(4) K-3 Explorers! series. These simple, basic biographies explain the origins, drives, and discoveries of the three featured explorers, as well as their violent (or in the case of Cabot, mysterious) ends. Although the books don't contain a lot of information, they will prove useful to report writers, especially those who struggle with reading. Photos, maps, and (sometimes blurry) reproductions appear throughout. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Explorers! titles: John Cabot, La Salle, and Vasco Núñez.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) K-3 Explorers! series. These simple, basic biographies explain the origins, drives, and discoveries of the three featured explorers, as well as their violent (or in the case of Cabot, mysterious) ends. Although the books don't contain a lot of information, they will prove useful to report writers, especially those who struggle with reading. Photos, maps, and (sometimes blurry) reproductions appear throughout. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Explorers! titles: John Cabot, La Salle, and Vasco Núñez.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) K-3 Explorers! series. These straightforward books focus primarily on the explorations and discoveries of Hudson and Ponce de León, while acknowledging the limited amount of information known about the two men. Illustrated with reproductions and maps tinted with pastel hues, the books provide good jumping-off points for report writers. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Explorers! titles: Henry Hudson and Ponce de León.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) K-3 Transportation and Communication series. This formulaic book begins with the gigantic crawler-transporters used by NASA to move space vehicles, then moves on to more familiar vehicles, briefly exploring light and medium trucks and large rigs. The simplistic text limits information, but children drawn to the color photographs will find the book engaging. Sidebars, a timeline, and websites are included. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) K-3 Explorers! series. These straightforward books focus primarily on the explorations and discoveries of Hudson and Ponce de León, while acknowledging the limited amount of information known about the two men. Illustrated with reproductions and maps tinted with pastel hues, the books provide good jumping-off points for report writers. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Explorers! titles: Henry Hudson and Ponce de León.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) K-3 Transportation and Communication series. In each book, a clear and interesting text and sharp color photos briefly cover such topics as history, various kinds of bridges or houses, construction, and building materials. An overly fussy design detracts from the book's usefulness. Bridges contains an experiment about bridge strength; Houses includes directions for building a model tepee. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Structure titles: Bridges and Houses.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) K-3 Explorers! series. Each of the books in this series provides some biographical information, but the focus is on the exploration, the time period, and the geography. The choppy text is illustrated with archival pictures and maps. The illustrations make the fairly dry texts somewhat more inviting, but their captions are sometimes confusing. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Explorers! titles: Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Hernán Cortés, and Lewis and Clark.]

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 Explorers! series. Each of the books in this series provides some biographical information, but the focus is on the exploration, the time period, and the geography. The choppy text is illustrated with archival pictures and maps. The illustrations make the fairly dry texts somewhat more inviting, but their captions are sometimes confusing. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Explorers! titles: Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Hernán Cortés, and Lewis and Clark.]

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 Explorers! series. Each of the books in this series provides some biographical information, but the focus is on the exploration, the time period, and the geography. The choppy text is illustrated with archival pictures and maps. The illustrations make the fairly dry texts somewhat more inviting, but their captions are sometimes confusing. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Explorers! titles: Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Hernán Cortés, and Lewis and Clark.]

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 Transportation and Communication series. The brief, somewhat overbroad books in this series are formulaic in nature. Each begins with a dramatic episode (Ships features the sinking of the Titanic; Airplanes briefly profiles Lindbergh and Earhart) followed by historical material, information on careers in radio, aviation, and the shipping industry, and a look to the future. Illustrated with mediocre color photos, the books are fairly superficial. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Transportation and Communication titles: The History of Radio, Airplanes, and Ships and Boats.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) K-3 Explorers! series. Each of the books in this series provides some biographical information, but the focus is on the exploration, the time period, and the geography. The choppy text is illustrated with archival pictures and maps. The illustrations make the fairly dry texts somewhat more inviting, but their captions are sometimes confusing. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Explorers! titles: Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Hernán Cortés, and Lewis and Clark.]

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 4-6 Extreme Sports series. Bold, energetic color photographs capture the excitement of these "extreme" sports. Short chapters written in a simple, accessible--if somewhat bland--style introduce the skills, equipment, and safety precautions required. Acknowledging the level of difficulty involved in these daring sports, the volumes are more surveys than "how-to" books. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck