Bear and friends puzzle reader collection

PreS-K--This collection contains six previously published stories: Where Is Bear?, A House for Mouse, A Scarf for Squirrel, Fox Wants a Pet, Pup Is Lost, and Wake Up, Bear! Each 20-page story has colorful, nature-themed watercolor illustrations and adorable personified animals. The stories follow the woodland friends through small domestic adventures, like finding a house for mouse or a pet for fox. A different letter is embedded into images on every page of each story, so that the game of finding the hidden letters can aid in shape and letter recognition. For example, in Where Is Bear?, the letter B is drawn into a tree, a tail, and a stream. Illustrations are well-drawn and provide a warm and friendly setting for the short stories. Even with the purposely limited vocabulary, the simple sentences fluidly build using the same words in different and increasingly lengthy combinations, taking readers from sentences with three words ("We can help.") to eight words ("This is not a good pet at all.") with ease. VERDICT Silly, sweet, and achievable stories for beginning independent readers.--Jennifer Miskec