Snarky Sharky

Gr 1--2--Each book in this "Early Bird Readers" series has its own charm. In Snarky Sharky, a very grumpy shark's friends try to figure out why she is always so grumpy and rude in the mornings. Hoof On the Roof follows a cow as she decides to explore the farm. The cow discovers grass on the farmer's roof and shares it with the other cows after they figure out a way up. A young girl in Can Dad Dance? recounts tales of her father's clumsiness before his big talent show performance, as well as details of the performance itself. In Clumpety Bump, a young boy becomes increasingly frustrated by his horse's ambivalence about his errands, until he gets stuck without the horse and realizes how much he misses him. Every story has a mixture of vocabulary, with lots of common and sight words being used, but also alliterative and slightly rhyming words such as "Clumpety Bump." The text always stands out from the illustrations, and the illustrations reinforce the content of the text, making it easier for early readers to figure out words and names. Reader comprehension is the most important aspect of the series; each plot follows a train of thought that a child can understand, and all the stories contain quizzes at the end that revisit major plot and character points. Overall, this is a good series for readers who like stories but are still struggling with comprehension. VERDICT This is a good early reader series for students who like silly words and sounds, friendly characters, and a slightly longer plot.--Margaret Kennelly