(3) K-3 American Museum of Natural History Easy Readers series. From fastest runners and swimmers to deep-water and desert dwellers, these volumes present some extreme traits and habitats of animals ranging from the familiar (cheetahs, polar bears) to the unusual (giant tubeworms, microscopic water bears). The striking color photographs and astounding facts delivered via engaging prose ("It can grab an insect faster than you can blink your eyes") will captivate beginning readers. Review covers these American Museum of Natural History Easy Readers titles: Extreme Survivors and World's Fastest Animals.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Zachary Pullen. A romp through history using famous animals as the linchpin, this compendium delivers stories historically significant (Alexander the Great and horse Bucephalus) and culturally cherished (Punxsutawney Phil). Some chapters in the entertaining but text-heavy book, such as one relating the origin of teddy bears to a Theodore Roosevelt anecdote, strain for topical relevance. Photographs and cartoony oil-on-linen paintings illustrate the accounts. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Lela Nargi

(4) PS Illustrated by Nicole Fazio. The rhymed text, to the tune of "Over in the Meadow," counts Maine's sea and bird life from one to ten: "Down East in the ocean," one baby seal, three ospreys, four crabs, eight clams, and ten lobsters swim, fly, crawl, squirt, and hide, respectively. Illustrations are appropriately framed with ocean-life motifs. The package, though slight, has regional appeal.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Graphic Universe: History's Kid Heroes series. Adapted by Amanda Doering Tourville. Illustrated by Zachary Trover. These cartoon-panel biographies (with awkward invented dialogue) highlight real-life children and teens facing potential disaster and emerging as heroes. From fashioning snowshoes in order to brave a blizzard to helping rescue shipwrecked sailors to saving a family--and the family's chickens--from being washed out to sea, the subjects' exploits are noteworthy. Somewhat stiff and overly cheery cartoons illustrate the tales. Reading list, websites. Review covers these Graphic Universe: History's Kid Heroes titles: The Lifesaving Adventure of Sam Deal, Shipwreck Rescuer, The Stormy Adventure of Abbie Burgess, Lighthouse Keeper, and The Snowshoeing Adventure of Milton Daub, Blizzard Trekker.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Rebecca Zomchek. This book presents brief biographies of eighteen notable men and women. There are no surprises here: individuals include historical figures (e.g., Sacagawea, Paul Revere, Frederick Douglass), international heroes (Gandhi, Churchill, Nelson Mandela), and contemporary newsmakers (Sonia Sotomayor, Barack Obama). The informative if lackluster text is accompanied by photos and occasional caricaturish illustrations. Ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Visit To series. In each revised and updated book, thirteen double-page spreads with one photo per page cover topics such as landmarks (natural and man-made), dress (traditional and modern), homes, transportation, and leisure activities. Unremarkable texts, consisting of a few large-type sentences under each picture, point out similarities to American customs while introducing cultural traditions. Pronunciation guides for a few words are included. Glos., ind. Review covers these Visit To titles: Cambodia, China, India, Japan, and Vietnam.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Visit To series. In each revised and updated book, thirteen double-page spreads with one photo per page cover topics such as landmarks (natural and man-made), dress (traditional and modern), homes, transportation, and leisure activities. Unremarkable texts, consisting of a few large-type sentences under each picture, point out similarities to American customs while introducing cultural traditions. Pronunciation guides for a few words are included. Glos., ind. Review covers these Visit To titles: Cambodia, China, India, Japan, and Vietnam.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Visit To series. In each revised and updated book, thirteen double-page spreads with one photo per page cover topics such as landmarks (natural and man-made), dress (traditional and modern), homes, transportation, and leisure activities. Unremarkable texts, consisting of a few large-type sentences under each picture, point out similarities to American customs while introducing cultural traditions. Pronunciation guides for a few words are included. Glos., ind. Review covers these Visit To titles: Cambodia, China, India, Japan, and Vietnam.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Visit To series. In this revised and updated book, thirteen double-page spreads with one photo per page cover such topics as landmarks, dress (traditional and modern), food, work, and school. Unremarkable text, consisting of a few large-type sentences under each picture, point out similarities to American customs while introducing traditions unique to Egyptian culture. A pronunciation guide of a few words is included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Visit To series. In each revised and updated book, thirteen double-page spreads with one photo per page cover topics such as landmarks (natural and man-made), dress (traditional and modern), homes, transportation, and leisure activities. Unremarkable texts, consisting of a few large-type sentences under each picture, point out similarities to American customs while introducing cultural traditions. Pronunciation guides for a few words are included. Glos., ind. Review covers these Visit To titles: Costa Rica, Colombia, and Brazil.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Visit To series. In each revised and updated book, thirteen double-page spreads with one photo per page cover topics such as landmarks (natural and man-made), dress (traditional and modern), homes, transportation, and leisure activities. Unremarkable texts, consisting of a few large-type sentences under each picture, point out similarities to American customs while introducing cultural traditions. Pronunciation guides for a few words are included. Glos., ind. Review covers these Visit To titles: Cambodia, China, India, Japan, and Vietnam.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Charlie Powell. This book introduces readers to seventeen Americans who achieved success in areas as diverse as politics, sports, science, and the arts. Presidents Washington and Lincoln are included, along with individuals such as Madam C. J. Walker and Mia Hamm. The simplistic four-page biographies provide basic if limited information. Cartoonish caricatures of each individual are superimposed over a black-and-white photograph. Ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 This book focuses on America's major rivers, including the Hudson (and the Erie Canal), Mississippi, and Columbia. In small, hard-to-read type, the authors discuss each river's physical characteristics and early history, as well as the river's impact on human settlements and commerce. Maps, drawings, and photographs (with captions in even smaller type) enhance the text. Reading list, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Gwen Connelly & Gwen Connelly. This slim volume explains who St. Patrick was and how the holiday is celebrated in America and in Ireland. Blandly cheerful illustrations, an easy-to-read text, riddles, craft ideas, and information about leprechauns and the Blarney stone create a bit of a hodgepodge; nevertheless, primary schoolers (and teachers and librarians planning programs) may find the book useful.

Reviewer: Pamela McCuen

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Michael McCurdy. Formatted as a multi-part letter written while he was a prisoner of the British in the War of 1812, this account of the early career of David Farragut compels attention. Initially a little confusing because of numerous flashbacks, the imagined letter offers anecdotes and woodcut illustrations showing the assumption of command by the twelve-year-old American captain and future admiral. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 In Their Own Words series. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs and reproductions, the biographies in this series feature excerpts from the subjects' writings (if they exist) and other primary sources to present fairly complete pictures of these historical figures. The texts are accessible and straightforward but generally dry. A timeline and a list of resources are appended. Bib., ind. [Review covers these titles: Benjamin Franklin, Christopher Columbus, Harriet Tubman, Helen Keller, Pocahontas.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 4-6 In Their Own Words series. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs and reproductions, the biographies in this series feature excerpts from the subjects' writings (if they exist) and other primary sources to present fairly complete pictures of these historical figures. The texts are accessible and straightforward but generally dry. A timeline and a list of resources are appended. Bib., ind. [Review covers these titles: Benjamin Franklin, Christopher Columbus, Harriet Tubman, Helen Keller, Pocahontas.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Gwen Connelly. Brief profiles of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, glimpses of other White House occupants, and assorted presidential facts ("Can a President Start a War?" "Do Children Like Living in the White House?") make for a breezy, scattershot treatment of this February holiday. Generic illustrations are undistinguished but adequate. Directions for a related activity are included at the end of the book.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Thomas B. Allen. Nine-year-old Laura describes her 1871 Arctic voyage on her father's whaling ship. A deft mixture of mundane details (daily meals, schoolwork) and exciting experiences (whale sightings, storms) lends an authentic feel to Laura's diary, which an authors' note explains is based on the real-life adventures of two different girls. Small ink drawings pepper the diary's pages, but larger colored pencil illustrations are static and detract from the format. Glos.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 Sacagawea relates her early life and the Lewis and Clark expedition to her son, who was two months old when they set out for the Pacific. The switches between the framing device and Sacagawea's embedded first-person narration are unnecessary and clumsy, but the authors' research is smoothly incorporated, and Sacagawea's story cannot fail to seize the imagination.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam