Reviews
Arlington ISD Review of Stars
From the series “Off to Space!”, this easy nonfiction text packs quite a bit of information in each double-page spread. Succinctly pairing information with brilliant photographs that young readers are sure to linger over, the author succeeds in building an interest in her topic. View →
Arlington ISD Review of Where Do We Get Water?
This book is part of the series titled, What’s Up With Water? Young readers can learn the process of how water goes from rain to drinking water. Colorful photographs throughout the book give great illustration to the process. This would be a great tool to teach text features as it… View →
Arlington ISD Review of Wombat
Part of the Library of Awesome Animals series, “Wombat” by Colleen Sexton introduces readers to this Australian marsupial with big-font text, gorgeous photos, and fun facts. Did you know that wombats are the only animals whose poop are cube-shaped? Glossary, index, additional View →
Arlington ISD Review of Panda-Monium: Panda Rescue
The graphic novel format may especially interest some readers in this series. Each book in the series focuses on a story of animals that were rescued from some disaster. This one is centered in Chengdu, China, and the nearby Wolong National Nature Reserve. The earthquake that hit there… View →
Booklist Starred Review of Rescued! Animal Escapes
Combining high-interest topics–natural disasters, animals, survival, rescue–in an equally high-interest graphic-novel format, the Rescued! Animals Escapes series is a guaranteed hit. Each volume briefly explains the science behind a type of natural disaster before identifying a recent,… View →
The Sky's the Limit - Reviewed by Booklist
Titles in the Sky’s the Limit series provide tips and information on how young readers can manage their lives, accomplish their goals, and create and maintain positive habits. Making Good Decisions discusses easy versus difficult decisions and presents five steps to help readers with the View →
SLJ Review of Be a Waste Warrior!
Adding on three additional Rs to the ubiquitous green phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle,” the new six Rs (refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, recycle, rot) express the impact everyday actions can have on the environment. The discussions one would expect are addressed such as… View →
Nature Heals - Reviewed by School Library Journal
Now that we are all plugged in and cooped up, a series on healing and unplugging by connecting through nature is just what many need. The series is heavy in calming scenes, and the images share much of the information and, as such, express a sense of inclusion through the depiction of… View →
Great Wall of China - Reviewed by Booklist
The discussion opens with a history of China’s Great Wall, which began more than 2,500 years ago as segments built by warring kingdoms. After the first emperor gained control of all of China in 221 BCE, many of the old walls were connected to provide a… View →
SLJ Review of Playful Pet Projects
The page of safety and cleanup instructions that prefaces each of these titles admonishes, “Never force your [pet] to do something it seems unhappy to do”–good advice for avoiding bites but also a reminder that consent applies to all creatures. Four projects include a toy,… View →
Fun First Concepts - Reviewed by School Library Journal
Directions, opposites, patterns, and word families are explored in the latest installations of the “Fun First Concepts” series. Each title presents several real-world examples of the concept, which allows readers to explore these ideas in a setting they already understand (“The sand is… View →
SLJ Review of Bearport Biographies
These six volumes provide an eclectic mix of notable personages. Each book begins with a description of a significant moment in the subject’s life: Michael Jordan winning the 1991 NBA championship, Jimmy Carter’s acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize,… View →