Reviews
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 →