Brownie & Pearl Grab a Bite
(Ready to Read: Pre-Level One)

PreS-Gr 1--Brownie and her cat, Pearl, are ready for lunch. They peer into the refrigerator, and Brownie selects some "stringy cheese." On the following page, Pearl is busy eating and playing with it. Next they find apples in a bowl on the counter, and Pearl rolls one on the floor. From the pantry Brownie chooses saltines and bites them into shapes: "P is for Pearl!" She pours milk into a glass for herself and into a dish for her pet. The book concludes, "Eat, eat. Drink, drink. Lick, lick. Yum." Biggs's vibrant illustrations fill out the spare text with details: Brownie's dress has an apple, pear, and orange pattern; the blue wallpaper has a citrus-slice pattern; and so on. While there is not much of a story, preschoolers will enjoy the friendship and older children may memorize the short, simple text to build pre-reading skills. A solid addition to the series.--Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI