Ready to Read Level 1 – Sneak Peek Books

Tow on the Go! The Mambo Rescue!

Mo, the lovable tow truck, likes to mambo while he works. When ten cars get stuck in a snowstorm, Mo has to mambo faster than ever before to get them out!

Little readers can dance to the beat as Mo plays his radio as he zooms through piles of snow. The tow trucks smile, and the musical notes light up each page. When Mo arrives, the frowning cars all want to go first. Mo comes up with a plan, but the cars must work together. Soon, Mo has everyone listening to the radio, and soon, “each car begins to swing and sway!” With the help of Monbo music, Mo and all the other cars are soon on the go.

As a Level One Ready-to-Read book, The Mambo Rescue uses easy sight words and a simple plot. Each page has a full-page illustration that will help readers understand the plot. The story’s rhythm, rhyme, and repetition make the story fun to read aloud, and each page has one to four simple sentences. Plus, adults can use the book to help children learn their colors and count. Bright colors abound. Each car is a different color. Plus, there are musical notes, flowers, and birds. All of these can be used to count and identify colors.

The Mambo Rescue teaches readers the importance of helping each other and working together. Readers will cheer when Mo frees the cars, and everyone dances the Mambo. Readers who love cars and trucks will enjoy seeing how Mo helps his friends with a cheerful smile. Readers ready to rumble should also read Hot Rod Hamster: Monster Truck Mania! by Cynthia Lord, and Bulldozer Helps Out by Candace Fleming.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Pets to the Rescue: Brave Norman

Steve McDonald went to the animal shelter to find a new pet. When he saw Norman, he fell in love with the dog. Norman loves his family and his family loves him. But one day, Norman starts bumping into things. The veterinarian says Norman is going blind.

After Norman became blind, “he bumped into things. He was scared of noises. He barked when people came near.” The one place Norman is still happy is on the beach. “At the beach, there were no trees to hit. There were no cars to scare him.” One day, his family takes him to the beach and Norman is the only one who hears a girl calling for help. She is far out in the ocean and needs help! Even though Norman is blind, the dog is able to pull the girl to safety. Being blind did not stop Norman from helping. Being blind did not stop Norman from being brave.

As part of the Ready to Read Level 1 Series, Brave Norman is intended for children who are just starting to read. The story is told using word repetition and simple sentences. The story has a simple plot that follows Norman and his family. Each page has a full-colored illustration to help readers visualize the story’s events.

Brave Norman follows Norman’s daily life with his family. Readers will empathize with Norman when he becomes blind. However, being blind doesn’t stop him from helping others. After he saves the girl, Norman goes on to visit hospitals. “Norman can make children laugh. Norman can help sick people feel a little better.” Brave Norman is an engaging story that shows that even though Norman is blind, he’s still valuable. For more stories that feature dogs, check out The Dog That Dug for Dinosaurs by Shirley Raye Redmond and Marley Firehouse Dog by John Grogan.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Parker’s Big Feelings

Parker is not having a good day at school. When she gets home, all she wants is some time alone to read her book, but her brother and sister will not stop following her around. Parker is feeling lots of big feelings. How can Parker turn a bad day into something good?

When Parker has a meltdown and starts to cry, her mom helps her write a list of things that she can do to feel better—breathe, exercise, and have some quiet time. Parker goes to her room and “I close my eyes. I breathe in. I pretend I am smelling a flower as I count to five.” Next, Parker goes outside and rides her bike. Finally, she reads a book. After taking all of these steps, Parker feels better and plays with her siblings. The last page explains other ways readers can get help understanding their feelings.

As part of the Ready to Read Level 1 Series, Parker’s Big Feelings is intended for children who are just starting to read. The story is told using word repetition and simple sentences. The story has a simple plot that follows Parker through her day. Each page has a full-colored illustration to help readers visualize the story’s events.

Parker’s Big Feelings will help readers deal with “big feelings” such as sadness, frustration, or fear. By focusing on Parker’s bad days, the book helps readers understand that having a bad day is normal. Even though people have bad days, Parker shows that it is possible to turn a bad day into a good day. The simple story will appeal to all readers because everyone can understand Parker’s conflict. For another story that deals with having a bad day, check out Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang. 

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Your Friend, Parker

When Parker’s family goes on a road trip, Parker is worried that she won’t have fun because her best friend, Gia, isn’t with her. But then Parker has a great idea! She’s going to write letters to Gia, telling her about the exciting sights she sees during her road trip across America. Even though Parker and Gia are far away from each other, they can still be best friends!

During the road trip, Parker’s family goes to the beach in North Carolina, to an aquarium in Georgia, and sleds down a sand dune in New Mexico. Parker writes Gia, telling her of the other things her family has had fun doing. Parker’s adventures are told using easy sight words and words to sound out. The simple plot is told using one to two sentences per page. The full-page illustrations add interest and help readers visualize the story’s events.

The last page of the book tells the story of two writers who stayed friends because they wrote to each other often. The book also encourages people to write a letter to a friend or a family member. Readers can use Parker’s experience to help them know what to write.

Unlike other books, Your Friend, Parker doesn’t have a typical plot. Instead, the book lists the places that Parker and her family visit. Some of the pictures, such as Parker looking at jellyfish or sledding down a sand dune, will fill readers with wonder. Other illustrations show everyday activities like eating peaches and lobster. While the story isn’t exciting, readers will enjoy going on a road trip with Parker and her family. Young readers who love the idea of writing a letter should also read Polly Diamond and the Magic Book by Alice Kuipers.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Parker Dresses Up

Parker is playing dress up with her younger siblings, Ava and Cash. With each costume, Parker imagines what her life would be like if she were a doctor or a princess. However, the children’s play is interrupted when Cash and Ava get into an argument because “cooks do not use [fire] hoses!”

Parker’s mom steps in to help the children resolve their conflict. Parker’s mom explains how “everyone can be more than one thing. . . Just look at me! I am a mom and a writer.” Afterward, the siblings explore different combinations of costumes. For example, Cash becomes a superhero builder and Parker becomes a mermaid teacher. Parker learns that she doesn’t need to limit herself to being one thing. The sky is the limit!

Parker Dresses Up has many positive aspects including the realistic illustrations, the relatable conflict, and an African American family that is portrayed in a positive manner. Plus, many readers will relate to Parker, who loves to dress up but doesn’t always get along with her siblings. When Parker’s brother begins to cry, Parker’s mom uses positive communication skills to help the kids resolve their conflict.

As a Level One Ready to Read book, Parker Dresses Up uses easy sight words and a simple plot. Each page has a full-page illustration that will help readers understand the plot. Plus, the kids dress up in outfits that will encourage readers to be creative. Parker Dresses Up is a fun story that teaches readers that they don’t have to be just one thing. Instead, Parker’s story encourages readers to be adventurous because you can be anything you set your mind to. Another entertaining book that deals with sibling squabbles, is Charlotte the Scientist Is Squished by Camille Andros.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Snow

Everyone loves snow! It’s fun to play in and makes wonderful snowmen. But where does snow come from? The answer is at your fingertips. Just open this book and explore the wonders of snow.

Readers will follow an unnamed girl who spends a day out in the snow. Between scenes of the young girl and her dog, information is given about how snow is formed, why it falls to the ground and the different types of snow. Readers will also learn how “snow melts into puddles, intro rivers, into lakes, and gives the earth a fresh, cool drink.” The last page includes six additional facts about snow.

Each page has large illustrations with a blue sky in the background; this allows the white snow to show up clearly. Throughout the story, the girl makes a snowman, plays in a puddle, skates on a frozen pond, and sleds with her dog. However, she never smiles and in some of the pictures, she looks cold and miserable. This contrasts with the story’s theme, “while winter is here, snow makes the cold world beautiful and so much fun!”

As part of the Ready-To-Read Level 1 Series, Snow tells a simple story through longer sentences. Some of the sentences begin on one page and end on another. However, each page only has 1 to 2 sentences that use simple vocabulary. Each page’s illustration matches the words on the page and helps explain some of the facts, such as “clouds are crystals of ice.”

Snow uses a blend of storytelling and informational reading to teach young readers about the attributes and importance of snow. While the story lacks entertainment value, readers interested in snow will enjoy learning new facts. Readers ready to snuggle up with a snowy book should also read Max & Mo Make a Snowman by Patricia Lakin.

Sexual Content 