(3) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Backyard Critters series. New readers get an introduction to nonfiction with this attractive series about common backyard creepy-crawlies. The trim size is great for small hands, and every page includes a color photo and a short, clear sentence. The level-appropriate facts focus on creature essentials, including habitat, behavior, and food; a simple labeled diagram concludes each book. There are four other fall 2016 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Backyard Critters titles: Darting Dragonflies, Speedy Centipedes, Flashing Fireflies, and Slimy Snails.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Backyard Critters series. New readers get an introduction to nonfiction with this attractive series about common backyard creepy-crawlies. The trim size is great for small hands, and every page includes a color photo and a short, clear sentence. The level-appropriate facts focus on creature essentials, including habitat, behavior, and food; a simple labeled diagram concludes each book. There are four other fall 2016 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Backyard Critters titles: Darting Dragonflies, Speedy Centipedes, Flashing Fireflies, and Slimy Snails.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Responsibility in Action series. Each book shows a child performing the steps to complete a task. The texts aren't riveting ("First, we put on gloves. We all get garbage bags. Next, we split into groups"), but the clear photos will help support new readers with text/picture matching. A writing activity, word list, and "fun facts" are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Responsibility in Action titles: How I Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle and How We Clean Up a Park.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Responsibility in Action series. Each book shows a child performing the steps to complete a daily task. Most kids won't find it fascinating to watch another child pack his lunch ("I put carrots in a container. I put grapes in a container. I get a napkin"), but the clear photos will help support new readers with text/picture matching. A writing activity, word list, and "fun facts" are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Responsibility in Action titles: How I Pack My Lunch and How I Clean My Room.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Responsibility in Action series. Each book shows a child performing the steps to complete a task. The texts aren't riveting ("First, we put on gloves. We all get garbage bags. Next, we split into groups"), but the clear photos will help support new readers with text/picture matching. A writing activity, word list, and "fun facts" are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Responsibility in Action titles: How I Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle and How We Clean Up a Park.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Show Your Character series. This series uses a question-answer format to relay the importance of appropriate behavior. Although didactic in approach, rules of fairness, honesty, etc. are presented directly, and teachers and counselors may find the material useful in individual and group settings. Cluttered spreads include photographs, inserts, and graphics. Each book includes an activity (e.g., a "stand up to bullying pledge"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Show Your Character titles: Does My Voice Count?, How Can I Deal with Bullying?, When Is It My Turn?, Am I a Good Friend?, Can People Count on Me?, and How Can I Help?.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Show Your Character series. This series uses a question-answer format to relay the importance of appropriate behavior. Although didactic in approach, rules of fairness, honesty, etc. are presented directly, and teachers and counselors may find the material useful in individual and group settings. Cluttered spreads include photographs, inserts, and graphics. Each book includes an activity (e.g., a "stand up to bullying pledge"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Show Your Character titles: Does My Voice Count?, How Can I Deal with Bullying?, When Is It My Turn?, Am I a Good Friend?, Can People Count on Me?, and How Can I Help?.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Show Your Character series. This series uses a question-answer format to relay the importance of appropriate behavior. Although didactic in approach, rules of fairness, honesty, etc. are presented directly, and teachers and counselors may find the material useful in individual and group settings. Cluttered spreads include photographs, inserts, and graphics. Each book includes an activity (e.g., a "stand up to bullying pledge"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Show Your Character titles: Does My Voice Count?, How Can I Deal with Bullying?, When Is It My Turn?, Am I a Good Friend?, Can People Count on Me?, and How Can I Help?.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Sports Are Fun! series. Using the simplest of texts for new readers, these upbeat but formulaic books give basic and very broad descriptions of the title sports ("Do you like to throw and catch a ball? You can play football!"). Equipment, rules, and terminology are touched on; random "Fun Facts" are appended. Stock photos show kids playing sports. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction--Sports Are Fun! titles: Baseball Is Fun!, Basketball Is Fun!, Dance Is Fun!, Football Is Fun!, Soccer Is Fun!, and Swimming Is Fun!

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Sports Are Fun! series. Using the simplest of texts for new readers, these upbeat but formulaic books give basic and very broad descriptions of the title sports ("Do you like to throw and catch a ball? You can play football!"). Equipment, rules, and terminology are touched on; random "Fun Facts" are appended. Stock photos show kids playing sports. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction--Sports Are Fun! titles: Baseball Is Fun!, Basketball Is Fun!, Dance Is Fun!, Football Is Fun!, Soccer Is Fun!, and Swimming Is Fun!

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Sports Are Fun! series. Using the simplest of texts for new readers, these upbeat but formulaic books give basic and very broad descriptions of the title sports ("Do you like to throw and catch a ball? You can play football!"). Equipment, rules, and terminology are touched on; random "Fun Facts" are appended. Stock photos show kids playing sports. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction--Sports Are Fun! titles: Baseball Is Fun!, Basketball Is Fun!, Dance Is Fun!, Football Is Fun!, Soccer Is Fun!, and Swimming Is Fun!

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Sports Are Fun! series. Using the simplest of texts for new readers, these upbeat but formulaic books give basic and very broad descriptions of the title sports ("Do you like to throw and catch a ball? You can play football!"). Equipment, rules, and terminology are touched on; random "Fun Facts" are appended. Stock photos show kids playing sports. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction--Sports Are Fun! titles: Baseball Is Fun!, Basketball Is Fun!, Dance Is Fun!, Football Is Fun!, Soccer Is Fun!, and Swimming Is Fun!

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Sports Are Fun! series. Using the simplest of texts for new readers, these upbeat but formulaic books give basic and very broad descriptions of the title sports ("Do you like to throw and catch a ball? You can play football!"). Equipment, rules, and terminology are touched on; random "Fun Facts" are appended. Stock photos show kids playing sports. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction--Sports Are Fun! titles: Baseball Is Fun!, Basketball Is Fun!, Dance Is Fun!, Football Is Fun!, Soccer Is Fun!, and Swimming Is Fun!

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Sports Are Fun! series. Using the simplest of texts for new readers, these upbeat but formulaic books give basic and very broad descriptions of the title sports ("Do you like to throw and catch a ball? You can play football!"). Equipment, rules, and terminology are touched on; random "Fun Facts" are appended. Stock photos show kids playing sports. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction--Sports Are Fun! titles: Baseball Is Fun!, Basketball Is Fun!, Dance Is Fun!, Football Is Fun!, Soccer Is Fun!, and Swimming Is Fun!

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Start to Finish, Second Series: Nature's Cycles series. In this slight presentation, three-sentence "chapters" follow a foal from birth to adulthood at age three. Each right-hand page has a full-color photograph of the foal with her mother, in action alone or with other foals, which will draw in animal lovers. Oddly, the mare pictured on the front cover is not the mare in the interior photos. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Start to Finish, Second Series: Food series. These redesigned editions help beginning readers understand the agricultural, manufacturing, and production processes of common food items. Readers looking for greater detail will need to find additional sources, though with a few simple sentences and color photograph per spread, these books are adequate introductions. Glos., ind. Review covers these Start to Finish, Second Series titles: From Cocoa Bean to Chocolate, From Peanut to Peanut Butter, From Grass to Milk, and From Milk to Ice Cream.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 Start to Finish, Second Series: Food series. These redesigned editions help beginning readers understand the agricultural, manufacturing, and production processes of common food items. Readers looking for greater detail will need to find additional sources, though with a few simple sentences and color photograph per spread, these books are adequate introductions. Glos., ind. Review covers these Start to Finish, Second Series titles: From Cocoa Bean to Chocolate, From Peanut to Peanut Butter, From Grass to Milk, and From Milk to Ice Cream.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Graph It! series. Kids survey their classmates on familiar topics such as types of pets and transportation to school. Photos, "hand-drawn" graphs, and simple texts document clear, step-by-step processes of gathering data and representing it visually; some books are weaker than others (e.g., Circle breezes over fractions). Summaries of how the survey answers were used and a recap of graph facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Graph It titles: Let's Make a Bar Graph, Let's Make a Circle Graph, Let's Make a Picture Graph, and Let's Make a Tally Chart

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Graph It! series. Kids survey their classmates on familiar topics such as types of pets and transportation to school. Photos, "hand-drawn" graphs, and simple texts document clear, step-by-step processes of gathering data and representing it visually; some books are weaker than others (e.g., Circle breezes over fractions). Summaries of how the survey answers were used and a recap of graph facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Graph It titles: Let's Make a Bar Graph, Let's Make a Circle Graph, Let's Make a Picture Graph, and Let's Make a Tally Chart

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Tools at Work series. "You can use a wrench to fix your bike." Using one or two caption-like sentences and a large photograph per page, each formulaic book introduces beginning readers to a common tool. After identifying the tool, the text describes how it is used; a final page offers more details. Two pages of safety tips (most are the same through the series) are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Tools at Work titles: What Does a Wrench Do?, What Does a Screwdriver Do?, What Does a Hammer Do?, What Does a Level Do?, What Does a Saw Do?, and What Do Pliers Do?.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow