Reviews

K-Gr 3–Labrecque provides slim biographies on familiar (Lovelace; Anderson) and less familiar (Mather; Brill) women inventors. Following a brief introduction to the topic science field, basic

Gr 3-6–Short, simple sentences provide reluctant readers access to their favorite characters from Greek mythology. More than just retellings, these volumes introduce the complex motives…

Gr 1-3–Readers are introduced to remarkable feats of modern engineering in this awe-inspiring series. Basic scientific concepts, such as inertia, centripetal force, and kinetic energy, are…

Gr 5-8–A standout for its organizational format, which will help readers grasp the spiritual and worldly aspects of each religion. Marsico treats the religions and their followers…

Thorough overviews make this series an ideal starting point for middle school research projects. The origins and histories of each sport are detailed and include descriptions of major past…

Superstar Simone Biles is front and center on the introduction page of this comprehensive guide to gymnastics. Part of the Total Sports series, this volume discusses the history of…

Origami books are ideal for reinforcing print concepts, as readers flip back to the introductions to refer to the instructions for basic folds and following steps in order. These titles offer

In countdown style, pro-wrestling’s greatest stars and moments are described. The photos are splashy and bold, just like the sport itself. From classic “faces” (good guys like John Cena) to…

Not for the faint of heart, this book in the aptly named Real Monsters series dramatically plays up the centipede’s lethal venom and frightening looks—as well as its fascinating…

Simple machines have rarely looked as stunning as they do in this visually appealing and readily accessible set. Sharp images of these devices, both at rest and at work, give readers an…

This title (part of the Our Renewable Earth series) adequately covers the what, how, and why of recycling. The tone is straightforward and factual, while the text focuses on paper,…

With its clean look and straightforward content, this series introduces emergent readers to several of the planet’s sustainable energy sources. Vibrant photos in crisp blues and greens pop…

The complicated relationship between technology and war is explored, from the Revolutionary War to the battles waged in Vietnam. Tracing the advancement of military technologies over the…

Using famous athletes as examples, this series outlines drills to help tweens improve specific skills in a variety of popular sports. Titles single out aspects of the game that current…

Modern Olympians are brought to life in these visually attractive biographies. An introduction provides a suspenseful account of an important moment in the subject’s life. The rest of the…

Slight profiles of contemporary music superstars. The books emphasize the subjects’ careers with little information on their personal lives. Young readers may find some unfamiliar facts; for…

★STARRED★ For students wanting to know more about the African American female NASA workers depicted in…

A look at people who by dint of determination and skill shaped social, political, and professional arenas but typically have received little or no attention for their efforts. The coverage is

After reading this series, students are certain to walk away with a newfound appreciation for the myriad wonders of the cosmos. Filled with an impressive amount of details each volume…

This series builds on subject interests to introduce young artists to elementary drawing practices. Each book offers five drawings to copy from basic geometric shapes. Kids will learn how to…

It’s all protein in these vocabulary-rich cookbooks—vegetarians need not apply! Recipe instructions are detailed enough for novice chefs, providing good descriptive text in each step and…

Young basketball fans will find much to appreciate here. Pages feature appealing shots of the players in action accompanied by a paragraph or two of text and a “Fast Fact” sidebar. The focus…

Well-designed introductions to animal development that pair simple text with clear photographs. The sequences showing embryo development in Chicken and Turtle are particularly effective.…

Well-organized accounts of animal populations that have declined, then recovered to various degrees. Explanations of how each group became threatened are thorough; they include solid…