(4) K-3 Illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch. Sara goes fishing with her granddad for the first time. On the lake she meets his "fishing buddy," a graceful heron who points the way to the best fishing spots. There's not much story here, but the quiet text aptly reflects the special outing. The pencil, watercolor, and gouache illustrations are painted in serene pale blues, greens, and cream colors.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Habitat Explorer series. Within the framework of a fictional journey, young readers travel through five habitats: the Swiss Alps, the Amazon rainforest, the Pacific Ocean, the Florida Everglades, and the Great Prairie. The books introduce indigenous plants and animals and define interdependence, animal adaptation, and ecological balance. Photos show animal and plant close-ups. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Habitat Explorer titles: Mountain Explorer, Ocean Explorer, Rain Forest Explorer, Prairie Explorer, and Wetlands Explorer.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 Habitat Explorer series. Within the framework of a fictional journey, young readers travel through five habitats: the Swiss Alps, the Amazon rainforest, the Pacific Ocean, the Florida Everglades, and the Great Prairie. The books introduce indigenous plants and animals and define interdependence, animal adaptation, and ecological balance. Photos show animal and plant close-ups. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Habitat Explorer titles: Mountain Explorer, Ocean Explorer, Rain Forest Explorer, Prairie Explorer, and Wetlands Explorer.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Understanding People in the Past series. Twenty-eight double-page spreads give overviews of as many different aspects of Renaissance history, including government, the arts and sciences, religion, warfare, and trade. Major figures such as Michelangelo, da Vinci, Galileo, Shakespeare, and Gutenberg are introduced. The spreads are attractive, featuring many color illustrations and sidebars. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Pamela McCuen

(3) 4-6 Understanding People in the Past series. In short double-page chapters, these better-than-serviceable histories cover many different aspects of life in the Mayan and Sumerian civilizations and during the Middle Ages, including government, religion, medicine, agriculture, family, education, trade, and warfare. The spreads are attractive, featuring many illustrations, maps, and sidebars. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Understanding People in the Past titles: The Maya, The Sumerians, and The Middle Ages.]

Reviewer: Pamela McCuen