Reviews
Series Made Simple
With a focus on everyday foods, these books shed light on what students from around the world eat at home and school. Adorable children are shown helping family members prepare meals that are closely associated with their country and culture. Spreads consist of large color photos of kids View →
Series Made Simple
Using a controlled vocabulary in an appealing format, these books begin by defining the holidays and explaining their history and significance. They give examples of how they are celebrated and commemorated, such as private and public religious observations, public ceremonies, family… View →
These new books in the Machines at Work series are perfect for young children interested in trucks, construction equipment, and slightly more exotic vehicles. They feature bright, colorful photos and child-friendly text. Even the books themselves are a perfect size for young children‚Äôs View →
Series Made Simple
Running swiftly through preparations and game play, simple text and ample photographs introduce students to some less publicized athletics. The info provided is enough to pique the interest of young sports enthusiasts, but does not offer detailed rules of the games discussed. Kids who… View →
Series Made Simple
These attractive explorations of basic weather topics use simple text and large photos to foster reading success. Labels help clarify concepts, such as how air movement produces wind. Rain and Wind note the benefits of each, while Snow highlights different types of snowy weather. More… View →
Series Made Simple
These volumes take readers on visits to iconic U.S. monuments. The text is a mix of declaratory sentences and thought-provoking questions, which are conveniently answered on the pages where they are asked. The colorful photos reveal interesting aspects of the buildings or monuments and… View →
Series Made Simple
Brief but filled with insightful details, this set introduces readers to the vehicles that travel through space, collecting data and sending it back to scientists on Earth for analysis. Stunning photos give the audience a comet’s-eye view of not only the various space machines but also… View →
Each book reviewed contains vivid, color photographs of each title animal, its habitat, and related animals. Every close-up photograph provides great detail, such as the multiple colors that make up a crab’s claws. Topics covered include parts of the body, mating and/or how babies are… 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 →
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 →
With only several sentences on every page, this entry in the Senses in My World series introduces the sense of smell to young children. How does our sense of smell work? “Tiny bits of scent float in the air. The nose breathes in the air. The brain understands the bits as… 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 (‚ÄúThe robber goes in the back seat. The doors have no handles. The robber can‚Äôt get out.‚Äù) and… View →
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 →
Series Made Simple
Readers will be eager to spot colors after finishing these volumes. Parents and teachers are encouraged to introduce terms by using the covers and the picture glossaries, important nonfiction elements that are well designed in this set. The clean layout contains clearly identified photos View →
Series Made Simple
These primers on animal classification focus on essential characteristics of six popular groups. Most pages provide one key trait, such as ‚Äúall birds have beaks.‚Äù One or two high-quality photos provide strong visual support. The fact that ‚Äúinsects have skeletons on the outside,‚Äù… View →
Series Made Simple
Readers are made to feel a part of the story in this collection that uses variations of ‚Äúwe.‚Äù Text introduces each festival, describing historical background and religious and cultural roots in just a few sentences, followed by several examples of how it is celebrated. Pages… View →
Series Made Simple
Appealing photographs are the highlight of these introductory pet books. Simple tips are woven into the text, describing what kids can do for their critters. For instance, in Snakes, ‚ÄúSnakes need to shed. Aidan [a boy] puts out rocks. Jack [a snake] rubs on them.‚Äù Names are usually… View →
Series Made Simple
These introductions to animal defense behaviors feature brief examples from a variety of species. Typically six to eight creatures are shown in each title, though Electric Animals examines only three. Descriptions of defense behaviors generally stick to how animals use them, rather than… View →
Series Made Simple
These titles offer emergent readers brief overviews of different sports and encourage them to participate (“Do you want to try? Dive in. Swimming is fun!”). Colorful photos depict boys and girls enjoying themselves at the pool, ice rink, and ball parks; Football opens with a girl suited… View →
These new additions to the Hello, America! series are of somewhat uneven quality, and the constraint of their very introductory reading level often shows. Each book provides a small amount of historical context for its featured structure and the person it is meant to honor, and includes… View →
Series Made Simple
Simple examinations of popular holidays aimed at beginning readers. The format is effective and features highlighted key words, a large font, and bright photos of beaming kids making valentines, carving pumpkins, and setting the table for Thanksgiving. Well organized and nicely designed, View →