Easy Reader Series Series: Brownie & Pearl

It’s time for another Easy Reader Series Series, this time the Brownie and Pearl books by Cynthia Rylant, with pictures by Brian Biggs. They are pre-Level 1 easy readers and six by my count, and I believe the first one, and the characters, are adapted from a picture book. Let’s dive in–in order of listing on the publisher’s website, which may or may not be publication order. Not that it matters, usually, with these series.

Brownie & Pearl See The Sights

This is a sweet, pre-level one easy reader that follows a girl (Brownie) and her cat (Pearl) as they go out into the city on a snowy day. They go to a few shops, which prompts the reader to guess what’s next without any clues, and then decide to retire home because “sights are good, but home is better.” The use of “see the sights” feels like an idiom for a slightly older crowd, but the illustrations are cute–especially the full page snowy scenes.

Brownie & Pearl Hit the Hay

This is all about getting ready for bed–a perfect follow up to the first book–and while it’s cute to see her read a book about cats to her cat, I did notice even more so the amount of non-complete sentences that use a period like “Happy little bed balls.” It’s not a big thing, just kind of annoying? Also, is the use of idioms the whole point of this series? Hit the Hay, See the Sights….I think they might be, haha.

Brownie & Pearl Get Dolled Up

Okay, the idioms are definitely purposeful. It’s time to “dolled up.” Brownie and Pearl play dress up, doing makeup (for Brownie) and perfume and glitter, and then some torso-less, feet only adults tell them how great they look. Cute, easy, simple enough.

Brownie & Pearl Step Out

Brownie and Pearl are headed to a party in this edition of their story–but when they get there, Brownie is too nervous to knock. Luckily, cat’s don’t have nerves, and Pearl lets herself in, and she and Brownie have a great time at the birthday part. This one doesn’t have any conversational element at all—the others usually have a “Cake? Yes!” component.

Brownie & Pearl Grab a Bite

Time for lunch–Brownie and Pearl make lunch, which includes string cheese, an apple, saltines, and milk. A really random lunch, but ideal for a kid and a cat with no parental guidance, haha.

Brownie & Pearl Go for a Spin

This is a cute one—they take a drive in a little motorized car that Brownie has, and deliver mail to their neighbors. They end with Pearl not wanting to leave the car, and Brownie luring her out with a treat—and then it says, “Pearl loves takeout” as they eat outside which is a fun treat for the parent readers.

If you’ve got a cat loving, indpendent kid at home, they’ll enjoy these books! They’re simple pre-Level 1 readers, not too thick or complicated, and relatable to everyday life.