Reviews
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Animal Icons – School Library Journal, Series Made Simple
This well-organized series features animals that have become cultural symbols in America. After a brief introduction, the chapters proceed in logical order, discussing the animal’s history, body specifics, (“Plate to Plate” in Armadillos, “Beak to Talons” in Bald Eagles,… View →
Green Kid's Guide to Gardening – Booklist
A thorough, charming guide that should send budding gardeners skipping down a greener path. View →
Unusual Pets - School Library Journal, Series Made Simple
The simple texts are accessible to beginning readers. . . . Each title also contains a page of “Fun Facts,” a quiz, and a note cautioning readers to further research the needs of unusual animals before bringing one home. View →
Inside the Heart (Super Simple Body) - Booklist
This volume from the Super Simple Body series introduces the heart and the circulatory system in short paragraphs of text accompanied by helpful illustrations. While the topic may not lend itself to “super simple” treatment or even truly simple vocabulary, the text… View →
Parental Guidance Ratings (Hot Topics in Media) – Booklist
At first blush, the topic of parental ratings in the media might seem dull. Yet this nonfiction resource brings to light numerous relevant and relatable corollaries that students will find engaging. . . . A history of censorship and media ratings is presented, beginning with the… View →
TJ Trapper, Bully Zapper - School Library Journal
TJ is an engaging and down-to-earth character surrounded by a full cast of well-developed supporting figures. Kids will relate to the stories and the black-and-white cartoon illustrations. Each book outlines all of the steps to follow so that children can resolve the issues on their own, View →
Essential Critiques Set 3 - School Library Journal
Filled with colorful pictures. . ., these volumes are written in a direct and relatable style that brings the basics of critical theory to life. Following a biography of the writer, the authors go back and forth between plot summaries of their subjects’ works and critical analysis. A… View →
United States Enters World War I (Essential Events) – VOYA
. . .discusses major incidents that led to the outbreak of war in Europe and the neutrality of the United States, until the culminating threat of Mexico, and the country being compelled to join the Allied Forces, even against protest at home. It discusses the preparation it took for… View →
Rachel Carson (Women in Science) – Booklist
Wheeler’s biography is both in-depth and accessible to young readers. Rachel Carson built her career on the premise that all living things are connected and that humankind’s actions are not without impact on nature. . . . . Readers will be impressed to learn that she began writing at a… View →
How to Analyze the Works of Virginia Woolf, Toni Morrison, Sylvia Plath (Essential Critiques) – School Library Journal
In this innovative series, students learn how to extend their understanding of literature to society at large, and, more importantly, to see how critical theory shapes thinking. Readers learn how to form a thesis and provide evidence, get an overview of the authors’ major works, and… View →
Cold War (Essential Events) – VOYA
. . .covers the complete history of the event from its real beginnings during World War I and the rise of Marxism to its aftermath in the 1990s, even into the 2000s. It discusses and provides excellent unbiased descriptions of philosophical differences between the West and East, as well… View →
Story of the Negro Leagues (Negro Baseball Leagues) – Booklist
Leading off dramatically with the final two innings of the 1935 East-West All-Star Game, this slender volume offers a brief but informative introduction to the history of Negro League baseball. Smolka discusses the creation of the Negro Leagues, introduces the outstanding players, and… View →
Essential Events Set 4, Essential Events Set 5 – VOYA
Essential Events is a high quality, easy-to-navigate series on topics that often have cumbersome, thick books. This series has clear, concise language, wonderful photos, and clarifying sidebars that further define and explain some of the historical people, events, or concepts.… View →
Cool Health & Fitness - Horn Book Guide
Geared toward third graders, these books relate the importance of exercise, proper hygiene, healthy eating, and avoiding stress, while offering activity ideas for doing so (directions for homemade body wash in Body, nutritious recipes in Eating, etc.). Introductory pages… View →
Lives Cut Short Set 2 - School Library Journal
These books trace the lives of pop-culture notables from childhood to their sudden deaths, and the personal and professional triumphs and troubles in between. The narrative history has an informative tone, balancing opinions and quotes from the subjects and insiders close to them, and… View →
Lives Cut Short Set 2 – Booklist
The dependable Lives Cut Short series adds. . .titles featuring celebrities who died prematurely. Each begins with a poignant quote from the late celeb, such as this from Marilyn Monroe: “You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself.” View →
Extreme Senses (Sensing Their Prey) – Booklist
Using color with subtlety, Wald’s soft-edged, simplified illustrations and diagrams help readers visualize the creatures and processes described. View →
Military Ships – School Library Journal, Series Made Simple
Each of these titles describes the purpose, components, and history of one type of ship. . . . The glossaries have lengthy and helpful descriptions of new words. . . . This set covers a high-interest topic, and the short paragraphs, sidebars, and large color photos will attract reluctant View →
Unique Pets – School Library Journal, Series Made Simple
This high-interest set presents well-organized information about unusual subjects in both their natural environments and as household pets. Habitats, defenses, descriptions, diets, life cycles, and care are clearly described in straightforward text enlivened by interjections (“Yikes!”… View →
Cool Trash To Treasure – School Library Journal, Series Made Simple
“Upcycling” gets a shot in the arm with these attractive craft books, each of which contains at least six funky projects, some requiring little more than glue and scissors to accomplish. Unlike many craft volumes, the design palette here does not automatically scream “girl,” although… View →
United States Encyclopedias
World of Mythical Beings
Captives of the Reich