Editorial Review

These titles will introduce emergent readers to real-world problems. Spectacular photo close-ups with simple captions and labels will be accessible to children. A positive tone runs through the books (through headings such as “Everyone Can Help!”), and the final two chapters of each book discuss what kids can do to reduce these problems. The strengths of this series are the hands-on “Science Lab” activity with illustrated steps (for example, readers will learn how to “Be an Energy Saver” through ideas such as “Switched off a light” or “Walked to school instead of riding in a car”) and the incorporation of several question prompts to spur deeper thinking (answers are given on separate sections). These series present powerful and inviting illustrations of the natural world; not only are they an excellent way to meet the Common Core State Standards, they will engage even the most reluctant readers. A first purchase is “Your Five Senses and Your Sixth Sense”; this well-written text, with its carefully chosen images invite children to explore the natural world through all of their senses, including the sixth sense of intuition. “Science of Life” provides activities, such as adapting texts for specific audiences and using evidence from text, while “Green World, Clean World” presents useful questions designed to provoke critical thinking. Those looking for hands-on science activities would do well to consider both “Green World, Clean World” and “Plant Parts.” Though overall, there’s a bevy of great books listed here, if budgets are limited, consider buying individual volumes depending on research or report needs.