New Releases by Carl Sommer

Three boys grow up in the same drug-infested, gang-ruled, poverty-stricken neighborhood. Nelson becomes a successful doctor, his best friend Jesse, an award-winning architectural engineer, but Nelson’s brother Alvin ends up in jail. In this riveting tale, Nelson relates the story of their childhood, and how, with the love and guidance of his grandparents, they come upon valuable lessons on how against all odds to become successful. Featuring accounts from Benjamin Franklin, George Washington Carver, Helen Keller, and Abraham Lincoln, the boys are inspired by some of America’s greatest heroes. Although Alvin chooses differently, Nelson and Jesse are two friends who “Dare to Dream!” Virtues: Courage / Responsibility / Self-Discipline

As a reward for winning the soccer championship, Davy is chosen “Mayor for a Day.” Tired of rules, Davy’s first official announcement as mayor, to the great delight of his friends, is the elimination of all rules for a day. What ensues is a rollicking and disastrous turn of events as order in school and the whole town breaks down and chaos reigns supreme. Davy finally saves the day. This fascinating story demonstrates the importance of rules at home, at school, and in society. Virtues: Citizenship / Civic Virtue / Respect for Law

Life couldn’t have been better for Buzzie Bee. But she heard something that made her furious! Buzzie and the younger bees revolt and start a new hive. It’s a disaster! Then they make a great discovery.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Christopher has big dreams—from avoiding school to inventing the first airmobile. He acquires a time remote, and it sends him quickly through life trying to avoid problems. When he discovers a new button, he’s engulfed in fear.

“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

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.

It was time for the beautiful princess Elizabeth to be married. Charming Simon and strong, handsome Thomas came to ask her hand in marriage. Then there was John, a handsome but not-so-flashy commoner. Elizabeth first noticed him helping an old man get his wagon out of a muddy ditch.Not sure about the true character of her three suitors, Elizabeth asks her father the king for advice. The king plans a race to reveal the character of the three suitors. This story tells the action-packed tale of how perseverance and love are more important than anything in winning the Great Royal Race. Virtues: Perseverance / Caring / Trustworthiness

Three bulls were the best of friends until they listened to a cunning fox. After nearly losing their lives, they finally learn never to listen to those wanting to destroy their friendship.

To Millie, the whole world is unfair. Even though Millie has a loving family and a nice home, she’s always miserable. She hates to be told what to do, and when things don’t go her way, she complains. Millie finally has enough! She runs away so that she can do whatever she wants to do. What starts out as a fun adventure turns out to become one disaster after another. Millie ends up on the streets, scared, without money, food, and a place to sleep. Desperate, she steals candy and gets caught by a police officer. When her parents are contacted, they are overjoyed and welcome her back home. Armed with a new appreciation for her former life, Millie becomes the happiest girl in the whole world. Virtues: Respect / Trustworthiness / Fairness

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

Ted’s friend gives the latest facts about finding happiness. But nothing Ted does changes his discontent. Finally, Ted discovers the secret is not focusing on himself, but to focus on others.

Proud Rooster, always ignoring everyone’s advice, gets into all sorts of trouble. Filling his tummy with green strawberries, falling off a tree while showing off, and skating on thin ice after being repeatedly warned, nearly do him in. But Proud Rooster’s final hard lesson changes him forever. While lying on a hospital bed, he’s glad to learn that it’s not too late to obey. Virtues: Humility / Respect for Parents / Self-Discipline

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

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.

Majestic settings provide the perfect backdrop for the vibrant photos of ranch life. This inviting book from Our Amazing World Series, Advanced, entices young children who are mesmerized by cowboys, cowgirls, and horses to visit the wide, wonderful world of nonfiction. Advanced early readers appreciate reading about life on the ranch using words they recognize in the fun facts and mastering some ranch words such as lasso, corral, and longhorn.

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.

Give a child a pot and a spoon and music beckons. Mom gave Dot a mop to clean the floor and Bob a pot to wash, but they discover there is a lot of banging and hopping to do before they settle to do the jobs. A lifelike, fun story engages early readers with cheerful illustrations and easy-to-master beginning and ending word sounds that encourage a love of reading. Companion Reader 13 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

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.

Rockets are a high-interest, exciting topic for readers of all ages, and an excellent way to engage young children in the awesome world of nonfiction. Our Amazing World features rockets in impressive photos complemented by fun facts about astronauts and rockets to stimulate lively discussions with children. What do they eat in space? Can I go on a spaceship one day? Wouldn’t it be fun to float around!

A classic game of cops and robbers keeps a group of friends on the run in this advanced reader. Detailed, colorful pictures illustrate the children playing in their neighborhood. This motivational book tells the story with creative narrative and dialogue that make for a fun reading experience, and it includes a subtle reminder to finish a job before playing.

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.

This exciting beginning reader shows Sam and his friends in a rollicking chase to catch a misbehaving cat. The words in the story teach children to recognize beginning and ending sounds, as they learn to recognize words with similar sounds. Brightly illustrated pages illuminate the narrative, encouraging children to use the picture and context clues to follow the story. The misbehaving cat offers opportunities for parents to discuss positive ways to deal with an upset friend. Target Reader 3 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

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.

Children will enjoy the exciting game of baseball in this colorful story. When Jan proves she can hit a fastball, her friends are happy for her. With a combination of one- and two-syllable words with similar sounds, this advanced reader helps children build reading skill. Rich primary colors illuminate the outdoor scenes and add a nice incentive to follow the story.