(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Brief chapters introduce newly independent readers to some aspects of the structure, function, and history surrounding Egyptian pyramids. The final chapter ("Still Exploring") effectively highlights recent theories and scientific techniques currently being applied in archaeology. Images of artifacts, photographs of tomb sites, and computer-generated maps, all captioned, introduce readers to myriad sources of historical evidence. "Egypt Word" boxes highlight key vocabulary. Glos.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 National Geographic Kids Readers series. Stunning photographs and a simple text leveled for "reading independently" make this engaging nonfiction for young readers. The things bees produce for people, their work as pollinators, and their social lives in hives are shown in eye-catching detail. Boxes featuring definitions and jokes are interspersed throughout. Safety tips, a quiz, and a photo glossary complete the information-rich presentation.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 National Geographic Kids Readers series. Stunning photographs and a simple "Level 1" text with a good amount of information make this engaging nonfiction for new readers. Swimming, eating, hatching, or walking, the photos help explain behaviors and adaptive features of many turtles or tortoises. Boxes featuring definitions and jokes are interspersed throughout the book. A photo identification quiz at the end further encourages detailed observation. Glos.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. This level-one reader features brief chapters, an accessible text, and lots of colorful, captioned photos. In addition to introducing nonfiction-book conventions, this title offers clear information about giraffes' habitat, physical adaptations, diet, and behaviors. Word definition boxes and a few jokes are interspersed throughout. A quiz and a photo glossary complete the presentation.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. This colorful early reader combines scientific information and funny jokes to highlight the differences between alligators and crocodiles. Playful chapter titles introduce topics such as diet, physical attributes, and habitats. Attention-grabbing photos are paired with simple sentences to make these books accessible and enjoyable for emergent readers. Fun facts and a quiz encouraging memory recall and further thinking are included. Glos.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Brief chapters introduce newly independent readers to the titular subjects. Ugly highlights several animals' quirky physical adaptations. Coral includes some more nuanced information on reefs (e.g., a labeled diagram of reef zones). Bright photos, labeled and at times captioned, clarify textual content, while boxes featuring definitions and jokes increase the books' approachability. A quiz and picture glossary are appended. Review covers the following National Geographic Readers titles: Ugly Animals and Coral Reefs.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Brief chapters (most with two or three sentences per page) introduce early readers to red pandas' habitat, behaviors, and physical adaptations and characteristics. Bright captioned photos provide visual resting points and elaborate on textual content. Boxes featuring definitions and jokes are interspersed throughout, and a photo identification game and picture glossary are appended.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. This collection comprises four previously published beginning readers: Sea Otters, Manatees, Sea Turtles, and Weird Sea Creatures. Simple sentences, a few corny jokes, and well-captioned full-page photos support young readers. Boxed definitions and picture glossaries help with the sometimes challenging vocabulary in the leveled text. Quizzes and suggested activities are included.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. These solid leveled readers about the title animals feature simple, clear sentences; attractive, well-labeled photographs; and strong organization. The layouts are energetic, and new readers will especially appreciate the inclusion of jokes. A picture puzzle concludes Koalas, and a "Stump Your Parents" quiz wraps up Manatees; both include a table of contents and a photo glossary. Review covers these National Geographic Readers titles: Koalas and Manatees.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. These solid leveled readers about the title animals feature simple, clear sentences; attractive, well-labeled photographs; and strong organization. The layouts are energetic, and new readers will especially appreciate the inclusion of jokes. A picture puzzle concludes Koalas, and a "Stump Your Parents" quiz wraps up Manatees; both include a table of contents and a photo glossary. Review covers these National Geographic Readers titles: Koalas and Manatees.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Easy-to-read text and format uses interesting facts in a structured way to introduce owls to new readers. Section titles are clear and encourage use of the table of contents. Vocabulary words are defined in "bird boxes" and a picture glossary. Close-up, vivid, well-labeled photographs fill each page. A few jokes are scattered throughout; there is a quiz at the end.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Easy-to-read text and format uses interesting facts in a structured way to introduce sea otters to new readers. Section titles are clear and encourage use of the table of contents. Vocabulary words are defined in "otter word" boxes and a picture glossary. Close-up, vivid, well-labeled photographs fill each page. A few jokes are scattered throughout; there is a quiz at the end.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. These colorful books combine educational information and funny jokes to invite readers into the lives of polar bears and monkeys. Playful chapter titles introduce topics such as diet, physical aspects, and habitats. The attention-grabbing photos of animals in the wild paired with simple sentences make these books accessible and enjoyable. Appended quizzes encourage memory recall and further thinking. Glos. Review covers these National Geographic Readers titles: Polar Bears and Monkeys.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. This leveled-reader volume delivers information and cool facts on how caterpillars become butterflies as well as physical traits, habits, and predatory threats. Some words may be challenging (e.g., chrysalis), but clear pronunciation guidance is provided. Emergent readers will be pleased by crystal-clear color photos, jokes, and a jazzy but uncluttered layout. A word-to-picture matching spread accessibly rehashes the information. Glos.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Double-page spreads with attention-grabbing headlines deliver information and cool facts on tiger and wolf behavior, physical traits, habitats, and conservation status. Newly independent readers will be pleased by these leveled-reader volumes' simple texts, crystal-clear color photos, and jazzy but uncluttered layouts. Appended "Stump Your Parents" quizzes (with answers) accessibly rehash the information. Glos. Review covers these National Geographic Readers titles: Tigers and Wolves.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Double-page spreads with attention-grabbing headlines deliver information and cool facts on tiger and wolf behavior, physical traits, habitats, and conservation status. Newly independent readers will be pleased by these leveled-reader volumes' simple texts, crystal-clear color photos, and jazzy but uncluttered layouts. Appended "Stump Your Parents" quizzes (with answers) accessibly rehash the information. Glos. Review covers these National Geographic Readers titles: Tigers and Wolves.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Clear color photos highlight these creatures' weirdnesses, while the accessible text explains how their strange features help them survive and thrive in their ocean habitat. The inviting pages combine easy-to-read text, photos, and riddles such as this groaner: "Q. Which fish lights up at night? A. A starfish!" A quiz and brief photo glossary are appended.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Clear color photos highlight images associated with the holiday, while the accessible text provides emerging readers with information about activities, costumes, pumpkins, and more. The inviting pages combine easy-to-read text, photos, and riddles such as this groaner: "Q. What does a ghost eat for lunch? A. A boo-logna sandwich!" A quiz and brief photo glossary are appended.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. This leveled reader offers very basic information about sea turtles. Clearly delineated headings introduce each subtopic (e.g., "Nestbuilding," "Sea Turtle Rescue"). Simple sentence structures, along with corny jokes ("What kind of phone does a sea turtle have? A shell phone!"), excellent well-captioned photos, and sidebars, increase accessibility. Glos.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. These leveled readers offer very basic information about the title animals. Clearly delineated headings introduce each subtopic (e.g., "What Is a Pony?"). Simple sentence structures, along with corny jokes ("On which day do cheetahs eat their prey? Chewsday!"), excellent well-captioned photos, and sidebars, increase accessibility. Glos. Review covers these National Geographic Readers titles: Cheetahs and Ponies.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz