(3) 4-6 Photographs by Annie Crawley. Newman's persuasive text guides readers along on three dives with "underwater explorer," scuba instructor, and photographer/filmmaker Crawley. Examining environmental challenges faced in three regions--Indonesia's Coral Triangle, the Pacific Northwest's Salish Sea, and coastal Alaska in the Arctic Circle--this book makes clear the magnitude of the crisis facing marine habitats and, by extension, life on the planet. The discussion includes profiles of scientists, volunteers, and young eco-activists working to study existing damage and to educate people about why we need to care. An online feature connects readers to videos from Crawley's dives; tips on "visual storytelling" and "things you can do to make a difference" are appended. Includes source notes, a glossary, selected bibliography, lists of books and websites, and an index.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 Scientist Katy Payne and her Elephant Listening Project team have spent decades learning how elephants communicate and using this knowledge to help conservation efforts. Clear text and many excellent photos help readers understand the long process of scientific research and how scientists build on one anothers' efforts. QR codes allow kids to listen to elephant sounds in "Elephant Dictionary" sidebars. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) 4-6 Photographs by Annie Crawley. Zoos today don't only house exotic animals for people's entertainment. Going behind the scenes at different zoos, Newman introduces three dedicated scientists whose research and conservation work with orangutans, black-footed ferrets, and black rhinos, respectively, help each endangered species survive and thrive. Their fascinating scientific studies are described in conversational text and illustrated with photos from the field. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 What kept the seagrass in California's Elkhorn Slough so healthy, despite fertilizer runoff from nearby farms? When marine biologist Brent Hughes investigated this question, he learned the vital role sea otters play in the slough ecosystem. The book's wide, picture-book trim size accommodates the many photos and diagrams that supplement the fairly advanced, fascinating scientific information in the text. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) 4-6 Using simple, clear language, Newman explains how the virus was named, then traces it from that first experience through the 2014 epidemic; resources for updates post-publication are provided. Protocols that health-care workers follow, educational efforts, reactions by communities--these and other matters receive careful, non-hysterical coverage. Captioned color photos, maps, and charts illustrate the volume. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) 4-6 Photographs by Annie Crawley. Here readers travel to the Pacific Garbage Patch with three graduate-student scientists as they try to determine the effect of plastics on the sea. There's solid explanation of their hypotheses and research, and emphasis on the researchers' experiences lends a personal feel. Questions of how plastic may harm the oceans, its inhabitants, and even humans encourage further inquiry. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(4) 4-6 ShockZone--True Survival Stories series. Each thin volume shares six to eight (mostly) contemporary stories of extreme survival, including a 2005 grizzly bear attack on a father and daughter and a boy's eight-day ordeal buried in rubble in the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Readers will be grabbed by a mix of harrowing details and eye-catching color photographs. The stories and appended safety tips are superficially presented but are nonetheless fascinating. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Shockzone--True Survival Stories titles: Surviving Accidents and Crashes, Surviving Natural Disasters, Surviving the Wilderness, Surviving in Cold Places, Surviving in Wild Waters, and Surviving Animal Attacks.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Military Special Ops series. This series focuses on special operations groups from the various branches of the U.S. military. Each volume opens with an account of a past mission before moving on to a brief overview of the elite group's history, specialized equipment, training regimen, and selection process. The accessible layout features lots of photos and informative sidebars. Some readers may find the small type size off-putting. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Military Special Ops titles: Air Commandos, Army Delta Force, Army Special Forces, and Navy SEALs.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(4) 4-6 Military Special Ops series. This series focuses on special operations groups from the various branches of the U.S. military. Each volume opens with an account of a past mission before moving on to a brief overview of the elite group's history, specialized equipment, training regimen, and selection process. The accessible layout features lots of photos and informative sidebars. Some readers may find the small type size off-putting. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Military Special Ops titles: Air Commandos, Army Delta Force, Army Special Forces, and Navy SEALs.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Aaron Zenz. A boy tours an aircraft carrier, accompanied by Lieutenant Jake Guttman (a.k.a. Gutts). The text of this well-illustrated picture book is almost exclusively military jargon ("Let's check out my bird in the hanger"); key terms are defined at the bottom of each double-page spread. Readers interested in the subject will be enthralled while everyone else will be utterly stumped. Reading list, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. In this colloquial monologue about steam-powered freight trains, circa 1926, a grandfatherly engineer takes a young friend to see his train, introduces his fellow railroad workers, and identifies the various freight cars. Kids will come away with an appreciation for this bygone mode of transport. Chesworth's watercolor and pencil illustrations have an inviting, kid-friendly quality--especially in the action sequences.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2004