ALA Booklist (Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2004)

Reviewed with Paula Sullivan's Todd's Box .PreS-Gr. 1. Very early readers, like these Level 1 books from the Green Light Readers series, have the challenge of turning a few words into a story that will pique children's interest. Both these offerings accomplish just that; the texts may be brief, but they will propel kids into reading. In Rick, Bunny Jack comes to play with Rick the bear, but Rick is in bed. Jack helps with a cup of tea and a bag of ice, and when it's time for a nap, they take one together. In Box, Todd and his mother are taking a walk. Mom tells Todd to stop picking up things, but he doesn't listen. At the end of the story, he gives her a box of the treasures that he collected. The pictures add to the books' appeal, and there are several other useful features, including activities such as making a friendship medal. Although the questions that follow the stories take some of the fun away, these are still bright choices for beginners.

Horn Book (Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2004)

After rabbit Jack helps his sick friend Rick, Jack decides that a nap is in order--and climbs into the bed with Rick. This story about friendship contains barely fifty words, but they add up to more, and McPhail's gentle images of his anthropomorphized-but-still-dignified protagonists are winning. The book ends with an activity and "Think about It" questions.

Kirkus Reviews

Rick the bear and his pal, Jack the rabbit, star in their second emergent reader, featuring just one or two short and simple sentences per page. Rick is sick in bed and Jack tries to help by bringing hot tea and an ice pack, by sitting on Rick's tummy, and finally by curling up next to Rick for a nap. McPhail's appealing animal characters are full of expression as always, with the pair of devoted friends featured in circular watercolor-and-ink illustrations alternating with pages of text. The actual story is just 16 pages long, with the remaining pages devoted to a follow-up activity (creating a friendship award), a page of discussion questions, author biography, and two pages of information about the Green Light Readers series, including a list of titles. This format seems intended for classroom use and includes guided reading and Reading Recovery levels for teachers. (Easy reader. 5-7)

School Library Journal

K-Gr 1-Two appealing easy-readers. In the first book, Jack (a rabbit) tries to help his sick friend Rick (a bear) feel better. Then, after all his efforts, Jack finds that he needs a nap and crawls into bed with his friend. Ink-and-watercolor drawings are expressive and full of sight clues. With friendship as its overall theme, this is a winning title for character-development units. In the second book, a boy keeps getting distracted by the things he sees on a walk through the park. Todd's mother is clearly in a hurry and scolds each time he runs off to pick up something else. Once they are on their bus, he hands her a box full of treasure that he has gathered for her and she is delighted. Cartoonlike, bright black ink and pastel paintings accompany the easy text. Both books include enrichment activities that readers can replicate with minimal help.-Christine E. Carr, Lester C. Noecker Elementary School, Roseland, NJ Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.