(4) K-3 SandCastle: Giant Animals series. These simple nonfiction books for first report writers each ask and answer nine questions about the titular mammal. Short sentences recite information about behavior, diet, habitat, physical characteristics, and care of young. Lots of photos of these popular creatures help support the dry texts. Panda and Manatee mention those animals' endangered status. A true-false quiz tests comprehension. Map. Glos. Review covers these SandCastle: Giant Animals titles: Elephant, Giraffe, Manatee, and Panda.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 SandCastle: Giant Animals series. These simple nonfiction books for first report writers each ask and answer nine questions about the titular mammal. Short sentences recite information about behavior, diet, habitat, physical characteristics, and care of young. Lots of photos of these popular creatures help support the dry texts. Panda and Manatee mention those animals' endangered status. A true-false quiz tests comprehension. Map. Glos. Review covers these SandCastle: Giant Animals titles: Elephant, Giraffe, Manatee, and Panda.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 SandCastle: Giant Animals series. These simple nonfiction books for first report writers each ask and answer nine questions about the titular mammal. Short sentences recite information about behavior, diet, habitat, physical characteristics, and care of young. Lots of photos of these popular creatures help support the dry texts. Panda and Manatee mention those animals' endangered status. A true-false quiz tests comprehension. Map. Glos. Review covers these SandCastle: Giant Animals titles: Elephant, Giraffe, Manatee, and Panda.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 More Professional Tools series. Each title directly explains the profession and focuses on four tools of the trade. Many of the color photographs featuring multicultural groups of male and female workers look overly posed, though the photos of actual tools are clear and well labeled. The approachable text and subject matter will be useful for school reports. Matching games and quizzes are appended. Glos. Review covers these More Professional Tools titles: Detective's Tools, EMT's Tools, Firefighter's Tools, and Police Officer's Tools.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 More Professional Tools series. Each title directly explains the profession and focuses on four tools of the trade. Many of the color photographs featuring multicultural groups of male and female workers look overly posed, though the photos of actual tools are clear and well labeled. The approachable text and subject matter will be useful for school reports. Matching games and quizzes are appended. Glos. Review covers these More Professional Tools titles: Detective's Tools, EMT's Tools, Firefighter's Tools, and Police Officer's Tools.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 More Professional Tools series. Each title directly explains the profession and focuses on four tools of the trade. Many of the color photographs featuring multicultural groups of male and female workers look overly posed, though the photos of actual tools are clear and well labeled. The approachable text and subject matter will be useful for school reports. Matching games and quizzes are appended. Glos. Review covers these More Professional Tools titles: Detective's Tools, EMT's Tools, Firefighter's Tools, and Police Officer's Tools.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 More Professional Tools series. Each title directly explains the profession and focuses on four tools of the trade. Many of the color photographs featuring multicultural groups of male and female workers look overly posed, though the photos of actual tools are clear and well labeled. The approachable text and subject matter will be useful for school reports. Matching games and quizzes are appended. Glos. Review covers these More Professional Tools titles: Detective's Tools, EMT's Tools, Firefighter's Tools, and Police Officer's Tools.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 SandCastle: Giant Animals series. These simple nonfiction books for first report writers each ask and answer nine questions about the titular mammal. Short sentences recite information about behavior, diet, habitat, physical characteristics, and care of young. Lots of photos of these popular creatures help support the dry texts. Panda and Manatee mention those animals' endangered status. A true-false quiz tests comprehension. Map. Glos. Review covers these SandCastle: Giant Animals titles: Elephant, Giraffe, Manatee, and Panda.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Super SandCastle: What We Stand For series. Each of these easy-to-read and attractive books presents useful definitions and situations to explain peacemaking (conflict resolution) and tolerance (accepting and respecting differences). Despite some puzzling or extraneous text, the books are good introductions and discussion-starters. Final spreads encourage readers' engagement ("What is one thing you can do to be a peacemaker?"). Glos. Review covers these Super SandCastle: What We Stand For titles: Everyone Is Equal and Keeping the Peace.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Super SandCastle: What We Stand For series. Each of these easy-to-read and attractive books presents useful definitions and situations to explain peacemaking (conflict resolution) and tolerance (accepting and respecting differences). Despite some puzzling or extraneous text, the books are good introductions and discussion-starters. Final spreads encourage readers' engagement ("What is one thing you can do to be a peacemaker?"). Glos. Review covers these Super SandCastle: What We Stand For titles: Everyone Is Equal and Keeping the Peace.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Art with Math & Science series. Color photographs and diagrams combine with simple texts to explain the featured mathematical or scientific concept. Brief introductions to the topics are followed by four art projects that turn theory into practical application. Sidebars provide supply lists, applicable terms, and photographs to complement the step-by-step instructions. The overuse of exclamation points in the texts is unfortunate. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cool Art with Math & Science titles: Cool Flexigon Art, Cool Optical Illusions, Cool Paper Folding, and Cool String Art.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Art with Math & Science series. Color photographs and diagrams combine with simple texts to explain the featured mathematical or scientific concept. Brief introductions to the topics are followed by four art projects that turn theory into practical application. Sidebars provide supply lists, applicable terms, and photographs to complement the step-by-step instructions. The overuse of exclamation points in the texts is unfortunate. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cool Art with Math & Science titles: Cool Flexigon Art, Cool Optical Illusions, Cool Paper Folding, and Cool String Art.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Art with Math & Science series. Color photographs and diagrams combine with simple texts to explain the featured mathematical or scientific concept. Brief introductions to the topics are followed by four art projects that turn theory into practical application. Sidebars provide supply lists, applicable terms, and photographs to complement the step-by-step instructions. The overuse of exclamation points in the texts is unfortunate. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cool Art with Math & Science titles: Cool Flexigon Art, Cool Optical Illusions, Cool Paper Folding, and Cool String Art.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Art with Math & Science series. Color photographs and diagrams combine with simple texts to explain the featured mathematical or scientific concept. Brief introductions to the topics are followed by four art projects that turn theory into practical application. Sidebars provide supply lists, applicable terms, and photographs to complement the step-by-step instructions. The overuse of exclamation points in the texts is unfortunate. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cool Art with Math & Science titles: Cool Flexigon Art, Cool Optical Illusions, Cool Paper Folding, and Cool String Art.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) K-3 Biggest, Baddest Books for Boys series. In this book, readers are introduced to scary beasts in the animal kingdom, such as the lionfish and the hippopotamus. Each chapter describes a different characteristic ranging from unique facial features to distinctive markings. Facts are briefly stated for quick digestion, and dramatic blown-up photographs show the creatures in all their glory. A true-or-false quiz is included. Glos.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) K-3 Biggest, Baddest Books for Boys series. In this book, readers are introduced to the world of insects, arachnids, and myraipods. Each chapter describes a different bug characteristic ranging from camouflage to bioluminescence. Facts are briefly stated for quick digestion, and blown-up photographs, diagrams, and illustrations show the creepy-crawlies in all their glory. "Bugs up close" identification and a true-or-false quiz are included. Glos.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) K-3 Biggest, Baddest Books for Boys series. In this book, readers are introduced to the era of the dinosaur, from evolution to extinction. Each chapter describes a different dino characteristic ranging from speed to predatory and defense mechanisms. Facts are briefly stated for quick digestion, and diagrams and dramatic illustrations show the creatures in all their glory. A true-or-false quiz is included. Glos.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) K-3 Biggest, Baddest Books for Boys series. In this book, readers are introduced to the mythical world of monsters. Each chapter describes a different type of monster, from dragons, trolls, and goblins to zombies and Bigfoot. Facts are briefly stated for quick digestion, and dramatic illustrations show the terrifying creatures in all their glory. A true-or-false quiz is included. Glos.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) K-3 Super SandCastle: Professional Tools series. This book provides details about four tools used by meteorologists--barometer, radar, computer model, and thermometer--that are the basics for evaluating and predicting weather. "Fast Facts" enhance the scant main text. The many photographs include smiling meteorologists in addition to some diagrams and pictures of the tools. A matching game and short quiz are appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 Super SandCastle: Professional Tools series. This book provides details about four basic tools used by archaeologists--backhoe, total station, trowel, and sifter--that help them dig for and study fossils. "Fast Facts" enhance the scant main text. The many photographs include archaeologists in the field in addition to some diagrams and labeled pictures of the tools. A matching game and short quiz are appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow