(4) K-3 Illustrated by Maria Luisa Di Gravio. A child romps through the forest during a winter bird count, spotting a nuthatch, chickadee, and more while seeking now-retired-down-South Gramps's favorite: a dove. Amstutz light-handedly weaves ornithology facts throughout the well-paced story. Di Gravio's evocative (if slickly Disney-esque) illustrations are full of footsteps in the blue-gray snow and plenty of delicate birds. Further ornithology information and a bird count checklist are appended.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Talitha Shipman. A little city girl sets off with her family for a day in the country: they pick apples then head to Grandma's, where they make applesauce, learn about this generations-old family tradition, and share a delicious meal together. Pleasant if bland illustrations with soft colors and soft edges accompany a warmhearted and informative text. The book includes an applesauce recipe and facts about apples.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(4) K-3 A+ Books: My First Animal Kingdom Encyclopedias series. Broad information on mammals is arranged by subject--e.g., life cycle, habitat, diet--in two-page sections. Each busy spread includes a sampling of related words and their definitions and small but clear stock photos printed over a large background photo. Some terms may need further context for understanding, but the cursory volume provides a good starting point for gleaning information. Reading list.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(3) YA Ecological Disasters series. These in-depth books examine major threats to biological and ecological systems. Invasive explores the history and science of animal species invading foreign locations, and Coral looks at the rapid destruction of coral reefs from climate change, pollution, and overfishing. Descriptions of attempts to mitigate the problems; quotes from experts; and helpful photographs, diagrams, and sidebars round out each presentation. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Ecological Disasters titles: Invasive Species and Coral Reef Collapse.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 4-6 Searchlight Books: Predators series. In this high-interest series for third through fifth graders, descriptions of familiar predators' hunting techniques emphasize the animals' ferocity; the texts also include information on adaptations for a predatory lifestyle, habitats and ranges, and life cycles. Photographs show bloody attack scenes as well as the animals at rest or with their young. "Fact File" and a food chain are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Searchlight Books: Predators titles: Tigers on the Hunt, Lions on the Hunt, Orcas on the Hunt, Polar Bears on the Hunt, and Wolves on the Hunt.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Conservation Success Stories series. Each in-depth volume examines conservation issues in a major habitat, focusing on topics such as deforestation, pollution, invasive species, and climate change, as well as scientific and legal efforts to restore and revitalize plant and animal populations. Full-page "Science Connection" inserts touch on related background science. Large photographs clearly show humans' impact on the environment. A cause-and-effect diagram is appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Conservation Success Stories titles: Bringing Back Our Freshwater Lakes, Bringing Back Our Oceans, Bringing Back Our Tropical Forests, Bringing Back Our Deserts, Bringing Back Our Wetlands, and Bringing Back Our Tundra.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 First Facts: Animal Rulers series. This series showcases predators that dominate their food chains. Each book briefly describes characteristics that help creatures--such as the scorpion (Deserts), Bengal tiger (Jungles), and great white shark (Oceans)--not only survive but rule their habitats. The small volumes offer vivid photographs and interesting content; fact sidebars and same-page vocabulary definitions are helpful design elements. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Facts: Animal Rulers titles: Kings of the Deserts, Kings of the Jungles, and Kings of the Oceans.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) K-3 First Facts: Animal Rulers series. This series showcases predators that dominate their food chains. Each book briefly describes characteristics that help creatures--such as the scorpion (Deserts), Bengal tiger (Jungles), and great white shark (Oceans)--not only survive but rule their habitats. The small volumes offer vivid photographs and interesting content; fact sidebars and same-page vocabulary definitions are helpful design elements. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Facts: Animal Rulers titles: Kings of the Deserts, Kings of the Jungles, and Kings of the Oceans.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Searchlight Books: What Can We Do about Pollution? series. Though standard (and somewhat choppy) in describing the types of pollution or waste in each category and the problems they create, these texts may extend kids' outlooks and interest in the subjects. Illustrated with appropriate color photos and infographics, the books conclude with ways in which adults and kids can help, including writing to their representatives in government. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Searchlight Books: What Can We Do About Pollution titles: Transportation Pollution, Nuclear Pollution, Agricultural Pollution, Manufacturing Pollution, Household Waste, and Fossil Fuel Pollution.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) 4-6 Snap Books: Gardening Guides series. Appealing ideas for small gardens in containers, both outdoors and inside, are shown in attractive photos. In Enchanted, imagination and some tiny props added with plants can make a fairy garden; Edible includes ideas and recipes for harvests. The projects aren't the easiest, and many require unique supplies and plants, but the instructions are detailed and leave room for individuality. Reading list. Review covers the following Snap Books: Gardening Guides titles: Edible Gardening and Enchanted Gardening.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Snap Books: Gardening Guides series. Appealing ideas for small gardens in containers, both outdoors and inside, are shown in attractive photos. In Enchanted, imagination and some tiny props added with plants can make a fairy garden; Edible includes ideas and recipes for harvests. The projects aren't the easiest, and many require unique supplies and plants, but the instructions are detailed and leave room for individuality. Reading list. Review covers the following Snap Books: Gardening Guides titles: Edible Gardening and Enchanted Gardening.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Backyard Birds series. Very simple, declarative sentences present basic information about these common birds (physical description, habitat, diet, nesting habits, etc.) and encourage aspiring birdwatchers to "look for [them] in your backyard!" Full-color, close-up action photographs of the birds are the real standouts in the otherwise slight volumes. A habitat map and two or three Common Core–related questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Pebble Plus: Backyard Birds titles: American Crows, Cardinals, Hummingbirds, and Robins.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Backyard Birds series. Very simple, declarative sentences present basic information about these common birds (physical description, habitat, diet, nesting habits, etc.) and encourage aspiring birdwatchers to "look for [them] in your backyard!" Full-color, close-up action photographs of the birds are the real standouts in the otherwise slight volumes. A habitat map and two or three Common Core–related questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Pebble Plus: Backyard Birds titles: American Crows, Cardinals, Hummingbirds, and Robins.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Little Pebble: Little Critters series. Simple sentences and close-up color photos characterize this early-reader series. Worms hatch, eat, poop, and dig. Butterflies drink nectar, lay eggs, and hatch as caterpillars. Labeled photos (with some errors; e.g., in Butterflies, an ovipositor is mislabeled as a caterpillar) illustrate the large-print text on each page. These books offer adequate if superficial introductions to their subjects. Two critical thinking questions appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Little Pebble: Little Critters titles: Butterflies and Earthworms.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Little Pebble: Little Critters series. Simple sentences and close-up color photos characterize this early-reader series. Worms hatch, eat, poop, and dig. Butterflies drink nectar, lay eggs, and hatch as caterpillars. Labeled photos (with some errors; e.g., in Butterflies, an ovipositor is mislabeled as a caterpillar) illustrate the large-print text on each page. These books offer adequate if superficial introductions to their subjects. Two critical thinking questions appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Little Pebble: Little Critters titles: Butterflies and Earthworms.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Searchlight Books: What's Cool About Science? series. Cutting-edge military drones, robots in industrial and home environments, and nanotechnologies are each presented in chapters that define the technology and its origins and then provide modern examples. The information contained is slight; the text provides little beyond the basics, and the featured examples, though interesting, seem random. Captioned photographs and sidebars are well integrated into the main discussion. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Searchlight Books: What's Cool About Science? titles: Discover Nanotechnology, Discover Drones, and Discover Robotics.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 Searchlight Books: What's Cool About Science? series. These slight volumes describe breakthrough medical technologies and procedures, including the preservation of living tissue via cooling and freezing; innovations in the replacement of limbs and organs; and developments such as virtual doctors and health trackers. The coverage is cursory, but it's interesting and well organized. Captioned photographs and sidebars are well integrated into the main text. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Searchlight Books: What's Cool About Science? titles: Discover Cryobiology, Discover Bionics, and Discover Cutting-Edge Medicine.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 Searchlight Books: What Are Earth's Cycles? series. The growth and reproduction of flowering plants and cone-bearing plants, as well as ferns and mosses, are explained in separate chapters, along with brief attention to seedless reproduction. Color photographs and labeled diagrams help to illustrate the various stages. Additional activities of varying quality emphasize observation. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 Searchlight Books: What Are Earth's Cycles? series. The cyclical biological and chemical processes of reproduction and the transfer of carbon are explained. Animal presents a straightforward account of the general stages in most animal life cycles; Carbon focuses more on human uses of carbon and on climate change. Color photographs and activities of varying quality are included. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Searchlight Books: What Are Earth's Cycles? titles: Investigating Animal Life Cycles and Investigating the Carbon Cycle.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Backyard Birds series. Very simple, declarative sentences present basic information about these common birds (physical description, habitat, diet, nesting habits, etc.) and encourage aspiring birdwatchers to "look for [them] in your backyard!" Full-color, close-up action photographs of the birds are the real standouts in the otherwise slight volumes. A habitat map and two or three Common Core–related questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Pebble Plus: Backyard Birds titles: American Crows, Cardinals, Hummingbirds, and Robins.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges