(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by Ernie Kwiat. With four vignettes per book, readers will enjoy spending a fun-filled day with Cookie Monster and friends (Busy Day), and joining Bert and Ernie on their outdoor adventure as they discover what nature has to offer (Camping). The short, accessible sentences; sunny digital art with familiar faces; and helpful reading tips for parents make these solid picks for new readers. Review covers these Brand New Readers titles: Bert and Ernie Go Camping and Cookie Monster's Busy Day.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by Ernie Kwiat. With four vignettes per book, readers will enjoy spending a fun-filled day with Cookie Monster and friends (Busy Day), and joining Bert and Ernie on their outdoor adventure as they discover what nature has to offer (Camping). The short, accessible sentences; sunny digital art with familiar faces; and helpful reading tips for parents make these solid picks for new readers. Review covers these Brand New Readers titles: Bert and Ernie Go Camping and Cookie Monster's Busy Day.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(4) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by Ernie Kwiat. The four very short stories in this easy reader star Sesame Street character Big Bird. With the help of his friends, Big Bird cleans a room, prepares a snack, draws a picture, and dances. There's some comfort of familiarity in the illustrations, which, though static, are otherwise fine approximations of the TV show. The series' small, rectangular format is perfect for little hands.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by Akemi Gutierrez. Three bear cubs star in four stories that are not only easy to read (with the help of their introductory sections) but also entertaining. Readers will enjoy watching the bears jump, juggle, eat, and build. Each tale includes one short line of text per page, accompanied by colorful childlike illustrations that extend the story and make it more exciting.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Following short introductions (to be read by adults), these four brief stories describe the adventures of industrious and creative Termite. As with the other books in the series, the simple, uncluttered illustrations help support the amusing, easy-to-read texts.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by Jill Newton. In four brief stories with introductions to be read by adults then one easy-to-read sentence per page, Rita the chipmunk and Larry the porcupine try to dance together; Rita blows bubbles; Larry goes beachcombing; and Rita visits Larry's booth at the fair. Dynamic acrylic illustrations help beginners decipher the text, while the humorous punchlines provide an added incentive to keep reading.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by Tim Nihoff. In four very brief stories for beginning readers, Otter has an unusual picnic; takes a bath with mountains of bubbles; goes swimming (or tries to); and accidentally gathers enough apples for lots of pies. The simple text follows the series format--one line per page, with touches of humor to keep the stories interesting. Cheery illustrations provide beginning readers with visual clues.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Brand New Readers series. In this small-scale offering, four mildly amusing, minimal tales star two frog friends. The simple stories feature Lucy counting butterflies, and Lucy and Bob hopping, catching flies, and playing tag. The serviceable illustrations provide context clues for beginning readers.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by Valeria Petrone. In four brief stories, Fish gets dizzy swimming in circles; enjoys hide-and-seek with Frog; makes faces in a mirror; and joins Frog in a jumping game. As with other books in the series, each repetitive mini-story has an amusing, sometimes unexpected ending that rewards the efforts of very new readers. Simple, uncluttered illustrations with droll-looking characters complete the pleasing package.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by Wong Herbert Yee. In four brief stories designed for beginning readers, Eddie steals eggs, greedily cleans out a jam jar, digs a hole, and runs from a skunk. Each story has a short introductory summary; simple, repetitive language; and a humorous twist at the end, with Eddie landing in some kind of trouble. Soft watercolor and ink illustrations boost the humor and the child appeal.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by Akemi Gutierrez. In four short stories, Brother Bear, Sister Bear, and Baby Bear go swimming, eat ice cream cones, play in the snow, and do the limbo. Each story includes a brief introductory summary and uses simple repetitive language. Amusing twists at the end lift them above the ordinary. The watercolor and ink illustrations are genial and uncluttered.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by Janie Bynum. In this series designed for beginning readers, the books all have four stories, each one preceded by a few lines of plot summary. The stories consist of eight short, repetitive sentences with a humorous twist at the end, which supplies added motivation to keep reading. Simple clear illustrations enhance the humor. A page of tips for adults completes the package. [Review covers these Brand New Readers titles: Edna Elephant, Ethan Out and About, and Mouse Has Fun.]

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by Brian Floca. In this series designed for beginning readers, the books all have four stories, each one preceded by a few lines of plot summary. The stories consist of eight short, repetitive sentences with a humorous twist at the end, which supplies added motivation to keep reading. Simple clear illustrations enhance the humor. A page of tips for adults completes the package. [Review covers these Brand New Readers titles: Edna Elephant, Ethan Out and About, and Mouse Has Fun.]

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by James Croft. In this series designed for beginning readers, the books all have four stories, each one preceded by a few lines of plot summary. The stories consist of eight short, repetitive sentences with a humorous twist at the end, which supplies added motivation to keep reading. Simple clear illustrations enhance the humor. A page of tips for adults completes the package. [Review covers these Brand New Readers titles: Edna Elephant, Ethan Out and About, and Mouse Has Fun.]

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Each of these books tells four simple stories that end with a satisfying twist youngsters will enjoy, though Rosa's tales are comparatively flat. First-time readers are aided by short sentences and repetition; clear, entertaining illustrations; and introductions (to be read by the adult) before each story that briefly summarize the action. Adults get useful tips on helping their children reader gain reading confidence.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by Barney Saltzberg. Each of the books in this series contains four simple stories that usually end with a satisfying twist or joke youngsters will enjoy. First-time readers are aided by short sentences and repetition, clear, entertaining illustrations, and introductions (to be read by an adult) that briefly summarize the action; adults get useful tips on helping beginning readers gain confidence. Review covers these Brand New Readers titles: Kazam's Magic, Hurray for Rosa!, Beep! Beep! It's Beeper!.]

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz. Each of these books tells four simple stories that end with a satisfying twist youngsters will enjoy, though Rosa's tales are comparatively flat. First-time readers are aided by short sentences and repetition; clear, entertaining illustrations; and introductions (to be read by the adult) before each story that briefly summarize the action. Adults get useful tips on helping their children reader gain reading confidence.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Each of the books in this series contains four simple stories that usually end with a satisfying twist or joke youngsters will enjoy. First-time readers are aided by short sentences and repetition, clear, entertaining illustrations, and introductions (to be read by an adult) that briefly summarize the action; adults get useful tips on helping beginning readers gain confidence. Review covers these Brand New Readers titles: Kazam's Magic, Hurray for Rosa!, Beep! Beep! It's Beeper!.]

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Each of these books tells four simple stories that end with a satisfying twist youngsters will enjoy, though Rosa's tales are comparatively flat. First-time readers are aided by short sentences and repetition; clear, entertaining illustrations; and introductions (to be read by the adult) before each story that briefly summarize the action. Adults get useful tips on helping their children reader gain reading confidence.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by Julie Lacome. Each of the books in this series contains four simple stories that usually end with a satisfying twist or joke youngsters will enjoy. First-time readers are aided by short sentences and repetition, clear, entertaining illustrations, and introductions (to be read by an adult) that briefly summarize the action; adults get useful tips on helping beginning readers gain confidence. Review covers these Brand New Readers titles: Kazam's Magic, Hurray for Rosa!, Beep! Beep! It's Beeper!.]

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli