(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. This substantive "co-reader," with "You Read" pages (to be read by a fluent reader) alternating with "I Read" pages (to be tackled by an emergent reader), introduces multiple types of farms (dairy, poultry, etc.), daily animal routines, and equipment. "You Read" sections introduce subject-specific vocabulary, which "I Read" pages then successfully incorporate. Bright, relevant photos and end-of-chapter quizzes reinforce learning.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Military Technologies series. These books trace the development of military technology in the twentieth century, discussing new technologies employed during each war, including poison gas (WWI), atomic bombs (WWII), fighter jets (Korean), and napalm (Vietnam). The limited, cursory narratives include archival photographs, maps, and sidebars. A "How It Works" spread highlights a single weapon or technology. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Military Technologies titles: Technology During the Korean War, Technology During the Vietnam War, Technology During World War II, and Technology During World War I.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Military Technologies series. These books trace the evolution of military technology from America's war for independence through the Civil War. Weaponry (including muskets, rifles, cannons, mortars, and howitzers) advanced during this time period to include larger and more deadly weapons with greater range. Illustrations, photos, and sidebars enhance the limited, cursory narratives. A "How It Works" spread highlights a single weapon. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Military Technologies titles: Technology During the Revolutionary War and Technology During the Civil War.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Social Media Sensations series. In ten or eleven brief chapters, each volume covers a social network's history, features, primary audience, and uses for businesses and charitable causes. The texts are accessible if dry; sidebars and stock photos (many featuring diverse young people enjoying their devices) add visual interest. An at-a-glance guide to the network, including quick facts and safety tips, is appended. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Checkerboard Library: Social Media Sensations titles: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, Flickr, Pinterest, and Vine.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Social Media Sensations series. In ten or eleven brief chapters, each volume covers a social network's history, features, primary audience, and uses for businesses and charitable causes. The texts are accessible if dry; sidebars and stock photos (many featuring diverse young people enjoying their devices) add visual interest. An at-a-glance guide to the network, including quick facts and safety tips, is appended. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Checkerboard Library: Social Media Sensations titles: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, Flickr, Pinterest, and Vine.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Social Media Sensations series. In ten or eleven brief chapters, each volume covers a social network's history, features, primary audience, and uses for businesses and charitable causes. The texts are accessible if dry; sidebars and stock photos (many featuring diverse young people enjoying their devices) add visual interest. An at-a-glance guide to the network, including quick facts and safety tips, is appended. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Checkerboard Library: Social Media Sensations titles: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, Flickr, Pinterest, and Vine.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) 4-6 Be What You Want series. This informative overview profiles various sports careers. In addition to professional athlete, the accessible discussion covers related industries, including coaching, sports medicine, media, and business. Chapters provide job descriptions, educational preparation, financial compensation, and insightful interviews with career professionals (scouts, trainers, media relations, etc). Without illustrations the design is rather dull, but text boxes and sidebars help liven up the pages. Reading lists, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Earth in Action series. Basic information about natural disasters is conveyed through human interest stories from recent major events and an emphasis on the impacts on communities, prediction techniques, and safety tips. Contemporary and historical photographs and simple diagrams round out the information. The literacy activities inserted into the texts shift the focus to practicing writing and away from extending scientific understanding. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Earth in Action titles: Avalanches, Hurricanes, Earthquakes, and Floods.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) YA World Religions and Beliefs series. This uneven volume highlights six mystics and psychics, from the historical (Hildegard of Bingen, Nostradamus) to the contemporary ("Edgar Cayce: The Sleeping Prophet," "Peter Hurkos: Psychic Detective," "Jeane Dixon: A Controversial Psychic"). It's an odd marriage, and there are some factual inaccuraces (e.g., Rome didn't exist as such in 1200 BCE). Photographs and artwork reproductions illustrate the otherwise well-documented series entry. Timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs series. Easy-to-read but bland texts help young animal lovers decide which breed of dog is best suited to them. Each title features basic information about the breed's history, behavior and temperament, coat and color, size, nutrition, and health as well a section on special needs of puppies. The vivid photographs will be winners with dog lovers. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs titles: American Pit Bull Terriers, Border Collies, Catahoula Leopard Dogs, and Irish Red and White Setters.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs series. Easy-to-read but bland texts help young animal lovers decide which breed of dog is best suited to them. Each title features basic information about the breed's history, behavior and temperament, coat and color, size, nutrition, and health as well a section on special needs of puppies. The vivid photographs will be winners with dog lovers. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs titles: American Pit Bull Terriers, Border Collies, Catahoula Leopard Dogs, and Irish Red and White Setters.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs series. Easy-to-read but bland texts help young animal lovers decide which breed of dog is best suited to them. Each title features basic information about the breed's history, behavior and temperament, coat and color, size, nutrition, and health as well a section on special needs of puppies. The vivid photographs will be winners with dog lovers. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs titles: American Pit Bull Terriers, Border Collies, Catahoula Leopard Dogs, and Irish Red and White Setters.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs series. Easy-to-read but bland texts help young animal lovers decide which breed of dog is best suited to them. Each title features basic information about the breed's history, behavior and temperament, coat and color, size, nutrition, and health as well a section on special needs of puppies. The vivid photographs will be winners with dog lovers. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs titles: American Pit Bull Terriers, Border Collies, Catahoula Leopard Dogs, and Irish Red and White Setters.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Biography Library: Food Dudes series. These corporate histories contain some intriguing tidbits about the lives and methods of the inventors and entrepreneurs (though it's hard to imagine that kids would be interested in reading about the Kellogg brothers' feud or the fact that the Mars family has "clean, well-managed factories"). Photographs of the people and their products are interspersed throughout the texts. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Biography Library: Food Dudes titles: Ben & Jerry, Clarence Birdseye, The Kellogg Family, and The Mars Family.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Biography Library: Food Dudes series. These corporate histories contain some intriguing tidbits about the lives and methods of the inventors and entrepreneurs (though it's hard to imagine that kids would be interested in reading about the Kellogg brothers' feud or the fact that the Mars family has "clean, well-managed factories"). Photographs of the people and their products are interspersed throughout the texts. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Biography Library: Food Dudes titles: Ben & Jerry, Clarence Birdseye, The Kellogg Family, and The Mars Family.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Biography Library: Food Dudes series. These corporate histories contain some intriguing tidbits about the lives and methods of the inventors and entrepreneurs (though it's hard to imagine that kids would be interested in reading about the Kellogg brothers' feud or the fact that the Mars family has "clean, well-managed factories"). Photographs of the people and their products are interspersed throughout the texts. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Biography Library: Food Dudes titles: Ben & Jerry, Clarence Birdseye, The Kellogg Family, and The Mars Family.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Biography Library: Food Dudes series. These corporate histories contain some intriguing tidbits about the lives and methods of the inventors and entrepreneurs (though it's hard to imagine that kids would be interested in reading about the Kellogg brothers' feud or the fact that the Mars family has "clean, well-managed factories"). Photographs of the people and their products are interspersed throughout the texts. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Biography Library: Food Dudes titles: Ben & Jerry, Clarence Birdseye, The Kellogg Family, and The Mars Family.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Real Deal series. With sensitivity, Mattern discusses why people divorce (a conspicuously absent cause is adultery), their kids' ensuing reactions, how their lives may change, and various coping strategies. For all the platitudes, generic-sounding "Case Study" sidebars, and staged-looking color photos, the book may be just the thing for middle-grade readers whose parents are splitting up. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Real Deal series. After capably defining their terms, the authors serve up reassurance and coping strategies for middle-graders dealing with the featured topics. This feelings-based series recalls Fred Rogers's like-themed picture-book series for younger readers, but the writing here isn't as sturdy, and the advice doled out can be boilerplate. Sidebars and obviously posed color photos abound. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Real Deal titles: Moving and Bullying.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Real Deal series. The authors spend approximately equal time stating facts--sometimes rudimentary ones ("Taking medicine is a common treatment for illness")--and discussing the feelings that the books' topics engender, which will likely comfort readers coping with the subject matter at hand. Throughout are sidebars and photos that have a prefab quality. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Real Deal titles: Illness and Death.

Reviewer: Nell Beram