Reviews
These three series use simple language to answer questions that kids commonly ask. The subjects are introduced through stories of fictional children or by encouraging readers to remember times they’ve encountered the service, food, or structure, and then discuss aspects of how it… View →
Booklist
Gr 1-3 A combination of concise text, plenty of white space, effective use of color, and crisp photography makes this series appealing and easy to read. After a definition of and discussion of the topic at hand (What is Caring?), real-world scenarios are described. Fairness, for example, View →
Widely spaced lines of text and bright color photos combine to give this entry in the Real World Science series visual appeal for younger and reluctant readers alike. Though she skips such complexities as AC and DC, resistance, or how electricity is measured, Rau describes in clear,… View →
With a clear color photos and simple interactive text on each double-page spread, the dramatic scenarios in this small, square picture book will spark discussion with young kids about standing up for a friend or family member in trouble. Part of the 21st Century Junior Library Character… View →
These ambitious titles offer a wealth of material about the different careers that can be found under the umbrella of one workplace: Hospital, for example, covers doctors, nurses, physical therapists, chaplains, custodial and kitchen workers, accountants, and lawyers, with the latter… View →
Each book uses the context of an imaginary youth conference to bring together students from six or seven countries to talk about a cultural problem. Although the series title touts a “global” perspective, the texts are more “multi-viewpoint” than representative of View →
Brief in scope, these titles make medical topics accessible. Surgery begins with a child needing stitches, then turns to a history of the field, with references to new techniques. In Disease, a doctor giving an injection to a youngster explains how it is easier to fight disease today… View →
Straightforward texts examine four exotic animal species that have invaded the United States and/or its territories; all but the sea lamprey are on The Invasive Species Specialist Group’s list of the world’s 100 worst offenders. Each title first presents basic facts about the View →
This series covers issues and behaviors that adversely affect a person’s well-being. Though age appropriate, the books have a touch of sensationalism throughout. A photo of a skeleton hand extinguishing a cigarette, one of a teen passed out holding a liquor bottle, and the… View →
This utilitarian series describes innovations in eight means of transportation as well as their current uses. Each volume features a concise history of its topic, covers current issues and developments and the future outlook, and includes brief biographies of significant people. Both… View →