You and Me. (Northern Learning-to-Read Series, Level One). Claire Thérèse. Illustrated by Jackie Traverse. Winnipeg, MB: Loon Books, 2010. 8 pp., stapled, $55.00 for the set of 10 books. ISBN 978-1-896201-83-2. Grade 1 / Age 6. Review by Carrie Subtelny. *** /4
	The Game. (Northern Learning-to-Read Series, Level One). Claire Thérèse. Illustrated by Jackie Traverse. Winnipeg, MB: Loon Books, 2010. 8 pp., stapled, $55.00 for the set of 10 books. ISBN 978-1-896201-84-9. Grade 1 / Age 6. Review by Carrie Subtelny. *** /4
	One Blue Bird. (Northern Learning-to-Read Series, Level One). Claire Thérèse. Illustrated by Caitlin Hutchison. Winnipeg, MB: Loon Books, 2010. 8 pp., stapled, $55.00 for the set of 10 books. ISBN 978-1-896201-85-6. Grade 1 / Age 6. Review by Carrie Subtelny. *** /4
	My Belly. (Northern Learning-to-Read Series, Level One). Claire Thérèse. Illustrated by Luke Reddoch. Winnipeg, MB: Loon Books, 2010. 8 pp., stapled, $55.00 for the set of 10 books. ISBN 978-1-896201-90-0. Grade 1 / Age 6. Review by Carrie Subtelny. *** /4
	Look! (Northern Learning-to-Read Series, Level One). Claire Thérèse. Illustrated by Ellen Friesen. Winnipeg, MB: Loon Books, 2010. 8 pp., stapled, $55.00 for the set of 10 books. ISBN 978-1-896201-98-7. Grade 1 / Age 6. Review by Carrie Subtelny. *** /4
	Recess. (Northern Learning-to-Read Series, Level Two). Claire Thérèse. Illustrated by Bronwyn Dodchuk-Land. Winnipeg, MB: Loon Books, 2010. 8 pp., stapled, $55.00 for the set of 10 books. ISBN 978-1-896201-89-4. Grade 1 / Age 6. Review by Carrie Subtelny. *** /4
	School Time. (Northern Learning-to-Read Series, Level Two). Claire Thérèse. Illustrated by Suzy Laevens. Winnipeg, MB: Loon Books, 2010. 8 pp., stapled, $55.00 for the set of 10 books. ISBN 978-1-896201-93-4. Grade 1 / Age 6. Review by Carrie Subtelny. *** /4
	Hide and Seek. (Northern Learning-to-Read Series, Level Two). Claire Thérèse. Illustrated by Jackie Traverse. Winnipeg, MB: Loon Books, 2010. 8 pp., stapled, $55.00 for the set of 10 books. ISBN 978-1-896201-86-3. Grade 1 / Age 6. Review by Carrie Subtelny. *** /4
	I Feel. (Northern Learning-to-Read Series, Level Two). Claire Thérèse. Illustrated by Shlee Delaronde. Winnipeg, MB: Loon Books, 2010. 8 pp., stapled, $55.00 for the set of 10 books. ISBN 978-1-896201-87-0. Grade 1 / Age 6. Review by Carrie Subtelny. *** /4
	My Family. (Northern Learning-to-Read Series, Level Two). Claire Thérèse. Illustrated by John Steppler. Winnipeg, MB: Loon Books, 2010. 8 pp., stapled, $55.00 for the set of 10 books. ISBN 978-1-896201-91-7. Grade 1 / Age 6. Review by Carrie Subtelny. *** /4

Overall, the “Northern Learning-to-Read Series” is a great start for beginning readers who are learning the concept of word, directionality and other basic concepts of print. Each book has good picture-word match to support readers in using meaning to solve words and to read fluently.

     The Level Two books in the series are more text heavy which prompts learners to use different reading behaviours like “return sweep” and locating more known high frequency words.

Level One books:

     You and Me and The Game both have great pictures and good font size. As well, both books capture the concept of word and promote the use of high frequency words. Most topics are engaging, a feature which supports readers in making connections as they read. The illustrations are also quite varied and creative.

     One Blue Bird is a counting book (to 6). Each page has an animal or insect to count. The animals/insects chosen by the author seem rather random – bears to cats to ants to snakes – and each illustration seems to come from a different artist.

     My Belly has a similar ‘randomness’ to it as this book is about a variety of animals and people who fill their bellies. Walruses that eat treats; a goat? Ram? (not quite sure) that eats berries; a gentleman who eats bannock. Tacos are also consumed in this book, as well. The illustrations are wonderfully unique and vivid, capturing cultural artistry and texture. In addition to supporting students with fluency and sight word practice, My Belly will also generate great talk (promoting oral language use).

     Look! is also visually creative where characters are uniquely and culturally expressed. The text is also repetitive and appropriate in terms of practicing early reading behaviours.

Level Two books:

     Recess contains a repetitive, consistent pattern with the suffix /ing/: “Playing in the sand. Jumping with the rope…” The text pattern also changes on the last page to provide a slight challenge for readers at this early stage of literacy development – “I love recess!”

     Although considered the same level as Recess, the sentence structure on each page of School Time is more difficult and less predictable. Consequently, the reader has to pay greater attention to the text as well as punctuation. For example, “It’s time to go to school. I brush my teeth and brush my hair….My bag is packed, my shoes are tied. I hear the bell! Hurry! It’s school time!” These features are more closely aligned with the descriptors from Reading Recovery (level 6-8).

     Hide and Seek invites readers to enjoy a favourite game with a family that is playing together in a wilderness setting. The game is played outdoors as well as inside a cabin. The illustrations are terrific – coloured pencil and maybe some water colours. They capture the delight of the game. Text features are appropriate for this level.

     I Feel contains similar features – repetitive text and some new sight words. However, the pictures of the main character seem a bit remorseful for a young child. This character appears quite contemplative throughout which might invite varied reactions from the reader.

     My Family describes each person in a young girl’s family – her uncle and aunt, cousin and grandmother. The text is simple with /is/ repeated on each page. The illustrations are joy-filled and invite the reader to want to meet everyone who is introduced.

     Although there is only one word on each page of The Game (Slide. Skate. Stop. Shoot! Save), the ones chosen clearly outline an awesome game of outdoor hockey. The pictures are colourful and crisp, just like the winter-kissed cheeks on each of the children's faces that are eagerly watching from the rink's edge. As a text for beginning readers, The Game will have worn pages from the many hands eager to read it over and over again.

     Finally, it is important to note that careful text selection is encouraged at this stage of reading development as the match between “book and learner” can either accelerate or stall a student’s progress. Text selection needs to always consider the strengths and needs of the reader. Text selection is critical when supporting beginning readers in their growing success.

Recommended.