Reviews
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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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Emergency Workers – School Library Journal, Series Made Simple
The layout is bold and clean, with crisp color photographs showing emergency workers in action scattered throughout. The glossaries have thorough definitions for terms specific to each volume’s subject and the indexes will help readers find facts quickly. The books could be used with… View →
Biggest, Baddest Books Set 1 – School Library Journal, Series Made Simple
. . .well designed to cater to new or reluctant readers. Each one features several rousing illustrations or (less often) photographs, which are paired with brief explanatory comments. View →
World Free of Bullying - School Library Journal, Series Made Simple
Brief chapters present bullying scenarios and tell beginning readers how to diffuse or resolve them. Situations. . .are realistic and age-appropriate for the intended audience. The same “Bully Test” is included at the end of each book to help students become aware of and avoid bullying… View →
Big Buddy Biographies Set 8 – Booklist
There’s no shortage of series about celebrities, but then again, there’s no shortage of fans either. The volumes in the Big Buddy Biographies series have a decidedly pop feel with a star motif running throughout, brightly colored backgrounds, and bubble lettering. Each View →
Hazmat (Emergency Workers) – Booklist
This entry in the Emergency Workers series gives readers a peek into the usually hidden world of hazmat technicians. Even adults might find themselves learning from this book about the nine types of hazmats, why they are hazardous, and how technicians work with them. Ollhoff… View →
Cool Relaxing: Healthy and Fun Ways to Chill Out (Cool Health & Fitness) – Booklist
These days everyone is stressed out, even the littles: “Piano lessons. Homework. Hanging out with friends. Your life can get very busy! Sometimes that’s overwhelming.” The unspoken truth: whatever pleasantly distracts you does the trick. Eight activities are given… View →
Move and Get Healthy! - Library Media Connection
This dazzling series captures the essence of how children can move and get healthy. . . . Vibrant, life-like illustrations give credence to promoting a healthy lifestyle; a healthy recipe is included. Children will be in awe of the true facts, which are enhanced by the colorful pictures. View →
Tsunamis, Earthquakes (Forces of Nature) – Library Media Connection
Both books reviewed begin by explaining why certain forces of nature occur. They include several pages of photos and information about famous incidents and the devastation that occurred as a result. Both conclude with some tips for how to survive should the reader be involved in an… View →
Prisms (Everyday 3-D Shapes) – Booklist
The colorful illustrations feature the two happy children in places and spaces that are familiar to the intended audience, echoing the cheerful simplicity of the text, and children will have fun noticing how the titular shape is presented throughout the pages. This title addresses core, View →
Lives Cut Short Set 2 – Booklist
. . . impressive series is based on the premise that death comes to all of us, even the exceptionally good-looking. Although [the] books. . .come out almost indecently quickly following a celebrity’s demise, the writers are still able to construct a fully rounded picture of life.… View →
Katharine the Almost Great Set 2 – Library Media Connection
This is a fun, easy, adventurous read-aloud for teachers or adults to share with children. View →
Lives Cut Short Set 2 (Top Ten Celebrity Biographies 2012) – Booklist
Stars who died prematurely often lend themselves to particularly intriguing biographies. This series is solidly researched and impressively written, and information in sidebars and boxes helps give context and explanations to the main text. View →
Musical Instruments – School Library Journal
Each offering asks the title question and answers it with a series of simple sentences that describe the main parts of the instrument, and how it is played. Approximately four spreads of images demonstrate the instrument as it is played and enjoyed by various children or adults. The font View →
United States Encyclopedias
World of Mythical Beings
Captives of the Reich