Splash! Level 2 (Green Light Readers. All Levels)

Tumble headlong into the clumsy world of Sam and Nelly. Trouble may follow these two, but they sure know how to have fun.

Children's Literature

In this Green Light Reader published in collaboration with Harcourt School Publishers, two playful bears named Nelly and Sam wake up from a nap. They run out of their cave and down to the river to join other bears catching fish. The other bears are not happy to see Nelly and Sam. What kind of mess will they make this time? This time, clumsy Nelly slips on a wet rock. Sam follows behind and a brief period of chaos ensues. After a little growling, the other bears forgive Nelly and Sam. They spend the day all together, chasing fish that enjoy racing away. The bears have so much fun; they forget they are hungry and go home to their caves for a nice long nap. The illustrations of cuddly, cute bears are cheerful and colorful. The word choice and sentence length are appropriate for grades one and two. If only the story line were more logical. Why would bears have more fun chasing fish than eating them? Why would the bears be happy to go home hungry? Is this really an improvement over old-fashioned Dick and Jane? 2001, Harcourt, $10.95 and $3.99. Ages 6 to 8. Reviewer: Jackie Hechtkopf