Nelly and Sam, two clumsy bears, run to a nearby lake to catch fish. The other bears don't want them around but let them stay when they promise to behave. Soon a huge school of fish swims by, and a frenzy ensues. The bears don't catch any fish (through no fault of Nelly or Sam's) and go home empty-handed yet content. The simple story, illustrated with energetic paintings, is slight but upbeat.

K-Gr 2-Two serviceable easy-readers. Marco's Run features an African-American boy who is jogging through a city park. As he moves faster and faster, he imagines himself to be various swift animals, such as a rabbit, a bobcat, and a cheetah. Splash introduces two clumsy bears that have fun playing in a fish-filled river. Both books have short sentences, simple vocabularies, and colorful illustrations that tie in well with the texts. However, the stories lack verve, and Marco's Run, in particular, may not hold the attention of children.-Anne Knickerbocker, Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.