Rain Is Wet! (Best Buddies #3)

PreS-Gr 1--Best buddies Sniff and Scratch are on a learning adventure. First, they encounter rain. They don't really know what to make of it, but overcome their hesitation and discover some things about it. Next, they notice a string and decide to investigate. Finally, they hear loud noises and see flashes of light that scare them; they decide to hide until they feel safe. Fang and Leal have done another wonderful job in this third book of the "Best Buddies" series. The use of dialogue bubbles with additional text and bright, colorful illustrations is a combination that emerging readers will be able to use to boost their reading skills and vocabulary. Most importantly, the last chapter where the friends are afraid during a bad storm gives parents, caregivers, and educators an opportunity to talk to young children about what storms are, what causes them, and what to do during them to ensure that they are safe. VERDICT A great addition to any children's collection.--Laura Ellis

Praise for A Pie for Us! (Best Buddies #1):

A School Library Journal's Best Book of 2023

* "It is not easy to find engaging stories at very beginning reading levels, and this one stands out for all the right reasons. Highly recommended." — School Library Journal, starred review

Praise for Happy Paws (Layla and the Bots #1) by Vicky Fang:

"This easy-to-predict story, told in a mix of text and speech balloons, will give new readers confidence while imparting solid STEM lessons of research and implementation, and it's great to see a young girl of color portrayed as a confident inventor (and rock star). A solid introduction for an appealing new chapter-book character." — Kirkus Reviews

"This transitional chapter book is ideal for emergent or early fluency readers. It includes charming illustrations to assist with decoding, and interesting STEM themes... this bright, inventive title would make a nice addition to a library's early chapter book collection." — School Library Journal