Reviews
SLJ Review of Los trabajos de los perros (Dogs on Duty)
Repetition, early words, and simple narrative structure are major strengths in this series about the many service functions performed by working dogs. Herding dogs, military dogs, search and rescue dogs, and service dogs are profiled in these Spanish/English books for early readers who… View →
Booklist Review of Thanksgiving
Starting with a quick version of the traditional story of the origins of Thanksgiving (with a glancing nod to contemporary Indigenous people’s alternate gathering to “remember those who died after colonists arrived”), this Holiday History series (7 titles) volume still… View →
SLJ Series Made Simple Review of Early Coding Concepts
Cheerful, diverse cartoon children play, create, and perform their daily tasks in this adorable series. When Gus comes home from school, he takes care of his dog by performing the same steps every… Min builds a train track and explores how it affects the train and the rest of t View →
Booklist Advance Review Mindful Music and Dancing
This resource-filled guide, part of the Art of Mindfulness series (4 titles), lets kids explore SEL after-reading prompts as well as an View →
SLJ Series Made Simple Review of Baby Animals in the Wild
Basic information about the lives of young wild animals is ably supported by excellent photographs. Short, declarative sentences cover food, grooming, play, and social groups, often with a single fact or two about each topic: “Tiger cubs are born! They drink their mother’s… W View →
The World of Ocean Animals
Enter the fascinating realm of sea creatures in the aptly named series, The World of Ocean Animals. Large, gorgeous photos on each spread—plus the occasional map and diagram—draw readers into the ocean habitat and bring them face-to-face with the title animal of each book. Each book’s… View →
Meet the Community Helpers! - Reviewed by School Library Journal
Beginning readers can learn what it’s like to work as a doctor, librarian, firefighter, and mail carrier in this simple series that’s ideal for the early elementary grades. Each book features a real-life situation between a child and their family as they visit the library,… View →
Speed Zone - Reviewed by School Library Journal
More than just a series about fast vehicles, this dynamic set describes the science behind what gives these speedy machines their powerful zip. Superfast Cars explains how engineers work to reduce drag on aerodynamic race cars, letting them maximize their potential. Superfast Jets and… View →
¿De dónde viene? (Where Does It Come From?) - Reviewed by School Library Journal
This series is perfect for kids who have ever wondered where their socks come from or how bicycles are made. The origins of socks, bicycles, crayons, paper, glass housewares, and clothing are presented through large color photos, fast facts, and simple diagrams. Some pages include both… View →
The World of Ocean Animals - Reviewed by School Library Journal
General information, fun facts, and well-chosen photos introduce animals from ocean habitats. A few sentences per page describe physical characteristics, usually in relation to how those affect behaviors. The beluga’s coloring and neck flexibility, for example, are described in… View →
Vowel Adventures - Reviewed by School Library Journal
This series presents short narratives highlighting different vowels and their uses. Each book follows a child doing an everyday activity, such as going to the zoo or grocery store, told with an emphasis on a particular vowel (“Ivan and Ivy pick up a pizza. It is big!”) By… View →
All Around the World - Reviewed by School Library Journal
These titles familiarize readers about each respective country. The books include three chapters roughly six pages long and use full-page photographs and small paragraphs on top in a contrasting color. Chapters cover a wide range, from the climate, landscape, and wildlife to everyday… View →