(3) 4-6 Web of Life series. These books survey crucial biological concepts. Seven processes (movement, respiration, sensitivity, nutrition, excretion, reproduction, and growth), food chains and webs, biodiversity, conservation, and animal case studies provide a detailed picture of the connectedness of earth's creatures. The spacious design includes captioned photos, sidebars, and helpful charts and diagrams. Essential vocabulary is defined throughout. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Web of Life titles: The Future of Life on Earth, Life Processes, and Food Chains and Webs.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Web of Life series. These leveled-text editions for reluctant upper-elementary-age readers survey crucial biological concepts. Seven processes (movement, respiration, sensitivity, nutrition, excretion, reproduction, and growth), food chains/webs, biodiversity, conservation, and animal case studies provide a detailed picture of the connectedness of earth's creatures. The spacious design includes captioned photos, sidebars, and helpful charts and diagrams. Essential vocabulary is defined throughout. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Web of Life titles: The Future of Life on Earth: Express Edition, Life Processes: Express Edition, and Food Chains and Webs: Express Edition.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Your Body Inside and Out series. This series provides very basic information about human bodies, anatomy, and grooming (the latter most especially in Teeth). Heavily illustrated with photographs and drawings (some are repeated across volumes), the spreads feature short paragraphs of uneven text, captions, fact boxes, and "Try This!" activities (e.g., flexing muscles, inhaling deeply). Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Your Body Inside and Out titles: Bones and Muscles, Senses, Teeth and Hair, Food and Digestion, Growing, and Heart and Lungs.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Your Body Inside and Out series. This series provides very basic information about human bodies, anatomy, and grooming (the latter most especially in Teeth). Heavily illustrated with photographs and drawings (some are repeated across volumes), the spreads feature short paragraphs of uneven text, captions, fact boxes, and "Try This!" activities (e.g., flexing muscles, inhaling deeply). Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Your Body Inside and Out titles: Bones and Muscles, Senses, Teeth and Hair, Food and Digestion, Growing, and Heart and Lungs.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Your Body Inside and Out series. This series provides very basic information about human bodies, anatomy, and grooming (the latter most especially in Teeth). Heavily illustrated with photographs and drawings (some are repeated across volumes), the spreads feature short paragraphs of uneven text, captions, fact boxes, and "Try This!" activities (e.g., flexing muscles, inhaling deeply). Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Your Body Inside and Out titles: Bones and Muscles, Senses, Teeth and Hair, Food and Digestion, Growing, and Heart and Lungs.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Sci-Hi Scientists series. This volume touches on select concepts in physics (e.g., movement energy, electrical energy, atomic power) through an examination of historical achievements made by prominent scientists. Each person's contributions are detailed on overly busy and colorful double-page spreads that include illustrations, vital statistics, and sidebar facts. Modern-day applications of some of the concepts are also discussed. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) YA World at Risk series. This series explores a broad range of environmental issues, from climate change to conservation to waste disposal. Numerous photos, diagrams, and graphs add interest to the clearly worded scientific explanations. Social and political factors are covered as well, providing useful material for research and discussion. The content is somewhat repetitive across volumes, and the pages are a little crowded. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these World at Risk titles: Water, Feeding the World, Reducing the Carbon Footprint, Climate Change, Resources, and Waste Disposal.

Reviewer: Pamela Mishkin

(4) YA World at Risk series. This series explores a broad range of environmental issues, from climate change to conservation to waste disposal. Numerous photos, diagrams, and graphs add interest to the clearly worded scientific explanations. Social and political factors are covered as well, providing useful material for research and discussion. The content is somewhat repetitive across volumes, and the pages are a little crowded. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these World at Risk titles: Water, Feeding the World, Reducing the Carbon Footprint, Climate Change, Resources, and Waste Disposal.

Reviewer: Pamela Mishkin

(4) YA World at Risk series. This series explores a broad range of environmental issues, from climate change to conservation to waste disposal. Numerous photos, diagrams, and graphs add interest to the clearly worded scientific explanations. Social and political factors are covered as well, providing useful material for research and discussion. The content is somewhat repetitive across volumes, and the pages are a little crowded. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these World at Risk titles: Water, Feeding the World, Reducing the Carbon Footprint, Climate Change, Resources, and Waste Disposal.

Reviewer: Pamela Mishkin

(4) 4-6 Real World Data series. The concept behind this series is promising: let's teach students about graphs using real data related to a topic. In Planet, for example, a double-page spread briefly discusses Earth's layers (crust, mantle, outer core, inner core), and a bar graph reveals their different thicknesses. Some stock photos and illustrations decorate the pages. Sources for the graphical data are not noted. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Real World Data titles: Graphing Habitats, Graphing Water, Graphing Planet Earth, Graphing Energy, Graphing Food and Nutrition, and Graphing Population.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) YA Why Science Matters series. This series packs every possibly related topic--from basic science to technological applications to political and ethical issues--into its coverage. None of the subjects is explored in depth, resulting in a mishmash of scientific information, but students looking for a very broad overview will be satisfied. Photographs and diagrams, sidebars, and mini-biographies of scientists are included. Genetic and Harnessing include timelines. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Why Science Matters titles: Finding and Using Oil, Designing Greener Vehicles and Buildings, Harnessing the Sun's Energy, and Using Genetic Technology.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) YA Why Science Matters series. This series packs every possibly related topic--from basic science to technological applications to political and ethical issues--into its coverage. None of the subjects is explored in depth, resulting in a mishmash of scientific information, but students looking for a very broad overview will be satisfied. Photographs and diagrams, sidebars, and mini-biographies of scientists are included. Genetic and Harnessing include timelines. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Why Science Matters titles: Finding and Using Oil, Designing Greener Vehicles and Buildings, Harnessing the Sun's Energy, and Using Genetic Technology.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) YA Why Science Matters series. These books leap from topic to topic, combining facts, a "Case Study" feature that presents ethical controversies for discussion, and applications of the science. Though the subjects aren't covered in depth, students looking for very broad overviews will be satisfied. Photographs, diagrams, and sidebars are included. Understanding and Repairing include timelines. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Why Science Matters titles: Finding Better Medicines, Understanding Health and Behavior, and Repairing and Replacing Organs.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) YA Why Science Matters series. This series packs every possibly related topic--from basic science to technological applications to political and ethical issues--into its coverage. None of the subjects is explored in depth, resulting in a mishmash of scientific information, but students looking for a very broad overview will be satisfied. Photographs and diagrams, sidebars, and mini-biographies of scientists are included. Genetic and Harnessing include timelines. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Why Science Matters titles: Finding and Using Oil, Designing Greener Vehicles and Buildings, Harnessing the Sun's Energy, and Using Genetic Technology.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) YA Dance series. Covering a wide range of topics, from history and cultural significance to steps, music, and costumes, this series is a useful resource for dance enthusiasts. Dynamic photographs illustrate some of the performances discussed. The parts organized chronologically read smoothly; others are more tedious and difficult to follow. With their many sidebars and design elements, the pages are busy. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Dance title:Ballet, Hip-Hop and Urban Dance, Tap and Jazz, Latin and Ballroom, African and Asian, Country and Folk, and [cf]Modern Dance.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(4) YA Dance series. Covering a wide range of topics, from history and cultural significance to steps, music, and costumes, this series is a useful resource for dance enthusiasts. Dynamic photographs illustrate some of the performances discussed. The parts organized chronologically read smoothly; others are more tedious and difficult to follow. With their many sidebars and design elements, the pages are busy. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Dance title:Ballet, Hip-Hop and Urban Dance, Tap and Jazz, Latin and Ballroom, African and Asian, Country and Folk, and [cf]Modern Dance.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(4) YA Dance series. Covering a wide range of topics, from history and cultural significance to steps, music, and costumes, this series is a useful resource for dance enthusiasts. Dynamic photographs illustrate some of the performances discussed. The parts organized chronologically read smoothly; others are more tedious and difficult to follow. With their many sidebars and design elements, the pages are busy. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Dance title:Ballet, Hip-Hop and Urban Dance, Tap and Jazz, Latin and Ballroom, African and Asian, Country and Folk, and [cf]Modern Dance.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(4) 4-6 Chain Reactions series. These guides detail the history of optics (Newton's Rainbow), chemistry (Gunpowder), and atomic theory (Greek Atoms). The sidebars in Newton's Rainbow clutter the simple text but improve explanations of the science of light. Greek Atoms makes some flawed choices about what details are included, resulting in a not-always-coherent narrative. Illustrations provide context to all three volumes. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Chain Reactions titles: From Newton's Rainbow to Frozen Light, From Greek Atoms to Quarks, and From Gunpowder to Laser Chemistry.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) 4-6 World of Music series. Each book in this series presents accessible information, supported by vibrant photographs, about music from different regions of the world. Topics include the history and cultural influences of music as well as important musical instruments and performers. Double-page spreads sometimes move too quickly from topic to topic in order to cover numerous countries and cultures in a limited amount of space. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these World of Music titles: Europe, Eastern Asia, Western Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Australia, Hawaii, and the Pacific.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) 4-6 World of Music series. Each book in this series presents accessible information, supported by vibrant photographs, about music from different regions of the world. Topics include the history and cultural influences of music as well as important musical instruments and performers. Double-page spreads sometimes move too quickly from topic to topic in order to cover numerous countries and cultures in a limited amount of space. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these World of Music titles: Europe, Eastern Asia, Western Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Australia, Hawaii, and the Pacific.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey