The Bear family is visiting Farmer Ben today. Brother and Sister have so many questions about how the farm works, and Farmer Ben has a lot to teach them. They never knew hard work could be so much fun!
This book, one from the "I Can Read" series, is designed with "short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts for children eager to read on their own." Although it is labeled as "1Beginning Reading," it is actually the second level offered in this series, a concept sure to confuse adults attempting to choose appropriate books for new readers. In rhyming text that scans poorly, the Bear family visits the farm of Ben and Mrs. Ben, and observe typical farming activities, such as feeding and caring for the livestock, weeding, fertilizing, and milking "the old-fashioned way." Beginning readers may have some trouble trying to read on their own when they encounter words like "fertilizer," "old-fashioned," "question," and "machine." Typical Berenstain color illustrations accompany the text. At times visual clues may help readers with new vocabulary, but this book is probably too challenging a read for the level it is advertised as being. Relabeled to a more appropriate level, it would make a reasonable addition to early reader collections.