Best Selling Books by Carl Sommer

This friendship story is perfect for young readers who are all too familiar with accidents when they are playing. Warned by the other children not to run in the mud to avoid the sharp rocks, Ed ignores them and wades into the mud puddle. When he kicks the ball, he loses his balance and falls on a rock. Crisp illustrations with bright primary colors fill the pages of this lively early reader and offer a good opportunity for parents to discuss listening to others to stay safe. Companion Reader 17 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

This exciting beginning reader shows Sam and his friends in a rollicking chase to catch a misbehaving cat. The words in the story teach children to recognize beginning and ending sounds, as they learn to recognize words with similar sounds. Brightly illustrated pages illuminate the narrative, encouraging children to use the picture and context clues to follow the story. The misbehaving cat offers opportunities for parents to discuss positive ways to deal with an upset friend. Target Reader 3 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

Take a look at these dazzling photos of wild bears and see a giant panda, a black bear, and an Asiatic bear. This captivating book from Our Amazing World Series, Advanced, introduces the wide and wonderful world of nonfiction to young children through the lives of wild bears in their natural habitats. The carefully constructed narrative is perfect for advanced early readers to gain confidence in their reading skills and boost their understanding of the animal world.

A classic game of cops and robbers keeps a group of friends on the run in this advanced reader. Detailed, colorful pictures illustrate the children playing in their neighborhood. This motivational book tells the story with creative narrative and dialogue that make for a fun reading experience, and it includes a subtle reminder to finish a job before playing.

This enjoyable story engages early readers through beautiful illustrations and one-syllable words encourage a love of reading. Competing to win a game of tag, the cat, the dog, and the rat approach the game with different strategies. The life affirming message to always try your best and don’t give up until the race is over is presented through adorable characters and cheerful illustrations. Target Reader 13 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

The mischievous monkey, Bell, returns with Nell and Ben and visit a circus. This high-spirited story told with dazzling illustrations and playful dialogue introduces new vocabulary words with similar phonic sounds. Advanced early readers will enjoy Bell’s hilarious pranks, and parents can use Bell’s antics as an opportunity to discuss actions and their consequences.

To Millie, the whole world is unfair. Even though Millie has a loving family and a nice home, she’s always miserable. She hates to be told what to do, and when things don’t go her way, she complains. Millie finally has enough! She runs away so that she can do whatever she wants to do. What starts out as a fun adventure turns out to become one disaster after another. Millie ends up on the streets, scared, without money, food, and a place to sleep. Desperate, she steals candy and gets caught by a police officer. When her parents are contacted, they are overjoyed and welcome her back home. Armed with a new appreciation for her former life, Millie becomes the happiest girl in the whole world. Virtues: Respect / Trustworthiness / Fairness

Trapped by deep snow high on a mountain, hungry townspeople wait desperately for one of the three big trains to bring them food. All three big trains refuse to go up the mountain. In spite of the ridicule from the big trains, The Little Red Train and a family of brave helpers decide to go up the snow-covered mountain to help the starving people. This vividly illustrated story demonstrates the value of compassion, hard work and perseverance. The Little Red Train’s triumphant arrival to the top of the mountain elicits the eternal gratitude of the townspeople, and its accomplishment proves to be an inspiration for all. Virtues: Perseverance / Compassion / Civic Virtue Tres grandes trenes se niegan a subir a la montaña en la nieve profunda para llevar comida a las personas que padecen hambre. A pesar del ridículo de los grandes trenes, El Pequeño Tren Rojo y una familia de valientes ayudantes suben la montaña cubierta de nieve para ayudar a las personas que se mueren de hambre.

In Missy''s Big Wish, a little mouse named Missy wishes she could be anything but herself. Thinking her small size and big ears are problems, she dreams of becoming other animals—stronger, bigger, and more impressive. But each transformation brings unexpected troubles. Through this imaginative journey, Missy learns a valuable lesson: everyone has problems, and happiness comes from accepting and appreciating who you are. This heartwarming tale builds character and self-confidence in young readers.

Children join Ben and Nell on their adventures to visit their grandparents, a trip which many children have taken. Bell, their flamboyant and arrogant pet monkey, intrigues young readers when he misbehaves on the plane and with the ponies on the farm. The family’s adventures are built on the phonic sounds of similar words, slightly longer sentences, and hilarious dialogue, creating an enjoyable book for the advanced early reader.

The national educational crisis can be solved by practical yet inexpensive methods, according to Carl Sommer. Shortly after becoming a high school teacher, he found serious limitations with the education his students received. He probed into the reasons why some schools were successful, even among traditionally low-achieving children, while so many others failed to provide students with a proper education. He interviewed parents, students, teachers, assistant principals, and principals. For 10 years he researched to find solutions for the problems facing American education. One basic reason for the massive educational decline, Sommer believes, is that many administrators have embraced progressive policies, such as: not encouraging reasonable educational standards for both students and teachers, lack of concern over students'' deficiency in the basics, and permitting unqualified children to advance automatically from grade to grade.

In this playful family adventure, Rick and Jan’s family drive to their mountain cabin where they enjoy biking and swimming. Crisp, bright illustrations with sparkling blue water, lush green forests, and colorful fish and ducks offer an enchanting look at their outing. A sprinkling of two syllable words and lively dialogue motivate early readers to expand their reading skill. Target Reader 17 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

Missy the mouse has a very big problem—she hates the way she looks! If only she were as big and beautiful as Horace the cat, then all her problems would be gone.One day, while being chased by Horace, the incredible happens. Missy’s wish comes true! She turns into a cat—not just any cat, but the biggest and most beautiful cat in the whole world. But she quickly discovers that cats have problems with dogs. As Missy wishes herself into becoming bigger and stronger creatures, she finally discovers that everyone has problems and learns to accept herself for who she is. Grades K-4.Virtues: Self-Esteem / Trust / Cheerfulness

The world’s oceans are home to amazing animals that wear gorgeous colors, as well as animals that are almost transparent or the color of the sand on the bottom of the ocean. This dazzling book from Our Amazing World takes youngsters on an enchanting underwater trip through exquisite close-up photographs with complementary fun facts. The book will fascinate children as they learn to read.

This engaging book from Our Amazing World Series, Advanced, takes children on an underwater journey through exquisite close-up photographs and illustrations. The world’s oceans are home to amazing animals outfitted in gorgeous colors while others are almost transparent. This book is a marvelous introduction to nonfiction for advanced early readers. Children will boost their reading confidence by recognizing many of the words and learning to combine familiar words into compound ones such as newborn, seaweed, and lionfish.

What fun children have looking at these precious animal babies in their natural habitats around the world. The baby animals featured in this nonfiction book from Our Amazing World Series, Advanced, appear with their mothers keeping a watchful eye on them. The narrative fosters fluency in early readers, promoting independent reading. Each crystal-clear snapshot is accompanied by fun facts, such as the information that a baby kangaroo is as small as a grain of rice when born, to engage children in lively discussions.

Bob and Dot’s family return in this adventure of seeing boats. Bob gets his wish to ride his bike on the clear path, and again gets another wish when he takes an exciting motorboat ride. Detailed, colorful pictures illustrate the children using safety practices such as life jackets and locks for their bikes. Words and sentences that build on previous stories in the motivational phonics literature program create a fun-filled learning experience for the early reader. Target Reader 16 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

This charming family adventure uses bold colors and detail to illustrate a family’s voyage on a ferry with their pet dog, Vick. Using repetitive phonic sounds to enrich a child’s vocabulary, the story promotes good reading skills. The family rides in their van as it drives onto the ferry. Vick is fed dog food, and learns that seagulls like his food also. Vick goes after a seagull. The children worry about Vick chasing the gulls and learn that the birds are too fast for him to harm them. Target Reader 11 is part of Phonics Adventure''s systematic, leveled reading program.

Machines shape the world we live in, and World of Machining delves into the tools and technologies that make it possible. From traditional lathes to CNC systems, laser cutters, and 3D printers, readers will explore how these machines transform materials into precision-engineered products. This book highlights the incredible accuracy of wire EDMs, the versatility of water jets, and the revolutionary potential of 3D printing in medicine. With engaging explanations and real-world connections, it celebrates the creativity and innovation driving modern manufacturing.

Buzzie becomes unhappy with her role as a worker bee and starts a revolt at her hive, until she discovers that working together is the best way to be happy.