(4) K-3 Word Building series. Organized around kid-friendly themes, this series provides a basic introduction to using and understanding words with prefixes and suffixes; forms of featured base words are used in simple sentences and then in a poem. Sidebars provide affix meanings, additional (sometimes obscure) forms of the base word, and occasional spelling rules. Cheesy staged photos enact the text. "Match it up!" assessments are appended. Glos. Review covers these Word Building titles: At the Party, At School, Caring for Pets, and In the Garden.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Word Building series. Organized around kid-friendly themes, this series provides a basic introduction to using and understanding words with prefixes and suffixes; forms of featured base words are used in simple sentences and then in a poem. Sidebars provide affix meanings, additional (sometimes obscure) forms of the base word, and occasional spelling rules. Cheesy staged photos enact the text. "Match it up!" assessments are appended. Glos. Review covers these Word Building titles: At the Party, At School, Caring for Pets, and In the Garden.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Word Building series. Organized around kid-friendly themes, this series provides a basic introduction to using and understanding words with prefixes and suffixes; forms of featured base words are used in simple sentences and then in a poem. Sidebars provide affix meanings, additional (sometimes obscure) forms of the base word, and occasional spelling rules. Cheesy staged photos enact the text. "Match it up!" assessments are appended. Glos. Review covers these Word Building titles: At the Party, At School, Caring for Pets, and In the Garden.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Word Building series. Organized around kid-friendly themes, this series provides a basic introduction to using and understanding words with prefixes and suffixes; forms of featured base words are used in simple sentences and then in a poem. Sidebars provide affix meanings, additional (sometimes obscure) forms of the base word, and occasional spelling rules. Cheesy staged photos enact the text. "Match it up!" assessments are appended. Glos. Review covers these Word Building titles: At the Party, At School, Caring for Pets, and In the Garden.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Trash to Treasure series. This series introduces the trendy concept of upcycling ("creating treasures out of trash"). Volumes focus on the titular materials and offer instructions for six to eight enticing craft projects. The activities may frustrate some children, as most have fairly complex steps (illustrated with photos), and many require working with sophisticated tools and materials such as wire cutters, permanent adhesive, and hot glue guns. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cool Trash to Treasure titles: Cool Fabric Projects, Cool Glass and Ceramic Projects, Cool Metal Projects, and Cool Odds and Ends Projects.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Trash to Treasure series. This series introduces the trendy concept of upcycling ("creating treasures out of trash"). Volumes focus on the titular materials and offer instructions for six to eight enticing craft projects. The activities may frustrate some children, as most have fairly complex steps (illustrated with photos), and many require working with sophisticated tools and materials such as wire cutters, permanent adhesive, and hot glue guns. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cool Trash to Treasure titles: Cool Fabric Projects, Cool Glass and Ceramic Projects, Cool Metal Projects, and Cool Odds and Ends Projects.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Trash to Treasure series. This series introduces the trendy concept of upcycling ("creating treasures out of trash"). Volumes focus on the titular materials and offer instructions for six to eight enticing craft projects. The activities may frustrate some children, as most have fairly complex steps (illustrated with photos), and many require working with sophisticated tools and materials such as wire cutters, permanent adhesive, and hot glue guns. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cool Trash to Treasure titles: Cool Fabric Projects, Cool Glass and Ceramic Projects, Cool Metal Projects, and Cool Odds and Ends Projects.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Trash to Treasure series. This series introduces the trendy concept of upcycling ("creating treasures out of trash"). Volumes focus on the titular materials and offer instructions for six to eight enticing craft projects. The activities may frustrate some children, as most have fairly complex steps (illustrated with photos), and many require working with sophisticated tools and materials such as wire cutters, permanent adhesive, and hot glue guns. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cool Trash to Treasure titles: Cool Fabric Projects, Cool Glass and Ceramic Projects, Cool Metal Projects, and Cool Odds and Ends Projects.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Stuff series. The six to ten unusual craft projects in each of these books will intrigue creative middle schoolers (although they may wonder where to buy some of the required materials, like essential oils for soaps and metallic powder for a pendant). Directions are clear and photos show finished objects. Bland introductions, safety points, and conclusions frame the projects. School has a serious printing error. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Stuff titles: Cool Stuff for Bath & Beauty, Cool Stuff for Family & Friends, Cool Stuff for Reading & Writing, and Cool Stuff for School.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Stuff series. The six to ten unusual craft projects in each of these books will intrigue creative middle schoolers (although they may wonder where to buy some of the required materials, like essential oils for soaps and metallic powder for a pendant). Directions are clear and photos show finished objects. Bland introductions, safety points, and conclusions frame the projects. School has a serious printing error. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Stuff titles: Cool Stuff for Bath & Beauty, Cool Stuff for Family & Friends, Cool Stuff for Reading & Writing, and Cool Stuff for School.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Stuff series. The six to ten unusual craft projects in each of these books will intrigue creative middle schoolers (although they may wonder where to buy some of the required materials, like essential oils for soaps and metallic powder for a pendant). Directions are clear and photos show finished objects. Bland introductions, safety points, and conclusions frame the projects. School has a serious printing error. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Stuff titles: Cool Stuff for Bath & Beauty, Cool Stuff for Family & Friends, Cool Stuff for Reading & Writing, and Cool Stuff for School.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Stuff series. The six to ten unusual craft projects in each of these books will intrigue creative middle schoolers (although they may wonder where to buy some of the required materials, like essential oils for soaps and metallic powder for a pendant). Directions are clear and photos show finished objects. Bland introductions, safety points, and conclusions frame the projects. School has a serious printing error. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Stuff titles: Cool Stuff for Bath & Beauty, Cool Stuff for Family & Friends, Cool Stuff for Reading & Writing, and Cool Stuff for School.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Super SandCastle: Dog Daze series. These books provide very basic doggy details. Topics include appearance, training, and care; "All About Me" charts ("Things I Like: Being with my family," "Things I Dislike: Getting bored") and quizzes are also included. Though there are some useful specifics about the breeds' personalities and histories, the texts are generally rather vague. Vivid photographs of pups romping and posing add life. Glos. Review covers these Super SandCastle: Dog Daze titles: Burly Bulldogs, Chipper Chihuahuas, Daring Dalmatians, and Perky Poodles.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) K-3 Super SandCastle: Dog Daze series. These books provide very basic doggy details. Topics include appearance, training, and care; "All About Me" charts ("Things I Like: Being with my family," "Things I Dislike: Getting bored") and quizzes are also included. Though there are some useful specifics about the breeds' personalities and histories, the texts are generally rather vague. Vivid photographs of pups romping and posing add life. Glos. Review covers these Super SandCastle: Dog Daze titles: Burly Bulldogs, Chipper Chihuahuas, Daring Dalmatians, and Perky Poodles.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Kid Jobs series. Complete with sample budgets, customer agreement forms, advertising suggestions, and safety considerations, this series offers basic business information for entrepreneurial preteens. Brightly colored photographs illustrate each service as well as a few do's and don'ts. Although further resources to help kids refine their skills would have strengthened the presentation, each title is well organized and age appropriate. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Kid Jobs titles: Cool Jobs for Handy Helpers, Cool Jobs for Kids Who Like Kids, Cool Jobs for Super Sales Kids, and Cool Jobs for Yard-Working Kids.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Kid Jobs series. Complete with sample budgets, customer agreement forms, advertising suggestions, and safety considerations, this series offers basic business information for entrepreneurial preteens. Brightly colored photographs illustrate each service as well as a few do's and don'ts. Although further resources to help kids refine their skills would have strengthened the presentation, each title is well organized and age appropriate. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Kid Jobs titles: Cool Jobs for Handy Helpers, Cool Jobs for Kids Who Like Kids, Cool Jobs for Super Sales Kids, and Cool Jobs for Yard-Working Kids.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Kid Jobs series. Complete with sample budgets, customer agreement forms, advertising suggestions, and safety considerations, this series offers basic business information for entrepreneurial preteens. Brightly colored photographs illustrate each service as well as a few do's and don'ts. Although further resources to help kids refine their skills would have strengthened the presentation, each title is well organized and age appropriate. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Kid Jobs titles: Cool Jobs for Handy Helpers, Cool Jobs for Kids Who Like Kids, Cool Jobs for Super Sales Kids, and Cool Jobs for Yard-Working Kids.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Kid Jobs series. Complete with sample budgets, customer agreement forms, advertising suggestions, and safety considerations, this series offers basic business information for entrepreneurial preteens. Brightly colored photographs illustrate each service as well as a few do's and don'ts. Although further resources to help kids refine their skills would have strengthened the presentation, each title is well organized and age appropriate. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Kid Jobs titles: Cool Jobs for Handy Helpers, Cool Jobs for Kids Who Like Kids, Cool Jobs for Super Sales Kids, and Cool Jobs for Yard-Working Kids.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(4) K-3 Super SandCastle: Cat Craze series. These volumes contain useful information for cat lovers or cat-owning children who may be responsible for taking care of the family pet. Topics include the history of each breed, physical features, personality traits, and day-to-day needs. The texts are bland, but readers will enjoy the accompanying photos of cats and kittens as well as quizzes and helpful charts. Glos. Review covers these Super SandCastle: Cat Craze titles: Awesome Abyssinians, Sleek Siamese, Hip Himalayans, Marvelous Maine Coons, and Popular Persians.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(4) K-3 Super SandCastle: Cat Craze series. These volumes contain useful information for cat lovers or cat-owning children who may be responsible for taking care of the family pet. Topics include the history of each breed, physical features, personality traits, and day-to-day needs. The texts are bland, but readers will enjoy the accompanying photos of cats and kittens as well as quizzes and helpful charts. Glos. Review covers these Super SandCastle: Cat Craze titles: Awesome Abyssinians, Sleek Siamese, Hip Himalayans, Marvelous Maine Coons, and Popular Persians.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear