(4) 4-6 Picture This! series. This eclectic but organized book presents comparative data about animals, such as depth distribution of deep-sea life and flying abilities of bird species, through minimal text and busy, colorful infographics (tables, graphs, maps, callout labels, etc.). The volume requires careful study instead of light browsing, but occasional humor heightens the appeal. Though generally correct, there are few inaccuracies. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Navigators series. In twenty double-page spreads, this volume briefly discusses many aspects of "extreme weather," from "thunderous storms" and "electric skies" to the aftermath of natural disasters. The pages are heavily dominated by illustrations and photographs; while the main pictures are eye-catching, the overall layout is very busy: text boxes, smaller images, and sideways text (mostly web addresses) draw the eye in too many directions. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Navigators series. These classroom-friendly volumes describe rainforests' and oceans' geographies, histories, and ecologies, in addition to ongoing preservation efforts. The many supporting visuals--full-bleed background pictures, various types of digital images, maps, sidebars, and call-out boxes--take up every space and angle for an eye-catching if difficult-to-follow presentation. Glos., ind. Review covers these Navigators titles: Oceans and Seas and Rainforests.

Reviewer: Tori Funkhouser

(4) K-3 Kingfisher Young Knowledge series. The material in this book ranges wide rather than deep, touching on geology, tourism, weather, botany, zoology, mining, and other mountain-related subjects. Diagrams and photographs--some spectacular--enhance the slight presentation. Report writers will glean basic information; browsers will be briefly entertained. Activities are appended. Ind.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) K-3 Best Book Of series. Organized chronologically, the fourteen double-page spreads of this book give discrete synopses of subtopics ranging from the first toolmakers to life in the Iron Age. Captioned art illustrates the several paragraphs of each segment, and careful word usage represents scientific understanding accurately, but the book is slightly disjointed and needs a world map. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian