New Releases by Carl Sommer

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Teddy is a grumpy bear cub. Even though he comes from a loving family, along the way he lost his smile. He doesn''t enjoy any of the things that usually make children happy, such as playing baseball, riding a bike, taking rides at Playland, and swimming. Teddy tries real hard to find his smile, but nothing works until he asks Grandpa, who shares some surprising advice. Teddy can''t understand how making others happy will help, but he’s willing to try. He starts doing helpful things for his family and friends at school. Teddy’s life is transformed. As this moving story unfolds, Teddy discovers the joy that comes from helping others. Virtues: Caring / Cheerfulness / Citizenship

To grow up to be big, little lions have to learn survival skills, but the cub Sangu doesn’t want to listen to Papa and Mama’s lessons—he just wants to play. Getting lost while escaping a charging rhino, Sangu learned how unprepared he really was to be out on his own. Befriended by some kind gazelles, Sangu didn’t have the slightest idea as to what a lion should be. After being taunted by his friends, Sangu finally learned to be assertive, to value learning, to listen to his parents, and to respect himself. Virtues: Self-Esteem / Respect for Parents / Assertiveness

Two persnickety mice, Marcus and Marcella, keep complaining about the noisy forest animals and the hard work they have to do every day in searching for food. They become very excited when a chipmunk tells them about a quiet farmhouse with lots of good food. In spite of warnings from the forest animals, they immediately move to the farm. Their dreams come true. But their wonderful life comes to an abrupt end when the farmer and his wife come home to their unwelcome guests. After barely escaping with their lives, Marcus and Marcella quickly return to their forest home. They learn to appreciate that even with all the noise and hard work, the forest is a wonderful place to live. Virtues: Tolerance/Friendship/Appreciation

“It’s not fair!” shouted Buzzie the bee, when she accidentally finds out worker bees do ALL the work. Before this Buzzie was a happy worker bee, but now she’s furious! She starts a major revolt among the younger worker bees. The angry younger bees leave the hive to start their own. In the new hive the young bees argue and fight over who should do the work. Everyone wants the easiest job! Discover how bees live, eat and multiply in this educational and compelling tale about the importance of teamwork and a good attitude. Learn how working together under a leader is the key to happiness. Grades 1-4Virtues: Citizenship/Teamwork/Responsibility

The bear cubs Stubby and Prissy can’t seem to agree on anything—not even on who should close the door while playing a game. Disgusted, their forest friends walk out because of their bickering. The cubs finally decide to settle the issue with a most outrageous game of “You move, you lose.” However, two raccoon burglars show up for an unforgettable game of their own.When a wolf chases a little kitten, their stubbornness is tested to the limit. Stubby declares victory, but he soon realizes that the true winner is his sister Prissy. Stubby and Prissy finally learn the folly of stubbornness and the importance of friendship. Virtues: Tolerance / Friendship / Cooperation

Trapped by deep snow high on a mountain, hungry townspeople wait desperately for one of the three big trains to bring them food. All three big trains refuse to go up the mountain. In spite of the ridicule from the big trains, The Little Red Train and a family of brave helpers decide to go up the snow-covered mountain to help the starving people. This vividly illustrated story demonstrates the value of compassion, hard work and perseverance. The Little Red Train’s triumphant arrival to the top of the mountain elicits the eternal gratitude of the townspeople, and its accomplishment proves to be an inspiration for all. Virtues: Perseverance / Compassion / Civic Virtue

Missy the mouse has a very big problem—she hates the way she looks! If only she were as big and beautiful as Horace the cat, then all her problems would be gone.One day, while being chased by Horace, the incredible happens. Missy’s wish comes true! She turns into a cat—not just any cat, but the biggest and most beautiful cat in the whole world. But she quickly discovers that cats have problems with dogs. As Missy wishes herself into becoming bigger and stronger creatures, she finally discovers that everyone has problems and learns to accept herself for who she is. Grades K-4.Virtues: Self-Esteem / Trust / Cheerfulness

In Bitsie desperate attempt to provide for the necessities of life, she encounters the King of the Forest. The table gets turned and only one tiny creature comes to the rescue.

Teased by their friends that no one will ever know, Johnny and Janie ignore their parents'' warnings about the big, bad wolf. Wanting big, delicious acorns at Mr. Smith’s farm, they and their friends hatch a plan to sneak out of their homes during the night. They can’t wait to feast on the delicious acorns from Mr. Smith’s farm.The young squirrels’ moon-lit adventure and delightful meal suddenly ends when a very hungry wolf chases them. Barely escaping with their lives, the young squirrels learn to disobey is wrong even when you think no one will ever know. Virtues: Honesty / Respect for Parents / Trust Ignorando las reglas, cuatro jóvenes ardillas escuchan a sus amigos y se escabullen para comer bellotas grandes y deliciosas. Pero surgen problemas cuando se encuentran con un lobo hambriento. Apenas escapando con sus vidas, las ardillas aprenden que desobedecer está mal incluso cuando crees que nadie lo sabrá nunca.

Even though Randy is much loved at home, he has a serious problem—everything he has is old! His rich neighbor Mike, who often teases Randy, has a new bike, new toys, and never does chores. Randy, however, rides an old bike, has old toys, and has to do all kinds of work around the house. Though Randy is often reminded that “things don’t bring happiness,” he desperately wishes he could be rich so he could buy everything new.To Randy’s great delight, his wish comes true. Everything he touches turns into gold, even his beloved dog. As he holds his lifeless gold dog, he realizes he’s the most miserable kid in the world. Remembering he has one more wish, he uses it to return things as they were before. His wish comes true, and he becomes the richest poor kid.Virtues: Appreciation / Cheerfulness / Trust

To grow up to be big, little lions have to learn survival skills, but the cub Sangu doesn’t want to listen to Papa and Mama’s lessons—he just wants to play. Getting lost while escaping a charging rhino, Sangu learned how unprepared he really was to be out on his own. Befriended by some kind gazelles, Sangu didn’t have the slightest idea as to what a lion should be. After being taunted by his friends, Sangu finally learned to be assertive, to value learning, to listen to his parents, and to respect himself. Virtues: Self-Esteem / Respect for Parents / Assertiveness Para crecer y ser grandes, los leones pequeños tienen que aprender habilidades de supervivencia, pero Sangu no quiere escuchar. Después de perderse, algunas gacelas se hacen amigas de él y le enseñan su forma de vida. Después de muchas decepciones, Sangu finalmente aprende a aceptarse a sí mismo.

Spike the rebel is a mean-spirited bully in his neighborhood and school. All the kids are afraid of him, except Mary. She warns him that one day his meanness will come back to haunt him. Spike on a family camping trip, steals a canoe, rows past a caution sign, and ends up being thrown over the waterfalls. He survives, but the incident only makes him meaner. Next, he steals a kid’s BB gun and shoots a protected eagle. Even worse, when the park ranger comes, he plants the evidence so the other kid gets blamed. While riding his bike one day, Spike hits one of his self-made bike traps. He breaks his leg and bleeds badly. Debbie, a girl he laughed at for falling off her bike in one of his traps, comes with her mother and rescues him. This incident transforms Spike. He finally discovers he’s much happier having friends and helping others. Virtues: Tolerance / Friendship / Cooperation Spike el Rebelde es un matón mezquino en su vecindario y escuela. Donde quiera que vaya, causa problemas. Después de que Spike golpea una de sus trampas para bicicletas, su vida se transforma radicalmente y descubre que es mucho más feliz de tener amigos y ayudar a otros.

“It’s not fair!” shouted Buzzie the bee, when she accidentally finds out worker bees do ALL the work. Before this Buzzie was a happy worker bee, but now she’s furious! She starts a major revolt among the younger worker bees. The angry younger bees leave the hive to start their own. In the new hive the young bees argue and fight over who should do the work. Everyone wants the easiest job! Discover how bees live, eat and multiply in this educational and compelling tale about the importance of teamwork and a good attitude. Learn how working together under a leader is the key to happiness. Grades 1-4Virtues: Citizenship/Teamwork/Responsibility "¡No es justo!", Gritó Buzzie, la abeja, cuando accidentalmente descubre de que las abejas obreras hacen TODO el trabajo. Antes de este incidente Buzzie era una abeja trabajadora feliz, ¡pero ahora está furiosa! Ella comienza una revuelta importante entre las abejas obreras más jóvenes. Luego hacen un descubrimiento que las transforma.

Mama and Papa have always warned their chicks never to have anything to do with strangers. But the sly fox disguises himself as a little lamb, and uses different tactics to try to trick the chicks into going with him. The cunning fox finally succeeds luring some of the chicks by promising delicious corn to them. Clucky, being the one who always listened to Papa and Mama, doesn’t go along. After a horrifying experience, Clucky’s sister escapes and realizes the importance of listening to parents and never talking to strangers. This cautionary tale stresses the importance of obeying parents and “stranger danger.” Virtues: Trust / Safety / Obedience to Parents

Trapped by deep snow high on a mountain, hungry townspeople wait desperately for one of the three big trains to bring them food. All three big trains refuse to go up the mountain. In spite of the ridicule from the big trains, The Little Red Train and a family of brave helpers decide to go up the snow-covered mountain to help the starving people. This vividly illustrated story demonstrates the value of compassion, hard work and perseverance. The Little Red Train’s triumphant arrival to the top of the mountain elicits the eternal gratitude of the townspeople, and its accomplishment proves to be an inspiration for all. Virtues: Perseverance / Compassion / Civic Virtue Tres grandes trenes se niegan a subir a la montaña en la nieve profunda para llevar comida a las personas que padecen hambre. A pesar del ridículo de los grandes trenes, El Pequeño Tren Rojo y una familia de valientes ayudantes suben la montaña cubierta de nieve para ayudar a las personas que se mueren de hambre.

Mama and Papa have always warned their chicks never to have anything to do with strangers. But the sly fox disguises himself as a little lamb, and uses different tactics to try to trick the chicks into going with him. The cunning fox finally succeeds luring some of the chicks by promising delicious corn to them. Clucky, being the one who always listened to Papa and Mama, doesn’t go along. After a horrifying experience, Clucky’s sister escapes and realizes the importance of listening to parents and never talking to strangers. This cautionary tale stresses the importance of obeying parents and “stranger danger.” Virtues: Trust / Safety / Obedience to Parents Mamá y papá siempre han advertido a sus polluelos que deben evitar a los extraños. Pero el astuto zorro se disfraza de corderito y logra engañar a todos los polluelos menos a uno. Wendy escapa y finalmente descubre por qué los polluelos deben escuchar a sus padres y nunca hablar con extraños.

Millie is convinced her parents and the world is unfair. With money stolen from her mother’s purse she runs away. Her dream comes true to do whatever she wants. But when her money runs out, things dramatically change. Milie está convencida que el mundo es injusto y que sus padres se dedican a hacerle la vida desdichada. No tiene permitido hacer cualquier cosa que quiera; como mirar TV sin límites, chatear en Internet sin supervisión o ir al parque sola. Encuentra que todos son injustos, aún sus maestros. Finalmente, Mili idea un plan: ¡se escapará de casa! Con dinero robado del bolso de su mamá, compra un boleto de autobús a la gran ciudad, donde podrá vivir como ella quiera. La ciudad brilla mientras Mili comienza su aventura con helado y una visita al parque de diversiones, pero ¿qué hará cuando se le acabe el dinero robado?

Nicholas, a bored teenager, had to spend long hours watching his family’s sheep. To break the boredom he dreamed of ways to have fun. His practical jokes caused him to suffer loss, but it also opened his eyes. Nicolás sabe que vigilar a las ovejas de la familia es importante, pero considera que es uno de los trabajos más aburridos del mundo. Para romper con el aburrimiento, simula ser atacado y se ríe hasta el cansancio viendo cómo las personas del pueblo suben la colina, apuradas por ayudarlo. Desde su punto de vista, sus bromas prácticas son un gran éxito, pero las personas del pueblo están furiosas. ¿Se dará cuenta Nicolás de su tontería, a tiempo para que las personas del pueblo escuchen su verdadero pedido de auxilio?

The beautiful princess is undecided about three handsome suitors. All three men behave perfectly in the princess’s presence: how can she tell their true characters? The king plans an unusual race to discover the best man to marry. La bella princesa es mayor de edad y debe elegir a un esposo que se convertirá en el nuevo rey. Tiene tres pretendientes. Simón es guapo y encantador; pero sólo ve a la princesa como su oportunidad de convertirse en un gobernante rico. Tomás es el poderoso capitán de la guardia real; pero quiere que la princesa lo elija sólo para poder ganar la admiración del pueblo. Juan es guapo, aunque un simple plebeyo con corazón compasivo; pero el único que realmente ama a la princesa bondadosa. Los tres hombres se han comportado perfectamente en presencia de la princesa. ¿Logrará la inusual prueba ideada por su padre, revelar la verdadera personalidad de estos hombres?

Spike the Troublemaker makes his mark by bullying the area kids, pulling girls’ hair, tripping kids, tattling, and hurting others. But his plan of bullying backfires when he’s caught by one of his own traps Púa se caracteriza por intimidar a los niños del barrio. Para ganar la reputación de “chico rudo”, le tira el cabello a las niñas, hace tropezar a los niños, carga y hiere a los demás. Uno de sus entretenimientos favoritos es esconder trampas en los senderos de bicicleta y reír cuando los niños se caen. Pero su plan se le vuelve en contra cuando cae en una de sus propias trampas. Desamparado, con una pierna rota y congelándose al llegar la noche, Púa grita pidiendo la ayuda de las mismas niñas a quienes él hirió. ¿Logrará Púa sobrevivir en el bosque?

A proud emperor spends his kingdom’s wealth on beautiful palaces and rich clothes. Two swindlers convince the emperor they can weave a special cloth that is invisible to anyone unfit for office or is very foolish. En un reino lejano vive un orgulloso emperador que gasta la riqueza de su reino en bellos palacios y exquisitas vestimentas. Él tiene todo lo que podría desear: riqueza, admiración y una corte donde nadie se atreve a contradecirlo. Eso es hasta que un par de estafadores llegan a la ciudad prometiendo confeccionarle una vestimenta mágica, que es invisible para cualquiera que sea inepto para el cargo que ocupa o sea muy tonto. ¿Arriesgará alguien su reputación y expondrá a los estafadores? ¿O el emperador desfilará por la ciudad con un traje que en realidad no existe?

After being attacked by a large rhino, Sangu, a fun-loving lion cub, gets lost. Some gazelles befriend him and teach him their ways. Sangu is a total misfit. Finally he discovers his true identity. Para crecer y saber cómo vivir, los jóvenes leoncitos deben desarrollar habilidades de supervivencia. Pero Sangu está más interesado en jugar que en aprender; de modo que cuando el ataque de un rinoceronte lo separa de su familia, no está preparado para sobrevivir por sí mismo. Sangu se pierde y un grupo de amigables gacelas lo adoptan. Las gacelas le enseñan cómo sobrevivir en la selva, pero cuando Sangu intenta vivir la vida como una gacela, resulta un inadaptado total. En esta historia de un león perdido y encontrado, ¿descubrirá Sangu su verdadera identidad?

A classic game of cops and robbers keeps Bob, Dot, and Dan on the run as this busy story unfolds. Detailed, colorful pictures illustrate the children and their neighborhood as they enjoy their game. A bushy-tailed squirrel adds wonderful context clues to accompany the narrative and dialogue in a fun-filled reading experience. Companion Reader 16 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

A soccer ball accidently hits Dan’s cat as Jan and Dan play, which instigates a series of unfortunate events. The angry cat with muddy paws perches on the neighbor’s clean van and upsets him. Dan rushes to get his cat off the van and trips over a bucket, spilling the water. No one is hurt in this advanced easy reader, but the story opens multiple discussion points, including dealing with upset pets and people.

Pat learns an important lesson that children can relate to when she doesn’t put her pretty hat where it belongs. Pat’s cat finds the soft hat on its favorite chair and curls up on top of it, which upsets the little girl. The bold colors in the illustrations in this book light up the advanced easy reader, and the storyline blends new words and easy one-syllable words into longer sentences to guide children to reading success. This advanced reader contains excellent parent and child discussion points on responsibility and anger.

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.

Bright photos take children right to the fields, where they see adults and children working together to grow food, and pique their curiosity. Did you know carrots aren’t all orange? Where do French fries come from? Appropriate for children of all ages who return to the book again and again as they learn to read. Advanced early readers recognize many of the words and add new ones to grow their reading skills. Our Amazing World Series, Advanced, nonfiction books, filled with fun facts, stimulate a child’s enthusiasm to learn about the world around them.

A family camping trip brings readers along for a fun-filled adventure in the mountains. From Our Amazing World, this irresistible early reader uses simple words plus a few word surprises like marshmallows to encourage young readers to discover our world. Introducing young children to the joys of nonfiction books that include pictures of other children leads to an interest in life-long learning.

Fishing is a wonderful way to introduce nonfiction to children. It’s a sport for all seasons and many different places. This charming book from Our Amazing World Series, Advanced, shares intriguing pictures of children and grownups enjoying the sport. Expect to reel in some questions as you read. Advanced early readers take pride in their ability to read the book with its simple words and short sentences.