(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: An Astronaut's Life series. Rustad uses short, simple sentences appropriate for beginning readers in her cursory explanations of what it takes to become an astronaut (Becoming) and the daily activities of astronauts on space stations (Life). Full-page photographs show modern astronauts training in planes and underwater, and in space conducting scientific experiments--though familiar needs such as eating, bathing, and sleeping receive more attention. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Pebble Plus: An Astronaut's Life titles: Becoming an Astronaut and Life in Space.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: An Astronaut's Life series. Rustad uses short, simple sentences appropriate for beginning readers in her cursory explanations of what it takes to become an astronaut (Becoming) and the daily activities of astronauts on space stations (Life). Full-page photographs show modern astronauts training in planes and underwater, and in space conducting scientific experiments--though familiar needs such as eating, bathing, and sleeping receive more attention. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Pebble Plus: An Astronaut's Life titles: Becoming an Astronaut and Life in Space.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Little Pebble: Healthy Me series. Full-color photos and a very simple text with level-appropriate information follow one young girl's steps to good oral hygiene: brushing and flossing, choosing healthy foods and beverages, and finally getting routine care from both the dental hygienist and the dentist. The cheery book could also be good practice for emergent readers. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Little Pebble: Healthy Me series. Full-color photos and a very simple text follow a young African American boy and his multiracial family and friends through a day of activities and healthy eating. Breakfast and snacks include yogurt and fruit; pasta and salad are lunch; chicken wraps and "a rare treat" make the evening meal. The cheery book could also be good practice for emergent readers. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Little Pebble: Baby Animals and Their Homes series. These small early-reader books about animal homes feature simple text in large print and cute photos, but only superficial information. Perhaps understandably, the color photos of animal babies in burrows are not as clear or illustrative as those of the easier-to-see nest babies. Each book concludes with two age-appropriate critical thinking questions. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Little Pebble: Baby Animals and Their Homes titles: Baby Animals in Burrows and Baby Animals in Nests.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Little Pebble: Baby Animals and Their Homes series. These small early-reader books about animal homes feature simple text in large print and cute photos, but only superficial information. Perhaps understandably, the color photos of animal babies in burrows are not as clear or illustrative as those of the easier-to-see nest babies. Each book concludes with two age-appropriate critical thinking questions. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Little Pebble: Baby Animals and Their Homes titles: Baby Animals in Burrows and Baby Animals in Nests.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) K-3 A+ Books: Bugs Are Beautiful series. In each volume, twelve two-page profiles include flashy close-up photos; a small world map highlighting where the creature is found; and brief, jaunty prose that draws attention to beetle and spider species. With shiny, color-changing, patterned, and metallic appearances, many young readers will be surprised with the "stunning" and "breathtaking" biodiversity on display. A simple life cycle diagram is appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bugs Are Beautiful titles: Breathtaking Beetles and Stunning Spiders.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Favorite Dog Breeds series. These nonfiction easy readers introduce popular dog breeds through accessible language, a clear font, and strong organization. Learn how beagles' excellent tracking skills and boxers' loyalty to their owners help make them excellent choices as pets. While the books are visually appealing with bright colors, jaunty headings, and plentiful images, occasional layout missteps distort some gutter-spanning photographs. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Favorite Dog Breeds titles: Beagles and Boxers.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) K-3 Favorite Dog Breeds series. These nonfiction easy readers introduce popular dog breeds through accessible language, a clear font, and strong organization. Learn how beagles' excellent tracking skills and boxers' loyalty to their owners help make them excellent choices as pets. While the books are visually appealing with bright colors, jaunty headings, and plentiful images, occasional layout missteps distort some gutter-spanning photographs. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Favorite Dog Breeds titles: Beagles and Boxers.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Off to School series. Illustrated by Jess Golden. This overtly purposeful yet reader-friendly series (with varied but complementary illustration styles) features a diverse group of children experiencing different aspects of school life. Topics include the first and the one hundredth days, school employees, making friends, visiting the library, and taking the bus. Apple-shaped sidebars scattered throughout each book provide additional relevant information. Back matter includes a subject-tailored activity. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: Off to School titles: Sofia's First Day of School, Who Works at Hannah's School?, William's 100th Day of School, Michael Makes Friends at School, Sam Visits the School Library, and Tanya Takes the School Bus.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Off to School series. Illustrated by Paula J. Becker. This overtly purposeful yet reader-friendly series (with varied but complementary illustration styles) features a diverse group of children experiencing different aspects of school life. Topics include the first and the one hundredth days, school employees, making friends, visiting the library, and taking the bus. Apple-shaped sidebars scattered throughout each book provide additional relevant information. Back matter includes a subject-tailored activity. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: Off to School titles: Sofia's First Day of School, Who Works at Hannah's School?, William's 100th Day of School, Michael Makes Friends at School, Sam Visits the School Library, and Tanya Takes the School Bus.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Off to School series. Illustrated by Paula J. Becker. This overtly purposeful yet reader-friendly series (with varied but complementary illustration styles) features a diverse group of children experiencing different aspects of school life. Topics include the first and the one hundredth days, school employees, making friends, visiting the library, and taking the bus. Apple-shaped sidebars scattered throughout each book provide additional relevant information. Back matter includes a subject-tailored activity. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: Off to School titles: Sofia's First Day of School, Who Works at Hannah's School?, William's 100th Day of School, Michael Makes Friends at School, Sam Visits the School Library, and Tanya Takes the School Bus.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Amazing Sights of the Sky series. Colorful photos illustrate descriptions of the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) and aurora australis (Southern Lights), where they are commonly seen, what causes them, and how to see them. The simple, declarative sentences and eye-catching photographs make the topic accessible to primary-grade readers, but the final pages make it sound somewhat misleadingly simple to observe these phenomena. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Amazing Sights of the Sky series. Colorful photos illustrate descriptions of a rainbow, the colors in it, and how light is bent to form one; sundogs and double rainbows are briefly touched on. The simple, declarative sentences and eye-catching photographs make the topic accessible to primary-grade readers, but the final pages somewhat misleadingly imply that this phenomenon can be seen after any rainstorm. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) K-3 1, 2, 3...Count with Me series. This continuing series investigates counting using different themes (farm animals, transportation, etc.). Four explore skip counting (Chicks, Snowflakes, Down the Field, Safari); Bug contains addition problems. The two to four simple sentences per page will encourage independent reading. The use of stock images Photoshopped on different backgrounds can be visually jarring. Review covers the following 1, 2, 3...Count with Me titles: Across the Country 18, 19, 20, Chicks 2, 4, 6, Down the Field 10, 20, 30, On a Safari 5, 10, 15, 100 Snowflakes, and One More Bug.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 1, 2, 3...Count with Me series. This continuing series investigates counting using different themes (farm animals, transportation, etc.). Four explore skip counting (Chicks, Snowflakes, Down the Field, Safari); Bug contains addition problems. The two to four simple sentences per page will encourage independent reading. The use of stock images Photoshopped on different backgrounds can be visually jarring. Review covers the following 1, 2, 3...Count with Me titles: Across the Country 18, 19, 20, Chicks 2, 4, 6, Down the Field 10, 20, 30, On a Safari 5, 10, 15, 100 Snowflakes, and One More Bug.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 1, 2, 3...Count with Me series. This continuing series investigates counting using different themes (farm animals, transportation, etc.). Four explore skip counting (Chicks, Snowflakes, Down the Field, Safari); Bug contains addition problems. The two to four simple sentences per page will encourage independent reading. The use of stock images Photoshopped on different backgrounds can be visually jarring. Review covers the following 1, 2, 3...Count with Me titles: Across the Country 18, 19, 20, Chicks 2, 4, 6, Down the Field 10, 20, 30, On a Safari 5, 10, 15, 100 Snowflakes, and One More Bug.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 1, 2, 3...Count with Me series. This continuing series investigates counting using different themes (farm animals, transportation, etc.). Four explore skip counting (Chicks, Snowflakes, Down the Field, Safari); Bug contains addition problems. The two to four simple sentences per page will encourage independent reading. The use of stock images Photoshopped on different backgrounds can be visually jarring. Review covers the following 1, 2, 3...Count with Me titles: Across the Country 18, 19, 20, Chicks 2, 4, 6, Down the Field 10, 20, 30, On a Safari 5, 10, 15, 100 Snowflakes, and One More Bug.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 1, 2, 3...Count with Me series. This continuing series investigates counting using different themes (farm animals, transportation, etc.). Four explore skip counting (Chicks, Snowflakes, Down the Field, Safari); Bug contains addition problems. The two to four simple sentences per page will encourage independent reading. The use of stock images Photoshopped on different backgrounds can be visually jarring. Review covers the following 1, 2, 3...Count with Me titles: Across the Country 18, 19, 20, Chicks 2, 4, 6, Down the Field 10, 20, 30, On a Safari 5, 10, 15, 100 Snowflakes, and One More Bug.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 1, 2, 3...Count with Me series. This continuing series investigates counting using different themes (farm animals, transportation, etc.). Four explore skip counting (Chicks, Snowflakes, Down the Field, Safari); Bug contains addition problems. The two to four simple sentences per page will encourage independent reading. The use of stock images Photoshopped on different backgrounds can be visually jarring. Review covers the following 1, 2, 3...Count with Me titles: Across the Country 18, 19, 20, Chicks 2, 4, 6, Down the Field 10, 20, 30, On a Safari 5, 10, 15, 100 Snowflakes, and One More Bug.

Reviewer: Kari Allen