Colorful Illustrations support decodable text, guiding beginning readers to identify, recognize, and use the short /e/ sound. Featuring high-frequency words, this authentic fictional narrative also gives emerging readers the opportunity to read with purpose and for meaning while reinforcing basic phonemic sounds. Readers will follow a clumsy character named Ben as he makes a mess in his house. This fiction phonics title is paired with the nonfiction phonics title Bess at the Vet: Practicing the Short E Sound.The instructional guide on the inside front and back covers provides: * Word List with carefully selected grade-appropriate words featuring the short /e/ sound found in the text* Teacher Talk that assists instructors in introducing the short /e/ sound* Group Activity that guides students to identify the short /e/ sound, decode the words that contain it, and use the words* Extended Activity that provides students with additional opportunities to think about, list, and use words containing the short /e/ sound* Writing Activity that guides students to write the letter that makes the short /e/ sound