly cute, they provide visual clues and Sam's amusing antics will tickle beginning readers. [Review covers these Kids Can Read titles: Pizza for Sam and Sam Finds a Monster.]

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 4-6 Sam, Dog Detective series. Sam, a talking sheepdog with a yen for mysteries and junk food, convinces her human pals, Jennie and Beth, to spy on their new neighbors. After spotting a mangy cat, sundry reptiles, and a pot of bubbling liquid, the sleuths think they've got a coven of witches on their hands. The dog's whiny comments may grate after a while, but Labatt provides enough clues to allow readers to outthink the detectives.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger