Reviews
Can You Tell a Gecko from a Salamander?
“Varied close-up and annotated photographs accompany a lively text that compares and contrasts geckos, which are reptiles, with salamanders, which are amphibians. Areas covered include birth and growth cycles, physical differences, and defensive techniques of each species. The… View →
Can You Tell an Ostrich from an Emu?
“Varied close-up and annotated photographs point out the many differences between the two largest species of birds on earth, in various categories such as habitat, physiology, and reproductive habits. Although the layout is colorful, it’s a little busy, but nature fans won’t… View →
American Rock: Guitar Heroes, Punks, and Metalheads
“From bluegrass to blue-eyed soul and bubblegum pop to hip-hop, readers discover the exciting evolution of music in America…. This informative set will be useful for reports and of high interest to reluctant readers.” —School Library Journal, Series Made… View →
Put on Your Thinking Cap: And Other Expressions about School
“The pages are well designed, and the texts are lively. Since many of the idioms have mathematical, historical, or scientific connections, this series may be used across curriculums, with plenty of opportunities for writing activities.” —School Library Journal, View →
Upland Bird Hunting: Wild Turkey, Pheasant, Grouse, Quail, and More
“[T]hese profiles of North American game hunting and fishing are valuable for their breadth of coverage.” —School Library Journal, Series Made Simple View →
What Does a Screwdriver Do?
“Using very simple language and only a few sentences per page, these titles introduce common tools. Each book shows the parts of the subject (which are easy to identify in close-up photos) and explains how the item is used and by whom. All the volumes include a list of safety tips… View →
From Tadpole to Frog
“Kids will be intrigued by the full-color, close-up photos showing frog eggs, water-dwelling tadpoles, and the progression to air-breathing frogs. New readers will appreciate the simple sentences describing what to look for in each picture as the transformation unfolds. This is a… View →
Let's Make a Circle Graph
“The instructions are clearly written and the illustrations that support the creation of the graphs are helpful…. Overall, these books provide strong simple instructions and will give teachers solid supplemental material when teaching graphing.” —School… View →
Your Circulatory System
“This series will be useful in any collection needing updated texts about the human body… These titles will appeal to browsers, and the strong back matter makes them useful for reports as well.” —School Library Journal, Series Made Simple View →
The Not-So-Perfect Planet
“Over-the-top silly and brimming with cliffhangers, the fast-paced sibling adventure demonstrates problem-solving, kindness, and teamwork.” —The Horn Book Guide View →
Sparrow, Eagle, Penguin, and Seagull: What Is a Bird?
“The energetic rhyming text and zany cartoon illustrations will captivate students and make it fun to learn about what makes each group distinctive. Goneau’s cartoon creatures nicely complement the facts that Cleary imparts in his rhythmic narrative… Solid additions to… View →
Meltdown!: The Nuclear Disaster in Japan and Our Energy Future
“Bortz clearly explains the science underlying the 2011 disaster at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. After a discussion of earthquakes and tsunamis, the focus shifts to nuclear physics, notorious disasters (including Fukushima), and the debate about the safety of… View →
Volunteering Smarts: How to Find Opportunities, Create a Positive Experience, and More
“Both authors use friendly, conversational styles, resulting in narratives that are straightforward and readable, with key facts and tips highlighted so readers can easily find the main points.” —School Library Journal, Series Made Simple View →
Alien Investigation: Searching for the Truth about UFOs and Aliens
“With a surprisingly even-handed tone, this book uses an interest in aliens to inspire scientific inquiry. It discusses the history of UFO sightings, crashes, and hoaxes, providing thoroughly researched, factual information while remaining non-judgmental… View →
Emma's Easter
“Emma’s story reflects her family’s African American and Russian American heritage (no mention that Russian Orthodox Easter usually falls on a different date than other Christian sects). Rashad and his Muslim family observe Ramada. Sarah prepares for her role in asking the… View →
Friend Me!: 600 Years of Social Networking in America
“From early Native American cultures to present-day scientists hoping to interact with possible extraterrestrial beings, people continue to reach out to others for a variety of purposes. Black-and-white photographs and diagrams combine with sidebars and a well-researched text to… View →
Carter's Christmas
“Fictional children describe family celebrations in these volumes that are suitable for either individual or group reading…. All the cartoon illustrations are nicely done, with bright colors and animated characters… Appealing selections.” —School Library View →
Brandon's Birthday Surprise
“Children from different cultural groups describe their families’ celebrations. Information about the occasions is included in the simplistic stories, but text boxes provide more details than the young narrators do. Bright, cheerful illustrations will draw readers to these… View →
Being a DJ
“Good selections for browsing and for students who might be considering out-of-the-box careers.” —School Library Journal, Series Made Simple View →
¿Sabes algo sobre mamíferos? (Do You Know about Mammals?)
“If your school offers science curriculum instruction in Spanish, this series is a ‘must-have’ addition.” —Library Media Connection View →
El ciclo del agua (Earth's Water Cycle)
“Young children will be attracted to the colorful photographs that enhance the large text.” —Library Media Connection View →
Secret Diary: Book 1
“With fun, full-color illustrations, this graphic novel is able to portray the daily life of Lou in a playful manner while relaying pre-teen heartache and angst.” —Library Media Connection View →