(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Let's Look at Plants series. Simple, easy-to-read sentences describe different plant parts and the functions of each (with potentially difficult words in bold print). Bright photographs accompany the texts; some of the pictures of people interacting with plants are awkwardly staged. An "All Kinds of..." spread summarizes each category; additional facts (that use but don't explain new topics or vocabulary) are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Let's Look at Plants titles: Exploring Flowers, Exploring Leaves, and Exploring Roots.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Let's Look at Plants series. Simple, easy-to-read sentences describe different plant parts and the functions of each (with potentially difficult words in bold print). Bright photographs accompany the texts; some of the pictures of people interacting with plants are awkwardly staged. An "All Kinds of..." spread summarizes each category; additional facts (that use but don't explain new topics or vocabulary) are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Let's Look at Plants titles: Exploring Flowers, Exploring Leaves, and Exploring Roots.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Let's Look at Plants series. Simple, easy-to-read sentences describe different plant parts and the functions of each (with potentially difficult words in bold print). Bright photographs accompany the texts; some of the pictures of people interacting with plants are awkwardly staged. An "All Kinds of..." spread summarizes each category; additional facts (that use but don't explain new topics or vocabulary) are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Let's Look at Plants titles: Exploring Flowers, Exploring Leaves, and Exploring Roots.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Lightning Bolt Books: Colors Everywhere series. Sharing a pleasant but formulaic structure, these books explore "A Rich World" (Gold), "A Rosy World" (Red), and "A Relaxing World" (Blue). Glossy photographs of common objects--leaves, forget-me-nots, tomatoes--emphasize the various hues associated with each color. The content-lite texts also define colloquial expressions ("feeling blue," "heart of gold") associated with the colors. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lightning Bolt Books: Colors Everywhere titles: Blue Everywhere, Red Everywhere, and Silver and Gold Everywhere.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) K-3 Lightning Bolt Books: Colors Everywhere series. Sharing a pleasant but formulaic structure, these books explore "A Rich World" (Gold), "A Rosy World" (Red), and "A Relaxing World" (Blue). Glossy photographs of common objects--leaves, forget-me-nots, tomatoes--emphasize the various hues associated with each color. The content-lite texts also define colloquial expressions ("feeling blue," "heart of gold") associated with the colors. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lightning Bolt Books: Colors Everywhere titles: Blue Everywhere, Red Everywhere, and Silver and Gold Everywhere.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) K-3 Lightning Bolt Books: Colors Everywhere series. Sharing a pleasant but formulaic structure, these books explore "A Rich World" (Gold), "A Rosy World" (Red), and "A Relaxing World" (Blue). Glossy photographs of common objects--leaves, forget-me-nots, tomatoes--emphasize the various hues associated with each color. The content-lite texts also define colloquial expressions ("feeling blue," "heart of gold") associated with the colors. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lightning Bolt Books: Colors Everywhere titles: Blue Everywhere, Red Everywhere, and Silver and Gold Everywhere.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) K-3 Lightning Bolt Books series. These books briefly describe different weather conditions. The texts, in large, easy to read font, offer minimal but useful information ("Fog is produced when air is warmer than land") in addition to filler ("On sunny days, you can eat sweet ice cream treats"). Vivid photographs show children enjoying the outdoors. Cloudy includes an activity. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lightning Bolt Books titles: It's Cloudy Today and It's Sunny Today.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) K-3 Lightning Bolt Books series. These books briefly describe different weather conditions. The texts, in large, easy to read font, offer minimal but useful information ("Fog is produced when air is warmer than land") in addition to filler ("On sunny days, you can eat sweet ice cream treats"). Vivid photographs show children enjoying the outdoors. Cloudy includes an activity. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lightning Bolt Books titles: It's Cloudy Today and It's Sunny Today.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Communities series. These books provide very simple introductions to life in cities and suburbs. Every page includes one easy-to-read sentence and a stock photograph or illustration. Bulleted facts are appended in each volume; Urban includes a "Ways to help in your community" page. Though the information is scant, early readers may benefit from the books' uncomplicated formula. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Communities titles: Living in Suburban Communities and Living in Urban Communities.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Communities series. These books provide very simple introductions to life in cities and suburbs. Every page includes one easy-to-read sentence and a stock photograph or illustration. Bulleted facts are appended in each volume; Urban includes a "Ways to help in your community" page. Though the information is scant, early readers may benefit from the books' uncomplicated formula. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Communities titles: Living in Suburban Communities and Living in Urban Communities.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Communities series. This book provides a very simple introduction to life in a rural community. Every page includes one easy-to-read sentence and a stock photograph that helps support the text. Bulleted facts are appended. The information is scant, but early readers may benefit from the book's uncomplicated formula. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz