(4) 4-6 Inventors at Work! series. Highlighting mainly lesser-known inventors of well-known products, these books straightforwardly relate the history, science, process of discovery, and the challenges each person faced in developing his or her invention. The accurate but sometimes fragmented narratives are supplemented by photos, sidebars, diagrams, and a four-page appendix about how to develop an innovative idea into an invention. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Inventors at Work titles: The Chocolate Chip Cookie Queen, Scuba Man, The Coolest Inventor, Microwave Man, The Woman Who Invented Windshield Wipers.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Inventors at Work! series. Highlighting mainly lesser-known inventors of well-known products, these books straightforwardly relate the history, science, process of discovery, and the challenges each person faced in developing his or her invention. The accurate but sometimes fragmented narratives are supplemented by photos, sidebars, diagrams, and a four-page appendix about how to develop an innovative idea into an invention. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Inventors at Work titles: The Chocolate Chip Cookie Queen, Scuba Man, The Coolest Inventor, Microwave Man, The Woman Who Invented Windshield Wipers.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Disasters--People in Peril series. Storm looks at why severe weather occurs and its effects on the environment. Fiery recounts the 1980 volcanic eruption and the resulting damage. Waves focuses on the 1946 Hawaiian tsunami and the 2011 disaster in Japan. Illustrated with effective stock photos, these books relate their stories in informative if formulaic narratives. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Disasters--People in Peril titles: Deadly Storm Alert!, Deadly Waves, and Fiery Volcano.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Disasters--People in Peril series. Storm looks at why severe weather occurs and its effects on the environment. Fiery recounts the 1980 volcanic eruption and the resulting damage. Waves focuses on the 1946 Hawaiian tsunami and the 2011 disaster in Japan. Illustrated with effective stock photos, these books relate their stories in informative if formulaic narratives. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Disasters--People in Peril titles: Deadly Storm Alert!, Deadly Waves, and Fiery Volcano.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 All About Nature series. Young naturalists are encouraged to find various trees and flowers through simple text and detailed photographs. Flowers includes diagrams indicating the height of each variety compared to an average child. However, some "facts" seem flimsy (e.g., "wind blows the flowers back and forth"), and the books lack information about where particular tree and flower species are located. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these All about Nature titles: Can You Find These Flowers? and Can You Find These Trees?.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) K-3 All About Nature series. Budding entomologists will enjoy these beginning field guides, though they will need to look elsewhere for more substantive information. Useful facts (e.g., "only female mosquitoes bite") encourage curiosity, and detailed photographs add appeal. The writing is condescending at times, and there is little on where specific butterflies and bugs can be found. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these All about Nature titles: Can You Find These Bugs? and Can You Find These Butterflies?.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) K-3 All About Nature series. With simple text and photographs, this book introduces young geologists to several varieties of rocks and the different ways in which they are formed. The text encourages readers to find their own rocks (though it does not address regional differences) and suggests a few activities, with only the briefest instruction. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) K-3 All About Nature series. This beginner's field guide introduces young readers to a variety of common birds. Using simple, repetitive text and detailed, close-up photographs, the authors encourage children to search for birds in familiar places and identify them. Beyond that, however, birders will need to consult other guides for more substantive information. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) K-3 All About Nature series. Young naturalists are encouraged to find various trees and flowers through simple text and detailed photographs. Flowers includes diagrams indicating the height of each variety compared to an average child. However, some "facts" seem flimsy (e.g., "wind blows the flowers back and forth"), and the books lack information about where particular tree and flower species are located. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these All about Nature titles: Can You Find These Flowers? and Can You Find These Trees?.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) K-3 All About Nature series. An introduction for beginning readers, this small book features simple text and bright, detailed photographs of various shells. Readers are encouraged to search for the shells and to exercise caution, as some shells may house living creatures. The book lacks any geographical information about where different shells may be located, however. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) K-3 All About Nature series. Budding entomologists will enjoy these beginning field guides, though they will need to look elsewhere for more substantive information. Useful facts (e.g., "only female mosquitoes bite") encourage curiosity, and detailed photographs add appeal. The writing is condescending at times, and there is little on where specific butterflies and bugs can be found. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these All about Nature titles: Can You Find These Bugs? and Can You Find These Butterflies?.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) 4-6 Ye Yucky Middle Ages series. This series puts a comedic focus on the smellier, nastier aspects of life in medieval Europe. Each chapter covers a different topic and is balanced between the sensational and the informative. Humorous illustrations keep things lighthearted and fit well with the overall theme. Some of the information is repeated across volumes, with Castle being particularly redundant. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Ye Yucky Middle Ages titles: Don't Let the Barber Pull Your Teeth!, Sweaty Suits of Armor, There's a Rat in my Soup, and Ye Castle Stinketh.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 Nature's Baby Animals series. After a very basic introduction to the title ecosystem, each of these easy-to-read books profiles eight baby animals that live there. Double-page spreads explore birth, newborn abilities, diet, and special features or traits. Though the texts can be vague and incomplete, the clear, bright photographs help convey some of the information. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Nature's Baby Animals titles: Baby Animals of Lakes and Ponds, Baby Animals of the Mountains, Baby Animals of the Seashore, and Baby Animals of the Wetlands.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Nature's Baby Animals series. After a very basic introduction to the title ecosystem, each of these easy-to-read books profiles eight baby animals that live there. Double-page spreads explore birth, newborn abilities, diet, and special features or traits. Though the texts can be vague and incomplete, the clear, bright photographs help convey some of the information. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Nature's Baby Animals titles: Baby Animals of Lakes and Ponds, Baby Animals of the Mountains, Baby Animals of the Seashore, and Baby Animals of the Wetlands.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Nature's Baby Animals series. After a very basic introduction to the title ecosystem, each of these easy-to-read books profiles eight baby animals that live there. Double-page spreads explore birth, newborn abilities, diet, and special features or traits. Though the texts can be vague and incomplete, the clear, bright photographs help convey some of the information. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Nature's Baby Animals titles: Baby Animals of Lakes and Ponds, Baby Animals of the Mountains, Baby Animals of the Seashore, and Baby Animals of the Wetlands.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Nature's Baby Animals series. After a very basic introduction to the title ecosystem, each of these easy-to-read books profiles eight baby animals that live there. Double-page spreads explore birth, newborn abilities, diet, and special features or traits. Though the texts can be vague and incomplete, the clear, bright photographs help convey some of the information. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Nature's Baby Animals titles: Baby Animals of Lakes and Ponds, Baby Animals of the Mountains, Baby Animals of the Seashore, and Baby Animals of the Wetlands.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Weird but True Science series. These books highlight unusual earth science phenomena. Beginning with a brief "Words to Know" glossary, each volume then delineates its subject matter (types of rocks or the hydrologic cycle) and offers eight double-page spreads about specific weirdnesses (e.g., geodes, fulgurites). Excellent color photos and accessible but limited texts are not well served by the constant refrain, "It's weird, but it's true!" Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Weird But True Science titles: Weird But True Rocks and Weird But True Weather.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Weird but True Science series. This volume highlights unusual--putatively--foods. Beginning with a brief "Words to Know" glossary and the food pyramid, the book offers eight double-page spreads about specific weirdnesses (e.g., eating malodorous durian fruit, drinking cow's blood, using seaweed in ice cream). Excellent color photos and accessible but limited text are not well served by the classification of foreign cultural norms as "weird." Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Weird but True Science series. This book enthusiastically highlights unusual space phenomena. Beginning with a brief "Words to Know" glossary, the volume then offers eight double-page spreads about specific weirdnesses (e.g., the crater left by the Berringer meteor in Arizona; apparently permanent footprints left in moon dust). Excellent color photos and accessible but limited text are not well served by the constant refrain, "It's weird, but it's true!" Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Weird but True Science series. These books highlight unusual earth science phenomena. Beginning with a brief "Words to Know" glossary, each volume then delineates its subject matter (types of rocks or the hydrologic cycle) and offers eight double-page spreads about specific weirdnesses (e.g., geodes, fulgurites). Excellent color photos and accessible but limited texts are not well served by the constant refrain, "It's weird, but it's true!" Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Weird But True Science titles: Weird But True Rocks and Weird But True Weather.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian