(4) K-3 Big Buddy Books: United States Presidents series. These large-print biographies include very general information related to each president, beginning with a brief biographical timeline and continuing with succinct descriptions of events leading up to and during their presidency. Relevant paintings and photographs and occasional sidebars accompany the unoriginal texts. Back matter highlights the three branches of government, the line of succession, and an inspiring quote from that president. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Big Buddy Books: United States Presidents titles: Chester Arthur, George H.W. Bush, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, James Buchanan, and George W. Bush.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs series. Color photographs accompany short informative sections covering the origin of the dog family and the appearance and various behavioral characteristics of individual breeds. Straightforward, bland texts cover the care, feeding, and maintenance of pet dogs as well as information about responsible puppy ownership. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs titles: Bull Terriers, French Bulldogs, Rottweilers, and Australian Shepherds.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) 4-6 Economy in Action! series. This series introduces middle-grade readers to various economic topics, from personal finance to global economics. The short books provide basic, accessible overviews of their subjects, including the pros and cons of different systems, macroeconomics, the banking industry, and how businesses affect the economy. The dryly written texts are supported by lots of photos, graphics, and sidebars. "Economic Exercises" test readers' comprehension. Glos., ind. Review covers these Economy in Action! titles: Labor & Management, Economic Systems, Eye on Economics, and Banks & Banking.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Economy in Action! series. This series introduces middle-grade readers to various economic topics, from personal finance to global economics. The short books provide basic, accessible overviews of their subjects, including the pros and cons of different systems, macroeconomics, the banking industry, and how businesses affect the economy. The dryly written texts are supported by lots of photos, graphics, and sidebars. "Economic Exercises" test readers' comprehension. Glos., ind. Review covers these Economy in Action! titles: Labor & Management, Economic Systems, Eye on Economics, and Banks & Banking.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Checkerboard Biography Library: Children's Authors series. These accessible but dry biographies provide introductory overviews of the lives and works of popular children's authors. Many engaging photos of the writers (along with some stock images) are included. There are some interesting facts, but a tighter structure (along with lists of the authors' works) would have helped organize the information. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Biography Library: Children's Authors titles: Julia Alvarez, Christopher Paul Curtis, Nikki Grimes, and Jeff Kinney.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Dolphins series. Various types of dolphins have their differences, but it's still easy to see the family resemblance throughout this series. Each book contains basic facts about appearance, habitat, behavior, etc.; some sections are repetitive across volumes. Clear photographs and diagrams help illustrate the information. Though they're fine beginning tools, the choppy writing lessens the books' appeal. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Dolphins titles: Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Freshwater Dolphins and Spinner Dolphins.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Dolphins series. Various types of dolphins have their differences, but it's still easy to see the family resemblance throughout this series. Each book contains basic facts about appearance, habitat, behavior, etc.; some sections are repetitive across volumes. Clear photographs and diagrams help illustrate the information. Though they're fine beginning tools, the choppy writing lessens the books' appeal. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Dolphins titles: Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Freshwater Dolphins and Spinner Dolphins.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Dolphins series. Various types of dolphins have their differences, but it's still easy to see the family resemblance throughout this series. Each book contains basic facts about appearance, habitat, behavior, etc.; some sections are repetitive across volumes. Clear photographs and diagrams help illustrate the information. Though they're fine beginning tools, the choppy writing lessens the books' appeal. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Dolphins titles: Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Freshwater Dolphins and Spinner Dolphins.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Dolphins series. Various types of dolphins have their differences, but it's still easy to see the family resemblance throughout this series. Each book contains basic facts about appearance, habitat, behavior, etc.; some sections are repetitive across volumes. Clear photographs and diagrams help illustrate the information. Though they're fine beginning tools, the choppy writing lessens the books' appeal. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Dolphins titles: Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Freshwater Dolphins and Spinner Dolphins.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Snakes series. Gunderson presents very basic information about each type of title snake, including physical appearance, locations found, and habits. Each topic is covered with one page of information about the species accompanied by a full-color photograph. The pictures are somewhat inconsistent in size, formatting, and clarity. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Snakes titles: Anacondas, Boa Constrictors, Copperheads, Diamondback Rattlesnakes, King Cobras, and Pythons.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Snakes series. Gunderson presents very basic information about each type of title snake, including physical appearance, locations found, and habits. Each topic is covered with one page of information about the species accompanied by a full-color photograph. The pictures are somewhat inconsistent in size, formatting, and clarity. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Snakes titles: Anacondas, Boa Constrictors, Copperheads, Diamondback Rattlesnakes, King Cobras, and Pythons.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Snakes series. Gunderson presents very basic information about each type of title snake, including physical appearance, locations found, and habits. Each topic is covered with one page of information about the species accompanied by a full-color photograph. The pictures are somewhat inconsistent in size, formatting, and clarity. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Snakes titles: Anacondas, Boa Constrictors, Copperheads, Diamondback Rattlesnakes, King Cobras, and Pythons.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Snakes series. Gunderson presents very basic information about each type of title snake, including physical appearance, locations found, and habits. Each topic is covered with one page of information about the species accompanied by a full-color photograph. The pictures are somewhat inconsistent in size, formatting, and clarity. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Snakes titles: Anacondas, Boa Constrictors, Copperheads, Diamondback Rattlesnakes, King Cobras, and Pythons.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Snakes series. Gunderson presents very basic information about each type of title snake, including physical appearance, locations found, and habits. Each topic is covered with one page of information about the species accompanied by a full-color photograph. The pictures are somewhat inconsistent in size, formatting, and clarity. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Snakes titles: Anacondas, Boa Constrictors, Copperheads, Diamondback Rattlesnakes, King Cobras, and Pythons.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Snakes series. Gunderson presents very basic information about each type of title snake, including physical appearance, locations found, and habits. Each topic is covered with one page of information about the species accompanied by a full-color photograph. The pictures are somewhat inconsistent in size, formatting, and clarity. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Snakes titles: Anacondas, Boa Constrictors, Copperheads, Diamondback Rattlesnakes, King Cobras, and Pythons.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Whales series. These easy-to-read (though choppily written) books include colorful photos to engage young readers and focus on topics such as diet, habitat, and behavior. The similarities and differences among the many different species of whales are also discussed. A world map clearly shows "where they live"; a diagram of whale anatomy is also included. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Whales titles: Beluga Whales, Blue Whales, Gray Whales, and Humpback Whales.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Whales series. These easy-to-read (though choppily written) books include colorful photos to engage young readers and focus on topics such as diet, habitat, and behavior. The similarities and differences among the many different species of whales are also discussed. A world map clearly shows "where they live"; a diagram of whale anatomy is also included. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Whales titles: Beluga Whales, Blue Whales, Gray Whales, and Humpback Whales.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Whales series. These easy-to-read (though choppily written) books include colorful photos to engage young readers and focus on topics such as diet, habitat, and behavior. The similarities and differences among the many different species of whales are also discussed. A world map clearly shows "where they live"; a diagram of whale anatomy is also included. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Whales titles: Beluga Whales, Blue Whales, Gray Whales, and Humpback Whales.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Whales series. These easy-to-read (though choppily written) books include colorful photos to engage young readers and focus on topics such as diet, habitat, and behavior. The similarities and differences among the many different species of whales are also discussed. A world map clearly shows "where they live"; a diagram of whale anatomy is also included. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Whales titles: Beluga Whales, Blue Whales, Gray Whales, and Humpback Whales.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear