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Braun, Eric
33 Reviews
(3)
4-6
Gateway Biographies series.
This volume explores how the 2018 mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, sparked a student movement against gun violence. In succinct and effective prose, Braun strikes a balance between horrifying and inspiring. Profiles of key players in the movement appear throughout, along with well-captioned color photographs and sidebars on relevant topics. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.
Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello
(3)
4-6
Alternator Books: Movements That Matter series.
This volume looks briefly at the mistreatment of Indigenous peoples by the U.S. government, from false land treaties to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. Braun highlights key players and events in the American Indian Movement throughout the years. Frequent photographs and sidebars, including "A Moment in the Movement" boxes, make for a dynamic and engaging reading experience. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.
Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello
(3)
4-6
Alternator Books: Movements That Matter series.
These succinct and dynamic books cover the causes, key players, and evolution of each titular movement throughout the years. "A Moment in the Movement" boxes focus on relevant events that had an impact and add value to the narratives. Frequent photographs help break up the texts; there's just enough historical context to keep young readers engaged and informed. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Movements That Matter titles: The Civil Rights Movement, The Gay Rights Movement, and The Women's Rights Movement.
Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello
(3)
4-6
Alternator Books: Movements That Matter series.
These succinct and dynamic books cover the causes, key players, and evolution of each titular movement throughout the years. "A Moment in the Movement" boxes focus on relevant events that had an impact and add value to the narratives. Frequent photographs help break up the texts; there's just enough historical context to keep young readers engaged and informed. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Movements That Matter titles: The Civil Rights Movement, The Gay Rights Movement, and The Women's Rights Movement.
Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello
(3)
4-6
Alternator Books: Movements That Matter series.
These succinct and dynamic books cover the causes, key players, and evolution of each titular movement throughout the years. "A Moment in the Movement" boxes focus on relevant events that had an impact and add value to the narratives. Frequent photographs help break up the texts; there's just enough historical context to keep young readers engaged and informed. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Movements That Matter titles: The Civil Rights Movement, The Gay Rights Movement, and The Women's Rights Movement.
Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello
(4)
4-6
Sports Illustrated Kids: Know the Stats series.
These slim volumes demonstrate how statistics drive decision-making for professional basketball and football teams, aiding players, coaches, and fans to better understand wins and losses. References to specific athletes and their performances abound. The book design is uninteresting, but color photographs, tables, and graphs appear throughout, helping to clarify the information. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Illustrated Kids: Know the Stats titles: Basketball Is a Numbers Game and Football Is a Numbers Game.
Reviewer: Carolyn Shute
(3)
4-6
Encounter series.
Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin escaped from Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in 1962. A riveting narrative discusses the physical evidence and interviews with cellmates that helped authorities determine how the three breached the prison walls but not whether they survived; Braun includes numerous theories regarding the real-life unsolved mystery. Critical thinking questions and photographs are appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.
Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg
(3)
4-6
Sports All-Stars series.
Succinct, easy-to-read biographies of these sports stars include brief looks at each person's childhood before focusing on that individual's particular training and road to athletic success. Dramatic narration, direct quotes, color photographs, and sidebars round out the informative main texts; all-star statistics for that sport are appended. There are four other spring 2017 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports All-Stars titles: Lindsey Vonn, Stephen Curry, Luke Kuechly, and Simone Biles.
Reviewer: Rita Soltan
(3)
4-6
Sports All-Stars series.
Succinct, easy-to-read biographies of these sports stars include brief looks at each person's childhood before focusing on that individual's particular training and road to athletic success. Dramatic narration, direct quotes, color photographs, and sidebars round out the informative main texts; all-star statistics for that sport are appended. There are four other spring 2017 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports All-Stars titles: Lindsey Vonn, Stephen Curry, Luke Kuechly, and Simone Biles.
Reviewer: Rita Soltan
(4)
4-6
Gateway Biographies series.
The lives of two well-known (and somewhat notorious) public figures are outlined in these no-frills, cursory introductions. Prince's profile follows his evolving musical career and daring artistic identity up to his unexpected death. Trump's focuses more narrowly on a few business, entertainment, and political successes preceding his presidency; while providing accurate background information, this book is already outdated. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Gateway Biographies titles: Prince and Donald Trump.
Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald
(4)
K-3
Curious Pearl, Science Girl 4D series.
Illustrated by
Stephanie Dehennin.
On a weekend trip to the lake, Pearl and friends Sabina and Sal consider the ways in which light interacts with everyday materials. Readers can use the publisher's downloadable "4D app" to augment the information about sources of light, reflection, and color. Despite the frame story's awkward illustrations and dialogue, the kids' scientific-observation techniques are solid. A science activity is appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.
Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford
Braun, Eric
Curious Pearl Identifies the Reason for Seasons: An Augmented Reality Science Experience
(4)
K-3
Curious Pearl, Science Girl 4D series.
Illustrated by
Stephanie Dehennin.
Pearl and friend Sal investigate earth science concepts related to the position of the sun and earth by making observations and modeling the geometry with a globe and light bulb. Despite the frame story's awkward illustrations and dialogue, the kids' scientific-observation techniques are solid. Readers can use the publisher's downloadable "4D app" to augment the information. A science activity is appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.
Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford
(3)
4-6
You Choose: Fractured Fairy Tales series.
Illustrated by
Alan Brown.
Fairy tales told as choose-your-path adventures may be an ideal match of form and genre. Readers addressed as "you" first select one of three scenarios (including fantasy, wacky humor, and sci-fi) and make narrative choices until reaching a happy, sad, or neutral ending. Serviceable black-and-white illustrations support the texts. Background about the source tale and critical thinking questions are included. Reading list. Review covers these You Choose: Fractured Fairy Tales titles: Rumpelstiltskin and Rapunzel.
Reviewer: Amy Bennett-Zendzian
(4)
4-6
Jake Maddox Graphic Novels series.
Illustrated by
Bere Muñiz.
In Catcher, Eddie quits baseball after a humiliating four strikeouts in the championship game. Switch finds Andre frustrated by his new soccer coach's unconventional methods. The texts are message-y ("if we want to make the championship...you need to trust me. Trust your team"), but the graphic novel format and sports action may draw reluctant readers. "Visual Questions" of varying interest are appended. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox Graphic Novels titles: Comeback Catcher and Soccer Switch.
Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz
Braun, Eric
Trapped Behind Nazi Lines: The Story of the U.S. Army Air Force 807th Medical Evacuation Squadron
(3)
4-6
Encounter series.
Braun chronicles the survival of a crew of U.S. medics stranded in Nazi-controlled Albania during WWII after a plane crash. Their two-month ordeal of avoiding capture by Nazis and their Albanian sympathizers is vividly portrayed in a narrative presentation. Young history buffs will appreciate this suspenseful account of a true event. Archival photographs and maps are appended. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.
Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg
(3)
4-6
Sports Illustrated Kids: Sports Stats and Stories series.
For young sports enthusiasts with an interest in numbers, these two books identify old and new statistical concepts in each sport; explain their potential importance; and personalize this analysis with vignettes of pro athletes who have set game, season, and career records. The numbers-focused narratives are supplemented by action photos and many charts with stats. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Sports Illustrated Kids: Sports Stats and Stories titles: Basketball Stats and the Stories Behind Them and Football Stats and the Stories Behind Them.
Reviewer: Jack Forman
(3)
4-6
Gateway Biographies series.
Two high-achieving women are portrayed fairly, with equal attention paid to their personal and professional lives. Ginsburg's story spans her childhood in Brooklyn to her rise to the Supreme Court; Lynch's includes anecdotes from her Jim Crow–era North Carolina upbringing and chronicles a justice-driven legal career. Small photographs round out the no-frills profiles. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers the following Gateway Biographies titles: Loretta Lynch and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Reviewer: Lauren Causey
(3)
4-6
Sports Illustrated Kids: Everything Super Bowl series.
For young sports enthusiasts with an interest in numbers, these two books identify old and new statistical concepts in each sport; explain their potential importance; and personalize this analysis with vignettes of pro athletes who have set game, season, and career records. The numbers-focused narratives are supplemented by action photos and many charts with stats. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Sports Illustrated Kids: Sports Stats and Stories titles: Basketball Stats and the Stories Behind Them and Football Stats and the Stories Behind Them.
Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg
(3)
4-6
Who's Changing the World? series.
These books spotlight (mostly) ordinary people, many of them kids, who saw a human-rights or education-system problem--such as unfair working conditions or issues faced by transgender students--and worked to effect change to improve the situation. Relevant photos illustrate the engaging texts, which are meant to inspire and encourage young people to be activists in their own right. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Who's Changing the World? titles: Taking Action for Civil and Political Rights and Taking Action to Improve Schools.
Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey
(3)
4-6
Who's Changing the World? series.
This book spotlights (mostly) ordinary people, many of them kids, who saw a health problem--such as the Ebola outbreak or poor school-lunch nutrition--and worked to affect change to improve the situation. Relevant photos illustrate the engaging text, which is meant to inspire and encourage youths to be activists in their own right. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.
Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey
33 reviews
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