Surprise!Electronic book published by ipicturebooks.com24 W. 25th St. New York, NY 10011 www.ipicturebooks.comAll rights reserved. Copyright 1999 by The Millbrook Press, Inc.Real Kids Readers and the Real Kids Readers logo are trademarks of The Millbrook Press, Inc.No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. For my mom, with love C. S. For Destiny D. H.Special thanks to Lands End, Dodgeville, WI, for providing Moms bedding and Mike and Daves pajamas.e-ISBN 1-58824-494-6 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataSimon, Charnan.Surprise! / Charnan Simon ; photographs by Dorothy Handelman.p. cm. (Real kids readers. Level 2)Summary: When two brothers prepare a birthday surprise for their mother, her real surprise comes when she sees the mess they have made.ISBN 0-7613-2068-7 (lib. bdg.). ISBN 0-7613-2093-8 (pbk.)1. Birthdays Fiction. 2. Mothers and sons Fiction. 3. Brothers Fiction. I. Handelman, Dorothy, ill. II. Title. III. Series. PZ7.S6035Su 1999 Edc21Surprise!By Charnan SimonPhotographs by Dorothy HandelmanDave and Mike got up with the sun. It was a good day. It was a great day. It was Moms birthday! Dave and Mike were glad. There was just one thing wrong. Dad was out of town.4Mom said, “I can wait for my party.” But Dave and Mike could not wait. They wanted to make a surprise for her. “Go back to bed, Mom,” said Dave. “Yes,” said Mike. “You look tired. You should read and rest for a while.”Mom went back to bed. Dave and Mike went to work. “Mom needs presents,” said Mike. “But we dont have any,” said Dave. “Then we will make some,” said Mike. So they did.“What about birthday cards?” asked Dave. “We will make those too,” said Mike.10The boys got out paper and paint. They got out tape and glue. They made the best cards ever.“Now what?” asked Dave. “How about a rose?” said Mike. “Mom loves roses.” Dave went to get a vase. Mike went to pick a rose. Ouch! He picked a thorn too!1213Dave found a vase. He filled it with water. He filled it too full. Oh, no! Dave had a little spill.14“Lets make Mom a cake,” said Mike. “But we dont know how,” said Dave. “Thats okay.” said Mike. “We will make a new kind of cake.”“Our cake looks good,” said Dave. “But it needs ice cream.” “Right,” said Mike. “Ill get it.” “Lets use two kinds,” said Dave. “Good idea.” said Mike. “Lets make sure its fresh,” said Dave. “Good idea,” said Mike.“Now we need snacks,” said Mike. “Lots and lots of snacks,” said Dave.The boys got out a tray. They got out a plate and a glass. They made lots and lots of snacks.“Boys? Boys?” It was Mom calling. “May I get out of bed now? I am all rested.” “NO!” the boys yelled back. “You are still too tired.” said Mike. “We will come see you soon,” added Dave.23“Quick!” said Mike. “We have to hurry.”The boys got out ribbon. They got out paper. They worked fast!At last the surprise was ready. The boys sang all the way to Moms room. “Happy birthday, to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Mom. Happy birthday to you.”26Mom was so surprised! She loved her cards and presents. She loved her rose. She had never seen such good food. “Please help me eat it,” she said. Mike and Dave were happy. They had given Mom a big surprise for her birthday.A little later, she got another big surprise.Phonic Guidelines Use the following guidelines to help your child read the words in Surprise!Short Vowels When two consonants surround a vowel, the sound of the vowel is usually short. This means you pronounce a as in apple, e as in egg, i as in igloo, o as in octopus, and u as in umbrella. Short-vowel words in this story include: big, but, can, dad, did, get, got, had, lots, Mom, not, sun, yes.Short-Vowel words with Consonant Blends When two or more different consonants are side by side, they usually blend to make a combined sound. In this story, short-vowel words with consonant blends include: best, fast, glad, glass, help, just, last, sang, spill, still, went.Double Consonants When two identical consonants appear side by side, one of them is silent. In the story, double consonants appear in the short-vowel words full, will, yelled and in the all-family word all.R-Controlled Vowels When a vowel is followed by the letter r, its sound is changed by the r. In this story, words with r-controlled vowels include: cards, for, her, thorn.Long Vowel and Silent E If a word has a vowel and ends with an e, usually the vowel is long and the e is silent. Long vowels are pronounced the same way as their alphabet names. In this story, words with a long vowel and silent e include: cake, Dave, made, make, Mike, plate, rose, tape, vase.Double Vowels When two vowels are side by side, usually the first vowel is long and the second vowel is silent. Double-vowel words in this story include: cream