I Am Mad! (Real Kids Readers. Level 1)

A young girl is upset when her sister purposely messes up her dress

PreS-Gr 1-These three stories intended for very beginning readers subtly reinforce concepts of friendship, sportsmanship, and emotional expression. I Am Mad! features a bullying older sister, and is the weakest of the lot, due perhaps to the difficulty of telling a complex story with such limited vocabulary. It is the one title to have an adult character, and the photographs of the mother are less effective than those of the children. Best Friends, the most successful title, includes two girls who describe their differences and similarities, concluding with a statement of strong friendship. I Like to Win! features an African-American boy and girl, possibly siblings, who resolve their arguments over winning and losing at board games. The small amount of print per page, the crisp color photos, and the informative notes to parents about phonics and early-reading skills all contribute to the appeal of these books.-Pat Leach, Lincoln City Libraries, NE

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