(4) K-3 Start to Finish series. A clean design and clear texts make these books accessible if slight nonfiction choices. Each two-page "chapter" consists of several sentences describing a phase of the plant's growth on the left; right-hand pages feature large, appealing photographs--mostly close-up shots of the plant at the corresponding stage of development. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Start to Finish titles: From Acorn to Oak Tree, From Cone to Pine Tree, From Seed to Cactus, From Seed to Cattail, and From Spore to Mushroom.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) K-3 Start to Finish series. A clean design and clear texts make these books accessible if slight nonfiction choices. Each two-page "chapter" consists of several sentences describing a phase of the plant's growth on the left; right-hand pages feature large, appealing photographs--mostly close-up shots of the plant at the corresponding stage of development. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Start to Finish titles: From Acorn to Oak Tree, From Cone to Pine Tree, From Seed to Cactus, From Seed to Cattail, and From Spore to Mushroom.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) K-3 Start to Finish series. A clean design and clear texts make these books accessible if slight nonfiction choices. Each two-page "chapter" consists of several sentences describing a phase of the plant's growth on the left; right-hand pages feature large, appealing photographs--mostly close-up shots of the plant at the corresponding stage of development. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Start to Finish titles: From Acorn to Oak Tree, From Cone to Pine Tree, From Seed to Cactus, From Seed to Cattail, and From Spore to Mushroom.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) K-3 Start to Finish series. A clean design and clear texts make these books accessible if slight nonfiction choices. Four- to five-sentence "chapters" follow insects from egg to adulthood. Each right-hand page provides a close-up, full-color photograph of the creature, often in the context of the hive (Honeybee) or egg cluster (Ladybug). Both volumes briefly touch on the insects' important roles in agriculture. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Start to Finish titles: From Egg to Honeybee and From Egg to Ladybug.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) K-3 Start to Finish series. A clean design and clear texts make these books accessible if slight nonfiction choices. Four- to five-sentence "chapters" follow the basics of a gardening project (Garden; Compost) or a specific plant's life cycle (Strawberry; Sunflower). Large, appealing stock photographs feature a diverse group of people working or enjoying the fruits and vegetables they have nurtured. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Start to Finish titles: From Garbage to Compost, From Seed to Strawberry, From Seed to Sunflower, and From Soil to Garden.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) K-3 Start to Finish series. A clean design and clear texts make these books accessible if slight nonfiction choices. Four- to five-sentence "chapters" follow insects from egg to adulthood. Each right-hand page provides a close-up, full-color photograph of the creature, often in the context of the hive (Honeybee) or egg cluster (Ladybug). Both volumes briefly touch on the insects' important roles in agriculture. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Start to Finish titles: From Egg to Honeybee and From Egg to Ladybug.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) K-3 Playing with Words series. Each book opens with a brief definition of the focal word type, then provides occasionally substantive but often bland sample sentences with the relevant words called out in bold (e.g., "I take a ride in a plain plane" in Homophones). Bright, relevant stock photos accompany the texts and occasionally aid in decoding. There are six other fall 2016 books in this series. Reading list. Review covers the following Playing with Words titles: Cupcakes for My Birthday, I See the Sea, Mom, Pop, and Tot, Doctor by Day, Ninja by Night, In and Out, and Smelly, Stinky Skunk.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Start to Finish series. Four- to five-sentence "chapters" follow mammals from birth to adulthood, briefly touching on behavior and diet in addition to development. Each right-hand page provides a vivid, full-color photograph of cubs or joeys with their mothers, in action alone or with others of their species. Slight but engaging, these titles will draw in animal lovers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Start to Finish titles: From Cub to Panda, From Cub to Tiger, and From Joey to Kangaroo.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) K-3 Start to Finish series. Four- to five-sentence "chapters" follow sea turtle hatchlings from egg to adulthood, briefly touching on behavior and diet in addition to development. Each right-hand page provides a full-color photograph of hatchlings, in action alone or with other turtles. Oddly, the stock photos show a wide variety of sea turtle species, which readers may find confusing. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Social Media Sensations series. In ten or eleven brief chapters, each volume covers a social network's history, features, primary audience, and uses for businesses and charitable causes. The texts are accessible if dry; sidebars and stock photos (many featuring diverse young people enjoying their devices) add visual interest. An at-a-glance guide to the network, including quick facts and safety tips, is appended. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Checkerboard Library: Social Media Sensations titles: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, Flickr, Pinterest, and Vine.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) 4-6 Rev Up Your Writing series. Illustrated by Mernie Gallagher-Cole. Each book defines the titular writing form; highlights key elements (such as salutation and signature in Letters or characters and setting in Fictional); and suggests tips for planning, finding inspiration, and writing form-appropriate pieces. The titles covering nonfiction unfortunately do not discuss citation strategies. Sample writing passages with associated questions reinforce the serviceable instruction; cartoonish illustrations break up the text. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Rev Up Your Writing titles: Rev Up Your Writing in Informational Texts, Rev Up Your Writing in Nonfiction Narratives, Rev Up Your Writing in Blogs, Rev Up Your Writing in Fictional Stories, Rev Up Your Writing in Letters and E-mails, Rev Up Your Writing in Opinion Pieces, and Rev Up Your Writing in Procedural Texts.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Start to Finish, Second Series: Nature's Treasures series. A clean design and clear texts make these books solid, basic nonfiction choices. The appealing photographs feature a diverse group of people working or enjoying the products. The occasionally awkward writing ("In the kitchen, gardeners become bakers") doesn't fully diminish the interesting overall concept of explaining how food and spices are made. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Start to Finish, Second Series: Nature's Treasures titles: From Goat to Cheese, From Pumpkin to Pie, From Sea to Salt, From Strawberry to Jam, and From Sugar Beet to Sugar.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 4-6 Engineering Keeps Us Safe series. In well-written, not-overly-technical prose, these books explain how engineers have protected us from natural disasters by building sturdier homes and buildings and stronger infrastructure; and how engineers have made transportation safer and more reliable. Clear diagrams and well-captioned photos effectively complement the informative texts. This series could spark interest in STEM careers. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Engineering Keeps Us Safe titles: What Makes Vehicles Safer? and What Protects Us During Natural Disasters?.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) K-3 Start to Finish, Second Series: Nature's Treasures series. A clean design and clear texts make these books solid, basic nonfiction choices. The appealing photographs feature a diverse group of people working or enjoying the products. The occasionally awkward writing ("In the kitchen, gardeners become bakers") doesn't fully diminish the interesting overall concept of explaining how food and spices are made. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Start to Finish, Second Series: Nature's Treasures titles: From Goat to Cheese, From Pumpkin to Pie, From Sea to Salt, From Strawberry to Jam, and From Sugar Beet to Sugar.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Start to Finish, Second Series: Nature's Treasures series. Appealing photographs, clean design, and clear text make this volume a solid but basic nonfiction choice. Occasionally awkward writing doesn't fully diminish the overall concept of explaining how tulips bloom from bulbs. The final photo (a little girl with glasses and a puppy) feels posed, but this book will appeal to beginning readers and future gardeners alike. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Start to Finish, Second Series: Nature's Treasures series. A clean design and clear texts make these books solid, basic nonfiction choices. The appealing photographs feature a diverse group of people working or enjoying the products. The occasionally awkward writing ("In the kitchen, gardeners become bakers") doesn't fully diminish the interesting overall concept of explaining how food and spices are made. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Start to Finish, Second Series: Nature's Treasures titles: From Goat to Cheese, From Pumpkin to Pie, From Sea to Salt, From Strawberry to Jam, and From Sugar Beet to Sugar.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Start to Finish, Second Series: Nature's Treasures series. A clean design and clear texts make these books solid, basic nonfiction choices. The appealing photographs feature a diverse group of people working or enjoying the products. The occasionally awkward writing ("In the kitchen, gardeners become bakers") doesn't fully diminish the interesting overall concept of explaining how food and spices are made. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Start to Finish, Second Series: Nature's Treasures titles: From Goat to Cheese, From Pumpkin to Pie, From Sea to Salt, From Strawberry to Jam, and From Sugar Beet to Sugar.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Start to Finish, Second Series: Nature's Treasures series. A clean design and clear texts make these books solid, basic nonfiction choices. The appealing photographs feature a diverse group of people working or enjoying the products. The occasionally awkward writing ("In the kitchen, gardeners become bakers") doesn't fully diminish the interesting overall concept of explaining how food and spices are made. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Start to Finish, Second Series: Nature's Treasures titles: From Goat to Cheese, From Pumpkin to Pie, From Sea to Salt, From Strawberry to Jam, and From Sugar Beet to Sugar.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Perspectives Flip Books: Issues series. Designed to help students understand and debate the two titular issues, each book presents one side; flip it over to read about the other. Both books present reasonable ideas and approaches but will become out-of-date soon (e.g., social media rapidly changes). Stock photos and graphs illustrate the texts; discussion questions and a pro-and-con summary are included. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Perspectives Flip Books: Issues titles: Punishing Bullies and Social Media.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Searchlight Books: Do You Know the Continents? series. This boilerplate series provides basic information about the continent it covers in serviceable but generic prose. While the overview is mostly cursory, some engaging details about the smallest continent's uniqueness are welcome. Brief chapters provide information on states and cities, climate, landforms, natural resources, people, cultures, and economics. Colorful stock photos, maps, and sidebars appear throughout. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello