Most Popular Books by Carl Sommer

The vivid, rich colors of birds in their natural habitats around the world are an exciting way to introduce young children to nonfiction. From the tiny hummingbird to the mammoth ostrich, this entertaining book from Our Amazing World ignites the curiosity of children. Advanced early readers enjoy mastering the names of the birds as they read the book.

In Why Are You Always Late?, Telling Time, join Louis, the Comets’ best soccer player, as he overcomes a secret challenge that’s been holding him back: he can’t tell time. Constantly arriving late to games, Louis faces frustration from his teammates—until Billy, a kindhearted teammate, steps in to help. Through Billy’s patient teaching, Louis learns how to read analog and digital clocks, count minutes, and master the concept of time. As Louis gains confidence, he begins to shine even brighter on the soccer field, incorporating the special tricks his father taught him. The bond between Louis and Billy deepens as they support one another, with Louis teaching Billy soccer moves in return. Their teamwork not only transforms Louis’s punctuality but also helps the Comets win the championship game. Packed with heartwarming lessons about friendship, perseverance, and self-improvement, this story also introduces the fundamentals of telling time in a way that’s relatable and easy to understand. Why Are You Always Late?, Telling Time is perfect for parents and kids who want to make learning time fun while exploring the value of teamwork and kindness.

Embark on a thrilling journey of discovery with Exploring the World, a captivating book that takes readers of all ages from the depths of the oceans to the far reaches of the galaxy. Dive into the fascinating lives of fish, marvel at the diversity of flowering plants, and uncover the hidden wonders of microscopic worlds. Learn about the mysteries of distant stars through telescopes, the strength of ants in their colonies, and the surprising seashells atop Mount Everest. Whether you''re exploring a zoo, an aquarium, or the vast resources of a library, this book invites you to uncover the incredible secrets of our planet and beyond. Perfect for budding explorers and curious minds, it celebrates the wonders that surround us every day.

Creating a Healthy Body is an inspiring and educational guide for kids and families, teaching the secrets to building a strong, happy, and healthy life. Join Ben and Ann as they present simple yet powerful ways to take care of our amazing bodies, from eating nutritious meals to staying active with fun exercises. This book explains how every part of the human body—like the brain, heart, and lungs—works together as a team, and it shares tips on how to keep them healthy. Learn why listening to your parents, choosing good friends, and avoiding harmful habits are key to staying on the right path. Discover how to boost self-esteem, create a positive home environment, and live by the golden rule: treating others the way you want to be treated. Packed with practical advice, thoughtful lessons, and encouragement, Creating a Healthy Body empowers readers to make wise choices that lead to a lifetime of happiness and success.

Enter the thrilling world of nature’s most magnificent predators with Large Cats! This book introduces readers to the powerful and graceful giants of the feline family, including tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards, and snow leopards. Meet the Siberian tiger, the largest cat in the world, with its striking orange coat and dark stripes, and discover how tiger cubs learn survival skills from their mothers. Explore the lives of African lions, known for their majestic manes and their prides, where lionesses do the hunting and males protect the group. Travel to the Americas to find jaguars, the expert swimmers and climbers, and learn about their incredible strength and stealth. Leopards show off their agility, carrying prey into trees with hooked claws, while snow leopards blend into snowy mountain ranges with their spotted coats and remarkable jumping ability. Each of these large cats has its own unique hunting style and adaptations for survival. Perfect for animal lovers and fans of wildlife, Large Cats combines fascinating facts and vivid descriptions to showcase the beauty, power, and mystery of these incredible creatures.

Explore the extraordinary lives of Emperor Penguins in Penguins, a heartwarming and informative book about these fascinating birds that thrive in the icy wilderness. Learn how penguins form tight-knit groups to stay warm and how dedicated fathers care for eggs and chicks while mothers hunt for food. Discover their impressive swimming skills, using their white bellies and black backs for camouflage to evade predators and catch fish in freezing waters. Marvel at how baby penguins grow from fluffy brown chicks into sleek, graceful adults, all while staying close to their families through unique vocal calls. From sliding across the ice on their bellies to diving into the depths of the ocean, Penguins showcases the strength, resilience, and teamwork of these incredible birds. Perfect for animal enthusiasts of all ages, this book brings the frozen world of penguins to life.

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

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

Friends enjoy an exciting game of baseball and Jan proves she can hit a ball well. The simple words with similar sounds help children recognize beginning and ending sounds. Rich colors illuminate the outdoor scenes and encourage new readers to use the picture and context clues to read the story. Companion Reader 3 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

“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

In this playful family adventure, Rick and Jan’s family drive to their mountain cabin where they enjoy biking and swimming. Crisp, bright illustrations with sparkling blue water, lush green forests, and colorful fish and ducks offer an enchanting look at their outing. A sprinkling of two syllable words and lively dialogue motivate early readers to expand their reading skill. Target Reader 17 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.

An action-packed T-ball game leads Sam and his friends on a rollicking chase to catch a cute cat that runs away with Sam’s baseball cap. In this advanced early reader, children learn to recognize familiar words such as umpire on the brightly illustrated pages. The chase offers opportunities for parents to discuss positive ways to deal with an upset friend and to explain that pets usually aren’t misbehaving but think it’s a fun game when they grab something and run.

The mischievous monkey, Bell, returns with Nell and Ben and visit a circus. This high-spirited story told with dazzling illustrations and playful dialogue introduces new vocabulary words with similar phonic sounds. Advanced early readers will enjoy Bell’s hilarious pranks, and parents can use Bell’s antics as an opportunity to discuss actions and their consequences.

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

In this story, Super Math visits Mrs. Williams'' classroom to teach the children how to tell time. He explains how to read the hour and minute hands on analog clocks and guides the class through several exercises, including identifying times like o''clock, half-past, and quarter-past. The students also practice calculating the time between clocks. Super Math concludes the lesson with the story of The Ant and the Grasshopper, teaching the importance of balancing work and play. The children learn both time-telling skills and a valuable life lesson.

Bob, Dot, and their parents return (Rock Fishing) for another adventure by the sea, but first the family works as a team to get ready for their trip. Vibrant illustrations in this advanced early reader include a cute frog hopping onto each page and making youngsters smile. In addition to a superb combination of one-syllable and larger words that build on previous stories in the Sommer literacy program, this lovely book has tips on bicycle safety and following instructions on public signs.

The world’s rivers are home to incredible animals that grab our attention and surprise young children. Some eat insects, some eat fish, and others eat plants. Our Amazing World nonfiction shares fun facts about animals that live in rivers with exquisite close-up photographs. Early readers will enjoy this book about various river animals.

This spirited story introduces children to Matt and his misbehaving dog, Tad. Vibrant colors bring energy to the pages as Tad leads Matt and the man on a wild chase to retrieve the cleaning rag. Context clues guide young reader to experience the story as they master new words. The book offers opportunities for parents to discuss handling conflict in a positive way. Target Reader 4 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

Early readers enjoy this fast-paced soccer game in the park among friends. In an energetic story that appeals to a child’s playful spirit, bold illustrations provide amusing context clues to encourage word mastery and reading skills. Companion Reader 8 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

Discover the majestic world of elephants in Elephants—Land Giants! This fascinating book takes readers on a journey into the lives of African elephants, the largest and heaviest land animals on Earth. Learn about their incredible social behavior, their powerful tusks, and their unique ways of cooling down, from splashing in water to rolling in mud and sand. Elephants are more than just land giants—they are skilled swimmers who can travel up to 30 miles in water and use their trunks for everything from drinking to comforting their friends. Explore the differences between African and Asian elephants, discover how elephants migrate to find food, and see how their tusks protect them from predators like lions. From their role in forests as workers to their place in tourism as stars of rides and shows, elephants continue to amaze us with their intelligence and strength. Whether you''re interested in their family dynamics, their love of water, or their ability to help humans, this book offers something for everyone.

This friendship story is perfect for young readers who are all too familiar with accidents when they are playing. Warned by the other children not to run in the mud to avoid the sharp rocks, Ed ignores them and wades into the mud puddle. When he kicks the ball, he loses his balance and falls on a rock. Crisp illustrations with bright primary colors fill the pages of this lively early reader and offer a good opportunity for parents to discuss listening to others to stay safe. Companion Reader 17 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

The beauty of delicate butterflies is a joy to behold as they flit from flower to flower, but how does a crawling caterpillar turn into a flying butterfly? Our Amazing World shares the life of monarch butterflies with young children through vivid, close-up photos and fun facts that introduce the wonder of nonfiction.

In a thought-provoking comparison of old and new farming techniques, Our Amazing World Series, Advanced, brings history and young children together in a beautiful book. Learning the history of the world around them is an important part of a child’s education and inspires critical thinking. The family-friendly photos arouse their curiosity to read the narrative and discover the fun facts appended to each.

Children will return to this beautiful book again and again to inquire about the big animals that live in the sea. In uncomplicated examples, children learn how to compare the size of the sea animals to people and other things they recognize. From whales to walruses, sea turtles to swordfish, each animal motivates children to learn more as they study the captivating pictures in this nonfiction book from Our Amazing World.

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.

A warmhearted adventure, this family-oriented book includes life skills of respecting and helping others. An enjoyable early reader which promotes successful word recognition and skills in reading longer sentences. Picturesque woodland scenes animate the story and bring laughs when the cub helps itself to the family’s food without an invitation. Companion Reader 18 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

A warmhearted family adventure in picturesque woodlands brings laughs when a bear cub helps herself to the family’s food while they are outside watching the ducks in a pond. This adorable advanced easy reader promotes successful word recognition and includes life skills—respecting others, helping others, even counting others.

A family-fun early reader from Sommer’s irresistible motivational phonics program is always welcomed by children and parents. This cheerful book incorporates a fun-filled family outing complete with a picnic, swimming, and playing water tag with simple words and short sentences that promote literacy success. Companion Reader 19 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

In this excellent introduction to the tantalizing world of history, young children become acquainted with old and new farming techniques. Our Amazing World inspires critical thinking as children begin to explore how the world changes. Teaching children the importance of farming for feeding the world is an integral part of a good education, and the clear photos will have them bursting with curiosity.

Nothing is more exciting than rockets and travel in space, and this book is an excellent entry into nonfiction for young children, stimulating reading literacy. This intriguing book from Our Amazing World Series, Advanced, features impressive photos from blastoff to space travel and working astronauts. The crisp photos are complemented by factual information blending history, nature, and science with the excitement of space. Advanced early readers recognize the basic words and find alluring new words to expand their vocabulary, such as astronaut and satellite.

When Bob, Dot, and Jan get their first big bikes, a sunny day is an invitation to take a bike ride and possibly forget to follow their parents’ safety instructions. The illustrations and creative dialogue remind children of experiences in their own lives. Bob’s excitement leads him to take risks on the steep hills littered with rocks. It’s not long before he falls and injures his knee, teaching him a valuable lesson. The story builds on previous reading skills and crafts educational opportunities for the early reader. This cautionary tale gives parents an opening to discuss safety rules and the ramifications of ignoring them.

Ever wondered how a car’s engine turns gasoline into motion? How Car Engines Work unravels the fascinating mechanics behind the vehicles we use every day, making it accessible for readers of all ages. Discover how fuel injectors, pistons, spark plugs, and crankshafts work together in the four-stroke cycle—intake, compression, power, and exhaust—to power a car. Learn about key components like the radiator, battery, and transmission, and how they contribute to a car’s operation and safety. This engaging guide encourages curiosity and appreciation for the technology under the hood while inviting readers to enjoy the wonders of the world on their next family road trip.

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.

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.

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.

This timeless story is about the joy of a family fishing trip and the frustration of sibling rivalry. A creative, fun early reader, it includes plenty of one-syllable words with similar sounds, making it an enjoyable experience for a child learning to read. The lush colors of the water scenes coupled with the facial expressions of the characters leave no doubt that Kim and her mother are enjoying the fishing trip more than Tim and his father. The story is a good opportunity for parents to discuss jealousy and trying your best without holding a grudge in competitions. Target Reader 12 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

Taking readers on an engaging journey, How We Get Oil uncovers the fascinating process behind one of the world’s most essential resources. From Edwin L. Drake’s historic discovery in 1859 to advanced techniques like offshore drilling and hydraulic fracturing, it explains how crude oil is located, extracted, and transformed into over 6,000 products we rely on daily, including fuel, clothing, and plastics. Readers will explore oil rigs, pipelines, and refineries while gaining a deeper appreciation for the science and engineering that power modern life. With vivid explanations and real-world connections, How We Get Oil inspires curiosity and gratitude for the marvels of our world.

This heartwarming story follows a proud, wealthy man who sends his children, James and Anna, to live with a humble farmer’s family, hoping they will learn to appreciate their luxurious life. What the children discover instead is a profound lesson about true wealth, as they experience the joy, peace, and simplicity of the farmer’s life. Surrounded by love, faith, and nature, they realize that material riches pale in comparison to the rich, fulfilling life that comes from serving God and cherishing the simple pleasures of life. This powerful tale will inspire readers to reflect on what truly brings happiness and the value of faith and family over possessions.