(4) K-3 A+ Books: Simply Science series. James skims through basic physics principles with simple texts and large illustrative photographs. Real-life examples, such as banging a drum or pushing a shopping cart, adequately demonstrate principles for young learners. Readers are encouraged to try simple activities throughout, with a slightly more detailed experiment at the end. Final critical thinking questions seem to simply be testing reading comprehension. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these A+ Books: Simply Science titles: The Simple Science of Motion and The Simple Science of Sound.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) K-3 A+ Books: Simply Science series. James skims through basic physics principles with simple texts and large illustrative photographs. Real-life examples, such as banging a drum or pushing a shopping cart, adequately demonstrate principles for young learners. Readers are encouraged to try simple activities throughout, with a slightly more detailed experiment at the end. Final critical thinking questions seem to simply be testing reading comprehension. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these A+ Books: Simply Science titles: The Simple Science of Motion and The Simple Science of Sound.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Great Scientists and Inventors series. These books provide cursory introductions to men and women who have made contributions to the scientific world. The brief texts deal with the subjects' early years, work, and legacies. Large archival photographs (mostly grainy portraits and poorly reproduced documents) accompany the simple narratives but do not add much visual interest for budding scientists. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Pebble Plus: Great Scientists and Inventors titles: Albert Einstein, Elizabeth Blackwell, and Rachel Carson.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Great Scientists and Inventors series. These books provide cursory introductions to men and women who have made contributions to the scientific world. The brief texts deal with the subjects' early years, work, and legacies. Large archival photographs (mostly grainy portraits and poorly reproduced documents) accompany the simple narratives but do not add much visual interest for budding scientists. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Pebble Plus: Great Scientists and Inventors titles: Albert Einstein, Elizabeth Blackwell, and Rachel Carson.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Great Scientists and Inventors series. These books provide cursory introductions to men and women who have made contributions to the scientific world. The brief texts deal with the subjects' early years, work, and legacies. Large archival photographs (mostly grainy portraits and poorly reproduced documents) accompany the simple narratives but do not add much visual interest for budding scientists. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Pebble Plus: Great Scientists and Inventors titles: Albert Einstein, Elizabeth Blackwell, and Rachel Carson.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 A+ Books: Character Matters series. These two didactic but useful books encourage children to act properly in their communities and politely toward peers, family members, and other adults. A question and sample answer on each spread promotes active thinking about one's own behavior. Effective for group viewing, the large attractive photos show a diverse group of children and adults in a variety of situations. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these A+ Books: Character Matters titles: How to Be a Good Citizen and How to Be Respectful.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 A+ Books: Character Matters series. These two didactic but useful books encourage children to act properly in their communities and politely toward peers, family members, and other adults. A question and sample answer on each spread promotes active thinking about one's own behavior. Effective for group viewing, the large attractive photos show a diverse group of children and adults in a variety of situations. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these A+ Books: Character Matters titles: How to Be a Good Citizen and How to Be Respectful.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 A+ Books: Simply Science series. This volume skims through magnets' basic properties and their uses in society. Clear photographs and diagrams paired with simple sentences keep this book accessible to young science learners. The content is minimal, but clear organization and subject headings make the flow of information easy to follow. A basic supplemental activity helps illustrate how magnets work. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristine Caldwell

(4) K-3 A+ Books: Simply Science series. These books skim through earth science topics with clear full-spread photographs and simple sentences accessible to young science learners. The content is minimal, but clear organization and subject headings make the flow of information easy to follow. Each volume includes a basic supplemental activity with somewhat unclear explanations. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these A+ Books: Simply Science titles: The Simple Science of Dirt and The Simple Science of Rocks.

Reviewer: Kristine Caldwell

(4) K-3 A+ Books: Simply Science series. These books skim through earth science topics with clear full-spread photographs and simple sentences accessible to young science learners. The content is minimal, but clear organization and subject headings make the flow of information easy to follow. Each volume includes a basic supplemental activity with somewhat unclear explanations. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these A+ Books: Simply Science titles: The Simple Science of Dirt and The Simple Science of Rocks.

Reviewer: Kristine Caldwell

(4) YA In a familiar setup reminiscent of The Breakfast Club, four teens have little in common other than the shared fact that they've all been expelled from school. A jock, an artist, a so-called mean girl, and the class clown form unlikely friendships as they try to exonerate one another. The coauthors' conventional but enjoyable plot features elements of humor, romance, and suspense.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl