Reviews
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 →