Reviews
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 →
Science Behind the Colors - Reviewed by Booklist (Booklist Top Ten)
Ever wonder how animals came to possess their particular pigments? The answers to these colorful mysteries are revealed in these early readers, which take a unique approach to animals science. View →
SLJ Review of Mission: Special Ops
This series features graphic fiction/nonfiction hybrids. Fictionalized dialogue bubbles mix with fact boxes to give an action-packed feel. Green Berets take on a rescue mission during the Iraq War, while pararescue jumpers work around the clock to save Hurricane Katrina victims. Army… View →
Los grandes felinos (Big Cats) - Reviewed by School Library Journal
How do different types of big cats survive in the wild? Readers will learn the answer to that question, and much more, thanks to this Spanish series about six species of big cats. The organized layout and simple format of these books make them perfect for beginning readers who are… 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 →
Big Cats - Reviewed by School Library Journals
Appealing photographs and basic facts introduce well-known wild cats. Short and simple sentences make the text accessible to new readers: “Jaguars are big cats. Their fur is tan. They have dark spots” (Jaguars). Question-and-answer sequences and interjections such as “Neat!” and “Wow!”… View →
Whole Wide World - Reviewed by School Library Journal
This series remains well organized and colorful as it highlights landmarks around the world. Each has about three chapters of six pages long with full-page pictures that accompany short paragraphs throughout. The beginning of each title includes before, during, and after reading… 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 →
Creating Art in Nature - Reviewed by Booklist
This Nature Heals series entry (8 titles) for early fluent readers focuses on the benefits of getting creative inspiration from nature to aid social-emotional learning (SEL). The book begins by defining SEL for parents, then asks them… View →
Booklist Starred Review of Drive Thru
Some foods are so ubiquitous that we may never wonder how they make their way onto our tables. For curious children, however, the delightful volumes in the Drive Thru series introduce common staples and provide an overview of their production. In each book, a boy or girl starts the… View →
Booklist Review of Zendaya
The Bearcub Bios series is geared toward early readers and those reading biographies or other nonfiction for the first time. In this colorful volume, readers will find a concise introduction to actress, singer, and dancer Zendaya. Using well-chosen photos and simple text, two or three… View →
All Around the World - Reviewed by School Library Journal
This eye-catching, well-organized series will spark interest in other countries. The three chapters are brief and feature vivid pictures. Young readers will not be intimidated by the short paragraphs offered throughout. Labeled pictures, boldface vocabulary words, and infographic facts… View →