Reviews
Using an early reader format, these entries in the My First Pet series introduce young children to basic care of common pets. Extreme cuteness with large color photos of animals and their diverse kid owners in action (highlighted by vibrant frames and occasional labels) drives the… View →
How Do Water and Wind Change Rock?
The wide-format books in the Rock-ology series discuss facts related to geology. A typical double-page spread introduces a new topic in several short, large-print sentences supplemented by an info-circle carrying more information in smaller type. Separated on the page into individual… View →
These books incorporate brightly-colored page layouts, numerous photographs, separated text boxes, and photo labels to help engage and encourage young readers. Each book shows various ways the title machine works in a community. Each spread has very sparse text. Vocabulary is repetitive… View →
Spooky Math
Though the monsters, ghosts, and witches pictured in these counting lessons are on the corny side, the simple rhyming text describing their numerical concerns are likely to amuse beginning readers. A vampire and a witch named Belinda appear as friendly humans in costume, while Elsie the… View →
Series Made Simple
These bright, slight, upbeat introductions to pet ownership are designed for early readers. Basic information is shared through a collection of vignettes. The text, never more than four brief sentences per spread, always gives a name to the pet in the photo and the child, who may not… View →
Seeing Patterns All Around
There’s beauty, humor, and elements of surprise in the fine photographs featured here. Simultaneously simple and complex, these small, thoughtfully constructed books supply an introduction to the concept of patterns to six different environments. Each spread pairs a brief… View →
Series Made Simple
Aimed at emerging readers, these simple introductions to vehicular uses and working parts each begin with useful suggestions for parents and teachers guiding students. Brief sentences (“The robber goes in the back seat. The doors have no handles. The robber can’t get out.”) and… View →
This small set of community workers touches upon the nuances of each job. Each title follows a scenario where a child wants to be that worker and needs to know what that person does. Text is clear and simple. Photographs are bright and up-to-date and show current technologies. The… View →
This small set of community workers touches upon the nuances of each job. Each title follows a scenario where a child wants to be that worker and needs to know what that person does. Text is clear and simple. Photographs are bright and up-to-date and show current technologies. The… View →
Stranded
Would-be explorers and adventurers will relish these survival stories set in some of the world’s most dangerous and isolated environments. Books open with the first of three- or- four dramatic, real-life stories, followed by a well-written general introduction to the… View →
This small set of community workers touches upon the nuances of each job. Each title follows a scenario where a child wants to be that worker and needs to know what that person does. Text is clear and simple. Photographs are bright and up-to-date and show current technologies. The… View →
Stranded
Would-be explorers and adventurers will relish these survival stories set in some of the world’s most dangerous and isolated environments. Books open with the first of three- or- four dramatic, real-life stories, followed by a well-written general introduction to the… View →