Reviews
Educator Review of All About Arachnids
In this series, the reader learns about specific arachnids around the world. The books begin with a Table of Contents giving the readers an idea of what the author will be teaching the reader within the book. View →
Booklist Review of Extreme Sports
These offerings from the Extreme Sports series blend exciting athletic feats with the physics behind them. Although the books are written in brief paragraphs and short sentences appropriate for beginning readers, the simple text acts as a vehicle (often involving literal vehicles!) to… View →
Booklist Review of History of Sports
An attractive series for primary-grade kids as well as somewhat older readers who appreciate short words, helpful illustrations, and sports. View →
SLJ Review of Animales que rompen récords (Record-Breaking Animals
This series will captivate young readers with a thrilling exploration of the animal kingdom’s most extraordinary creatures. This engaging series introduces emerging readers to some remarkable animals—those that are the largest, smallest, fastest, slowest, smartest, and strongest. Each… View →
SLJ Review of Trade Careers
This series highlights specialized skilled trades such as welding, plumbing, carpentry, electrical work, mechanics, and masonry, making these careers accessible to early elementary readers. With shorter chapters designed to build confidence, the series provides in-depth information while View →
SLJ Review of The Right to Vote
This series covers the struggle to achieve voting rights for various groups. Illustrations include archival photos as well as current scenes at polling places. Text is generally a few sentences per page or paragraphs facing a full-page image. Critical thinking questions and additional… View →
SLJ Review of Do You Believe?
Though brief, the titles in this series contain enough information to whet the appetites and curiosity of readers. Each volume starts with helpful suggestions for adults on how to support reading navigating the text and ask questions as they read. Sentences are short but read smoothly,… View →
SLJ Review of The World Around Us
What a wonderful world! In Our Homes, the phrase “This is a home” is consistently repeated, showing that regardless of the style, be it mobile home, apartment, townhouse, or houseboat, if people live there, they are homes. Our Neighborhoods introduces phrases with question marks, asking… View →
Booklist Review of Communities
Communities form when people have something in common, whether that’s simply where they live or a shared culture, religion, or set of values. In this book from the Building Relationships series (6 titles), readers will get a good sense of communities large and small through relatable… View →
Booklist Review of American Indiands' Right to Vote
With the upcoming presidential election, kids may have questions about the election process in the U.S. This book in The Right to Vote series (4 titles) aptly highlights the inequality in voting rights for Native Americans, highlighting how their vote was historically oppressed and how… View →
SLJ Review of The Power of Positivity
Well-organized texts supported by photographs of children provide solid introductions to aspects of positivity. Opening chapters offer a few examples of the featured behavior. Middle chapters then tie the emotional benefits of the practices to science. General statements about how… View →
SLJ Review of Famous Shipwrecks
After an opening spread that includes a simple map and information about the ocean, each book briefly describes four or five historical shipwrecks in chronological order. Readers learn why each ship was traveling, why it sunk, and in most cases, the number of survivors and fatalities.… View →
SLJ Review of Women in STEM
These profiles of female scientists include basic biographical information and identify key achievements. Opening chapters touch on their early lives, and the following chapters shift to focus on their accomplishments. Complex concepts, like Chien-Shiung Wu’s work on the atomic bomb and… View →
SLJ Review of Beyond the Players
This set introduces sports-related jobs that young fans may not know much about. There’s not a lot of information, but the books provide basic examples of these occupations with strong visual support. Large, appealing photographs show different aspects of each job, drawing on several… View →
SLJ Review of Forest Feelings
Short, illustrated stories introduce animal characters struggling with emotions in these leveled readers. They work through their problems, though the conclusions usually lack clear, practical guidance. Sally the Skunk is scared of an approaching thunderstorm. Her friend explains that… View →
SLJ Review of Find it in Nature!
Well-chosen photos and simple descriptions introduce nature identification at its most basic level. Spreads offer one or two facts that identify key features of the organism. In Trees, a large photo of the tree is paired with a close-up view of its leaves, needles, or bark, while the… View →
Booklist Review of Women in STEM
These intriguing titles in the Women in STEM series off an inside look into the lives of determined and intelligent women in STEM. The compelling photos, infographics, and fact boxes contribute further insight into and additional… View →
Booklist Review of Earth Basics
The Earth’s Basics series, indeed, offers very basic introductions to important substances on Earth. To be readable for beginning readers, the books use very short sentences set in a large font, present-tense naration, and only a small amount of text on each… Although th View →
PSLA Review of My Senses
This reviewer had the opportunity to read Hear. Bright photographs accompany sparse text in this nonfiction series. Simple sentences like “I hear a dog bark.” introduce readers to the ways we hear sounds around us. Teachers can use this series for a science lesson on the five senses.… View →
PSLA Review of Brainpower
he Brainpower series discusses what happens to the brain when an individual experiences strong emotions, such as anger, happiness, sadness, and fear (being scared). The reviewer read the book Your Brain When You’re Sad. Your Brain When You’re Sad discusses what happens in your brain when View →
Booklist Review of All About Insects
The All about Insects series introduces common backyard critters, utilizing vibrant, closeup photos (often labeled) and clear text. The books provide general overviews that include basic information on the insects’ bodies and life cycles, while concrete details about each kind of… View →
SLJ Review of SEL Careers
This series profiles the work lives of people in helping professions, such as therapists, school counselors, social workers, occupational therapists, and yoga teachers. Readers are empowered to explore diverse vocational avenues within the realm of mental well-being and social-emotional View →
SLJ Review of My First Animal Books
Aimed at pre-readers and the youngest learners, these titles offer a small handful of basic facts along with highly engaging photographs. Most images fill two pages, usually accompanied by a single sentence of four words or less. Three photos fill each spread and perfectly highlight the… View →
SLJ Review of Earth Basics
These introductory earth science concepts foster in readers an understanding of the world around them and how they fit in it. Beginning with dialogic assistance and post-reading options, these titles provide a nice option to not only learn about important building blocks of our planet,… View →