Description: "When a new, scary-looking fish arrives at the reef, Finley hides in his cave. He becomes hungry and leaves his cave to find the new fish waiting for him. Will he be eaten as he feared, or will he realize a new buddy was right there all along? Stairway Decodables is a supplemental phonics resource that's [meant] for supporting small group instruction, independent reading, or reading practice at home. This title provides practice in decoding words with the vowel team ee"--
Brief description: Steve Harpster has loved to draw funny cartoons, mean monsters, and goofy gadgets since he was able to pick up a pencil. In first grade, he avoided writing assignments by working on the pictures for stories instead. Steve was able to land a job drawing funny pictures for books, and that's really what he's best at. Steve lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wonderful wife, Karen, and their sheepdog, Doodle.
Review Quotes: The books in this set center on vowel teams, aiming to build foundational phonics skills for young readers. While the content is straightforward and age-appropriate, the titles in this level feel repetitive and lack the variety and uniqueness found in the stronger offerings of the previous level. This repetitiveness may lead to diminished engagement, as the stories do not captivate the imagination the way their predecessors do. The illustrations are suitable for the target age group, maintaining a colorful and accessible style, but they do not compensate for the overall sameness of the narratives. While this level effectively reinforces important phonics concepts, it could benefit from more diverse and engaging content to hold the interest of young readers. VERDICT This set provides a solid foundation for phonics practice but may leave some children wanting more in terms of creativity and excitement.-- "School Library Journall"