Most Popular Books 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 Tres niños crecen en el mismo vecindario infestado de drogas, gobernado por pandillas y empobrecido. Nelson se convierte en un médico exitoso, su mejor amigo Jesse, en un galardonado ingeniero civil, pero el hermano de Nelson, Alvin, termina en la cárcel.

Discover the power of perseverance and the importance of math in I Can’t and I’ll Try, Importance of Math. This heartwarming and inspiring story follows twin brothers Billy and Tommy, who couldn’t be more different in their attitudes toward challenges. When faced with a tricky building kit for their birthday, Billy dives in with determination while Tommy gives up, saying, “I can’t.” But when their teacher, Mrs. Walker, shows Tommy the fascinating connection between math and the things he loves—like drawing and building—everything changes. Through engaging storytelling and relatable characters, this book teaches children the value of trying, the joy of learning, and the vital role math plays in everyday life. Parents will appreciate how it encourages problem-solving, resilience, and an appreciation for the practical applications of math, from designing blueprints to building space stations. Filled with life lessons and an inspiring message, I Can’t and I’ll Try: Importance of Math is the perfect book to motivate young readers to embrace challenges, develop a love for math, and realize they can achieve anything if they try!

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.

In this charming adventure, children will expand their reading skills by following Rick and Jan’s adventure in the mountains. Lush woodland scenes with beautiful birds and wildlife illustrate the story, adding concept clues to assist early readers. When Rick and Jan ride their bikes through a large mud puddle, the responsible children stop to clean their bikes before going swimming and fishing in the cool mountain water. Jan catches a large, shiny fish for the family dinner, and the siblings pick fresh red apples and nuts before heading home. Target Reader 18 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

This irresistible motivational phonics literature book from Sommer Learning introduces Zig, a misbehaving pet monkey. Zig creates hilarious chaos when Ken and his sister, Jill, try to feed the goats and ducks on their grandparents’ farm. Utilizing words presented in previous books in the series and a few new words, this story gives early readers a comfortable and fun reading experience. Target Reader 19 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

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

Children return to this beautiful book repeatedly to learn more about the mammoth beauties of the sea. Did you know an octopus can change its color and the texture of its skin or that sunfish lay millions of eggs? Advanced early readers recognize words they know in this exceptional nonfiction book from Our Amazing World Series, Advanced, and are motivated to add new words to their vocabulary, such as plankton and tongue, as well as explore combinations from words they know like sun and fish (sunfish) and blue and fin (bluefin).

In a creative imaginary world, this fun story unfolds with easy-to-pronounce words, assisting children in development of word recognition. Ben and Nell’s pet monkey, Bell, misbehaves on the plane trip to visit their grandparents. Bell continues his bad behavior when riding horses on the farm, making for funny situations that children will love. The colorful illustrations and exciting adventures will encourage children to read. Target Reader 5 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

When a cat with muddy paws makes a mess in this cute beginning reader, Dan rushes to help. The multi-colored illustrations help children to use context clues to follow the story while learning to pronounce beginning and ending phonic sounds. Companion Reader 2 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

This book brings to life the powerful and dramatic stories of the early days of humanity, from the fall of Adam and Eve to the catastrophic flood in Noah’s time. It explores how choices—good and bad—have lasting consequences, and how God''s grace shines through even in times of judgment. The tale of Cain and Abel highlights the dangers of jealousy and rebellion, while Noah''s unwavering faith and obedience in the face of widespread wickedness show the rewards of trusting God. Rich in lessons of faith, obedience, and redemption, this book invites readers to reflect on their own lives and challenges them to live righteously. Perfect for those who enjoy timeless stories of human nature, divine justice, and mercy. Will you be like Noah and walk faithfully with God?

"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" When a storm separates a young eagle from his family, he takes up residence with a group of chickens. Poking fun at his crooked beak, the way he flaps his wings, and his white feathered head, the eagle is ashamed and embarrassed. Soon, he discovers even more differences. Unlike the frightened chickens, he does not fear the sly fox. While the chickens are happy to live on the ground, he yearns to fly. Although the rooster insists that he was born to keep his feet on the ground, the sight of two soaring eagles changes everything. From this delightful tale readers learn to reach out for their full potential and let their spirits fly.

This engaging book from Our Amazing World Series, Advanced, takes children on an underwater journey through exquisite close-up photographs and illustrations. The world’s oceans are home to amazing animals outfitted in gorgeous colors while others are almost transparent. This book is a marvelous introduction to nonfiction for advanced early readers. Children will boost their reading confidence by recognizing many of the words and learning to combine familiar words into compound ones such as newborn, seaweed, and lionfish.

This enjoyable story engages early readers through beautiful illustrations and one-syllable words encourage a love of reading. Competing to win a game of tag, the cat, the dog, and the rat approach the game with different strategies. The life affirming message to always try your best and don’t give up until the race is over is presented through adorable characters and cheerful illustrations. Target Reader 13 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

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.

Introduce your child to the alphabet with **Flashcard ABC Book**! This delightful book features all 26 letters, each paired with a beautiful picture and a word that correlates with the letter. From "A" for "Apple" to "Z" for "Zebra," young readers will enjoy vibrant illustrations that make learning letters fun and engaging. It''s the perfect way to help children connect letters with familiar words, fostering early literacy skills in an enjoyable way.

In Annie and the Ugly Caterpillar, Annie the ant stands up for a misunderstood new friend named Katy—a caterpillar mocked by others for her appearance. While others judge Katy by how she looks, Annie shows kindness and belief in inner beauty. As Katy transforms into a butterfly, the story delivers a powerful lesson: real beauty comes from the inside. This heartwarming story encourages children to value character over appearance and to treat everyone with respect.

Take a look at these dazzling photos of wild bears and see a giant panda, a black bear, and an Asiatic bear. This captivating book from Our Amazing World Series, Advanced, introduces the wide and wonderful world of nonfiction to young children through the lives of wild bears in their natural habitats. The carefully constructed narrative is perfect for advanced early readers to gain confidence in their reading skills and boost their understanding of the animal world.

Jan and Ted continue their fun at the farm in this delightful family tale. With their friends and parents, Jan and Ted play a spirited game of soccer and find themselves chasing goats when Ted forgets to lock the gate. Once the goats are safely returned to their pen, the children have fun riding ponies. The vivacious, amusing illustrations encourage word mastery and new reading skills.

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.

This beautifully crafted book is a celebration of the wonders of God''s creation, encouraging readers to open their eyes, ears, and hearts to the beauty all around them. From majestic mountains to the delicate details of flowers, it invites you to marvel at the world through a lens of gratitude and awe. With simple, poetic reflections, it guides you to appreciate the intricacies of nature and reminds you of your role in making the world a better place through love, kindness, and faith. Perfect for those seeking a deeper connection with God and His creation, this book also provides a heartfelt prayer to bring peace and purpose to your life.

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.

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.

Young children get an inside look at a busy farm and the variety of useful animals in this book from Our Amazing World. Some the animals eat grass, others eat bugs, but they are all important to the success of the farm. Spectacular up-close-and-personal photos and fun facts engage children in lively discussions, such as: How does she get the milk from the cow? Can I ride a horse?

Kim and Tim return for another boating adventure where the family goes on a fishing trip. A creative advanced early reader packed with lively dialogue and plenty of words with similar sounds produce an enjoyable reading experience. 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 doing your best without holding a grudge if you don’t win.

In this exciting series of brightly illustrated adventure-filled tales, children will love the first story of a game of ball with Zag and the cat. After knocking over a fan in the house with a ball, Zag and the cat discover that playing ball is an outside game. Zag becomes a champ by hitting a ball that hits the van and enters a can. The bold colors light up the pages, encouraging children to use the picture and context clues to follow the story as they learn to sound out the words. Target Reader 1 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

Step into a thrilling adventure with Super Math and I Hate Math, where two reluctant math learners, James and Emma, discover the incredible importance of math in the world around them. Guided by the extraordinary Super Math, they embark on a journey that takes them from simple tasks like farming and fetching water to awe-inspiring scenes of engineering marvels, skyscrapers, airplanes, and massive container ships. As James and Emma see firsthand how math is used to build, create, and innovate, their dislike for math transforms into fascination. Along the way, they also learn fun math games, like Math War, which make practicing addition, multiplication, and division an exciting challenge. This engaging story highlights how math shapes our everyday lives and opens doors to amazing careers like engineering, architecture, and technology. Perfect for parents and teachers seeking to inspire children to love learning, Super Math and I Hate Math turns math into a tool for imagination and success. Kids will come away eager to embrace math as an essential part of their future.

Take a journey around The World in this engaging and educational book that introduces readers to the Earth’s geography, features, and the wonders of how our planet works. Explore the seven continents, learn about rainforests and deserts, and discover the diverse animals that call these environments home. Satellite images show Earth’s natural beauty, from icy poles to lush green forests and expansive deserts. Through maps, globes, and compasses, readers gain an understanding of directions and navigation, essential for exploring the world and even driving. Learn how the Earth’s rotation creates the illusion of the sun moving across the sky and how time zones vary across the globe, affecting international connections. With vivid imagery and simple explanations, The World inspires curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the planet we all share, making it perfect for both kids and adults eager to learn more about their home.

What fun children have looking at these precious animal babies in their natural habitats around the world. The baby animals featured in this nonfiction book from Our Amazing World Series, Advanced, appear with their mothers keeping a watchful eye on them. The narrative fosters fluency in early readers, promoting independent reading. Each crystal-clear snapshot is accompanied by fun facts, such as the information that a baby kangaroo is as small as a grain of rice when born, to engage children in lively discussions.

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

Young children are introduced to the captivating world of nonfiction through authentic photos accompanied by fun facts about unusual animals in their natural jungle habitats. From a tapir to a lemur, an anteater to a gorilla, Our Amazing World opens the door to lively discussions about these exciting jungle animals that astonish youngsters. Look at the big teeth! Why is his nose so long? Look at his long fingernails!

When two children have new bikes and good imaginations, a sunny day in the countryside is an invitation to go for a bike ride and possibly forget to follow their parents’ instructions. Vibrant illustrations and creative dialogue remind children of experiences in their own lives. Words and sentences that build on previous stories in this motivational phonics literature program create an exciting learning opportunity for the early reader. Bob’s bravado leads to an injury and give parents an opening to discuss safety rules and the ramifications of ignoring them. Target Reader 15 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

Resilience, determination, and the willingness to learn are keys to overcoming obstacles, as highlighted in Success: Elephant Ears and Eagle Eyes. Through the inspiring stories of Abraham Lincoln, Helen Keller, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington Carver, readers learn the importance of listening, observing, and persevering. This motivational book emphasizes the value of mentorship, self-discipline, and staying focused on one’s goals, making it an empowering guide for readers of all ages striving for success.

The beauty of delicate butterflies is a joy to behold as they flit from flower to flower. But how does a squishy, crawling caterpillar turn into a delicate, flying butterfly? Our Amazing World Series, Advanced, explores the life cycle of monarch butterflies in this enchanting nonfiction book for young children. Did you know that the caterpillars that become monarch butterflies only eat milkweed? That’s where the monarch butterflies lay their eggs so the caterpillars have food when they’re born. The beautiful pictures and illustrations engage the imagination.

In this vivid retelling of the classic tale Little Red Riding Hood, Red Riding Hood learns a powerful lesson about trust and obedience. When she strays from her parents’ warning not to talk to strangers, a cunning wolf tricks her into leaving the path—putting both her and her grandmother in danger. This abridged version from the Sommer-Time Story series emphasizes the importance of listening to wise counsel, recognizing danger, and making smart choices.

Dive into the fascinating world of Emperor Penguins with Life of Penguins! Set in the icy wilderness of Antarctica, this book explores the remarkable lives of these flightless birds as they survive in one of the harshest environments on Earth. Learn about the incredible partnership between male and female Emperor Penguins, as males bravely care for eggs in freezing temperatures while females hunt for food in the frigid ocean. Discover how these penguins huddle together to stay warm, slide across the ice on their bellies, and swim swiftly to evade predators like orcas and sea lions. Their unique black-and-white camouflage keeps them safe in the water, while their fluffy chicks grow warm brown coats before molting into their sleek adult feathers. Follow the penguins as they travel vast distances to find food, communicate with their unique calls to reunite with family, and feed their chicks through a fascinating regurgitation process. Life of Penguins is filled with astonishing facts, heartwarming details, and vivid descriptions that capture the resilience and beauty of these extraordinary birds.

Electricity powers our world, but have you ever wondered how it''s made? How Electricity is Made takes readers on a fascinating journey to uncover the science behind this essential energy source. From creating a simple electromagnet to exploring massive power plants and dams like Hoover Dam, this book reveals how motion, magnets, and turbines generate electricity. Discover the role of windmills, nuclear power, and even car batteries in producing and storing energy. With engaging explanations and real-world connections, this book inspires curiosity and gratitude for the electricity that lights up our homes and fuels modern life.