Fran and her brother Dan spend the day playing pretend and helping with chores. Dan claims he can do anything. He attempts to throw a Frisbee farther than anyone; he becomes a fireman; and he digs to Japan. Later, the pair helps Aunt Jan bake cookies and wash the van with their father, Stan. This “Word Families” series level one reader focuses on —an words, using word repetition, high frequency words, and word families to encourage beginning readers. This title is simply plotted and presents text in bite-sized chunks, fewer than fifteen words per page on a total of sixteen pages. The colorful, vibrant illustrations closely mirror the text to give young readers many comprehension clues. The author includes a page which lists all the —an words used in the book and encourages readers to spell additional words in this family. Readers will enjoy the playful artwork, the silliness of the characters’ actions and expressions, and the simplicity of the text. Teachers and librarians will appreciate the thick, water-resistant pages and bindings that will extend the life of the book. Reviewer: Marilyn R. Garcia; Ages 5 to 9.
