(4) K-3 Kingfisher Readers series. In each volume, an easy-to-read if choppy text provides basic information on the titular animal, touching on habitat, physical characteristics and adaptations, and diet. Written at a slightly more advanced level, Chimpanzees features topical two-page chapters. Relevant photos (to which the text periodically refers) provide resting points and often illustrate the concepts. Glos. Review covers these Kingfisher Readers titles: Seals and Chimpanzees.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Kingfisher Readers series. This is a very basic look at the African savanna, illustrated with stock photos (some animals pictured aren't identified). The easy-to-read text presents random facts, and children will come away with a general if limited sense of the habitat. Each two-page spread focuses on a distinct topic; highlighted words in the text are defined in an appended glossary.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(4) K-3 Kingfisher Readers series. Two-page spreads introduce the five senses before discussing each sense individually and highlighting a few animals using the "amazing" sense. The labeled photos and a diagram of a signal moving through a mouse's nervous system help illustrate the concepts. The beginning-reader text is superficial but accessible. Glos.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 Kingfisher Readers series. Amid just a bit of fearmongering, this lively book gives good information about spiders, such as their distribution, classification, methods of capturing and hunting prey, silk-spinning, mating, and significant differences from insects. Numerous photos closely match the text, and the relatively few spider species that are dangerous to humans (one hundred out of approximately 38,000) are described carefully. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 Kingfisher Readers series. The double-spreads of this simple reader give basic information about thirteen river-related topics, including the water cycle, rivers and people, and dams and water power. Definitions are accurate, if limited, and captioned illustrations match the text well. Sidebars--often with photos--add related facts to the bits of science, history, and culture in the text. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Kingfisher Readers series. Offering limited information about their subjects, which is suitable for the reading levels noted, these slim books feature lots of colorful photos and somewhat halting texts that closely match the photos. Rainforest uses a double-spread format with headings; Colors has continuous text that's more like captions for the photos. Rainforest doesn't distinguish between tropical and temperate rainforests. Glos. Review covers these Kingfisher Readers titles: Animal Colors and In the Rainforest.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Explorers series. Illustrated by Peter Bull. Various wild cats are spotlighted on busy double-page spreads. Short bits of text and picture captions relate the information haphazardly while a mix of color photographs and digital illustrations show the animals in action as they hunt, eat, and care for their young. A "More to explore" spread with a random assortment of facts concludes the book. Ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 Kingfisher Readers series. "Fur or feathers help an animal stay warm"; mammals groom their fur and birds preen their feathers; a male peacock's tail feathers and a male lion's mane both attract mates. By comparing the similarities and differences between feathers and fur, this nicely organized early reader explores mammals and birds. Direct text and engaging color photos are well suited to new readers. Glos.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Habitat Survival series. Following a brief definition of the habitat, each book details physical and behavioral adaptations that allow plant and animal species to survive in it; more in-depth concepts such as food webs, predator-prey interactions, and human relationships--both harmonious and destructive--with the habitats are also included. Color photographs of the organisms and maps of geographical locales accompany straightforward text. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Habitat Survival titles: Oceans and Deserts.

Reviewer: Devon Johnson

(4) K-3 Explorers series. In this browsable book, crowded double-page spreads cover the basics about reptile habitat, diet, predacious behavior, survival, young, and conservation. The sound-bite information appears in short paragraphs all over the pages; captioned photos and illustrations provide examples related to each topic. Icons intended to link common themes throughout the book (habitats, plants, etc.) can be more confusing than helpful. Ind.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Kate Sheppard. Nine creatures send letters soliciting various bits of advice from nature expert Dr. K. Fisher (a bird); he replies with random facts about rivers, continents, mountains, climates, and other earth-science topics. The cartoon and collage illustrations are amusing but unfocused. A few cross-sections and maps are included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Kate Sheppard. Of marginal interest to browsers, this pseudo-advice column features a variety of subjects, from the effects of temperature on bird flight to animal hydration to seasonal adaptation to thunderstorms. The collage illustrations are amusing but unfocused. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Kate Sheppard. This lightweight title is more suited to browsing than research. Written in the style of an advice column, the text supplies a mishmash of facts about such topics as weaverbirds' nests, giraffes' diets, and mackerel schools. The cartoon and collage illustrations are amusing, though the busy layouts make it difficult to know where to focus attention. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Kate Sheppard. This lightweight contribution to the dinosaur book genre is more suited to browsing than research. Written in the style of an advice column, the text supplies facts about dinosaur defenses, mating habits, peculiarities of anatomy, and other topics. The cartoon and collage illustrations are amusing, though the busy layouts make it difficult to know where to focus attention. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Heavily illustrated double-page spreads present anecdotal stories of historical discoveries. The text briefly describes the earliest identification of dinosaur fossils, the discovery of gold in California, and the finding of the sunken Titanic, as well as the unearthing of several other unknown or long-lost wonders. The busy volume is browsable and interesting but ultimately superficial in its coverage. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) K-3 Starting Life series. Illustrated by Simon Mendez. Pages cut progressively wider and marked for easy reference follow the development of ladybugs from egg to larva to pupa to adult. The basic information is here, but the captioned labels and text compete for attention within spreads containing realistic illustrations of the meadow setting. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Starting Life series. Illustrated by Simon Mendez. Pages cut progressively wider and marked for easy reference follow the development of crocodiles from egg to hatchling to juvenile to adult. The basic information is here, but the captioned labels and text compete for attention within spreads containing realistic illustrations of the mangrove swamp setting. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Starting Life series. Illustrated by Simon Mendez. The life cycle of an apple tree, from a seed to bearing fruit, is straightforwardly discussed; sophisticated readers can learn from the ancillary information presented in smaller font throughout. The colorful illustrations resemble nature photos, but there are enough visual treats--extreme close-ups of bugs, glimpses of worms under the soil--to attract the attention of non-nature enthusiasts. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Starting Life series. Illustrated by Simon Mendez. The life cycle of a mallard, from egg to adult, is lucidly discussed; sophisticated readers can learn from the ancillary information presented in smaller font throughout. The colorful illustrations resemble nature photos, but enough liberties are taken--we see what's inside the egg, what's beneath the water's surface--to attract the attention of non-nature enthusiasts. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Centuries-old museum pieces illustrate each full-page profile discussing the faith, persecution, and contribution of each of over two dozen featured saints. The idea is sound, but regrettably, the process of canonization and what it means to be a patron saint remain unclear. Sidebars list individual feast days, and a calendar of feast days and list of relevant notable people append the text. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr