(3) K-3 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Illustrated by Maddie Frost. A legendary 1888 blizzard illustrates the power of winter storms and sets the context for explanations about atmospheric conditions that cause extreme weather as well as the physical science that leads to large amounts of precipitation and high winds. Friendly illustrations of families and animals in the snow are mainly decorative, though a few additional diagrams illustrate the science. Winter-weather journaling tips are included. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 National Geographic Kids Chapters series. These nonfiction chapter books should delight pet lovers. Readers encounter three stories of heroic working dogs (at a firehouse, tracking missing pets, and as comfort dogs at a wildlife sanctuary), and three stories of cats having unusual adventures (living on a sailboat, stealing human belongings, and trekking around national parks). Engaging photographs and sidebars complement the lively, conversational texts. Websites. Ind. Review covers these National Geographic Kids Chapters titles: Hero Dogs! and Adventure Cat!

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) K-3 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Illustrated by Kasia Nowowiejska. Zoehfeld introduces the physics behind telephones, both historic wire-connected and current cellular versions, at a level that is appropriate for the targeted young audience. The text is accompanied by cartoonlike illustrations of children and historical figures inventing and using phones. A build-your-own string telephone activity is elevated by its focus on the engineering practices of revising and retesting the original design. Timeline. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Illustrated by Eric Puybaret. A trip down through the ocean's zones to a geothermal vent is imagined in a second-person narrative rich in scientific description. The you-are-there text allows readers to imagine themselves observing marine life and the pressures, temperatures, and light levels at each layer. The cool, deep-ocean-hued illustrations portray two children in a submersible amidst a host of named organisms. Experiment appended. Websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Illustrated by Franco Tempesta. This insightful early reader focuses on mammals that survived and thrived after the extinction of dinosaurs. Kid-friendly spreads include information on physical attributes and behavior and introduce readers to fascinating mammals such as the enormous Indricotherium. Colorful art, simple sentences, and funny jokes make this perfect for dinosaur-loving kids. Fun facts and a quiz encourage memory recall and further thinking. Glos.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(3) K-3 National Geographic Kids Chapters series. A National Geographic photographer recounts four adventures photographing leatherback turtles, harp seals, a beluga whale, and sharks (Hearts). Readers meet three charismatic and talented animals: a talking parrot, a skydiving pug, and a counting pig (Genius). The stories provide humor, action, and food for thought. Both books include photographs, fact boxes, and sidebars. Perfect for animal-obsessed new readers. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these National Geographic Kids Chapters titles: Parrot Genius! and The Whale Who Won Hearts!.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Priscilla Lamont. Alice and friends from Secrets of the Garden return to enjoy her nature-filled backyard. This time, she learns to notice and welcome differences in weather, plants, and animal life in each of the four seasons of the temperate northern hemisphere. Throughout, airy pen and watercolor illustrations make the appeal of nature accessible to even the youngest readers.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2014

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Priscilla Lamont. Alice and her family grow edible plants, raise chickens, and enjoy the wide variety of living things in their backyard ecosystem. Scientific information is included about such topics as composting, plant life cycles, food chains and food webs, and nutrition, with anthropomorphized chickens explaining the underlying facts. Changes during the garden growing season are attractively portrayed in Lamont's cheery illustrations.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2012

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Zoehfeld introduces beginning readers to basic concepts in geology, including definitions of rocks and minerals, rock formation, and some more sophisticated concepts such as the rock cycle and plate tectonics. Crisp color photographs and diagrams illustrate the main concepts and specimens discussed in the text. Includes "cool rock facts" and an appended quiz. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(2) K-3 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Illustrated by Lucia Washburn. After a brief introduction, the book concentrates on the period from 330 million years ago to 65 million years ago, from the appearance of amniotes through the myriad dinosaur species that thrived in the Mesozoic Era. Zoehfeld is remarkably precise with language, providing outstanding explanations of key concepts. Washburn's illustrations include helpful anatomical details and imagined portrayals of dinosaurs in verdant habitats. Timeline. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2011

(4) K-3 Stepping Stone True Stories series. Illustrated by Jim Nelson. During the early twentieth century, Howard Carter, the Chief Inspector of Antiquities in Upper Egypt, and financier Lord Carnarvon were determined to find King Tut's tomb. The book details their years of fruitless search and subsequent amazing discovery. The story is oversimplified but clearly related and will entertain young readers. Nelson's black-and-white illustrations help set the scene.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Shaver

(2) K-3 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Illustrated by Lucia Washburn. The narrative starts with accessible descriptions of how dinosaur footprints were formed, pulling readers in with sensory language and comparisons to walking on a beach themselves. The pastel-colored illustrations of peaceful-looking dinosaurs provide excellent details of both the dinosaurs and their tracks. The final pages feature a classic fossil-modeling activity that will help children understand the process.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2007

(3) K-3 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Illustrated by Lucia Washburn. Using short sentences and simple words, Zoehfeld clearly explains what we know about dinosaurs with feathers, how we know it, how those dinosaurs are related to modern-day birds, and the purpose of feathers. Iridescent shades of blue and orange give the theropods and their settings an appealing glow. The book contains a timeline and "Find Out More about Feathers" activities.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke

(4) 1-3 Road to Reading series. Illustrated by Ilene Richard. Jeff finds a pirate map in the library before he joins his uncle's expedition in search of a ship wrecked off the Florida coast in 1652. The map turns out to be key in locating the ship and its treasure. Despite its predictable and unlikely plot, the subject matter and brief chapters make this an appealing read for newly independent readers. Color illustrations appear throughout the slim book.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) K-3 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Illustrated by Lucia Washburn. A simple text introduces various dinosaurs, with particular emphasis placed on their sizes. Dimensions are given in terms that a child can understand (e.g., a Seismosaurus was longer than four school buses; a Brachiosaurus weighed as much as sixteen elephants). The information is presented in a fairly random fashion. The accompanying color illustrations are adequate if unspectacular.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) K-3 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Illustrated by Lucia Washburn. Although the book begins with a brief explanation of where and when the earliest Tyrannosaurus rex fossils were excavated, the primary focus is on the creature's role as a predator. Accompanied by color illustrations, the shallow text speculates on how the massive dinosaur used its jaws, legs, vision, and brain to track down and kill various dinosaurs. A brief list of T. rex relatives is included.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Paul Carrick & Bruce Shillinglaw. Zoehfeld clearly and carefully guides readers through the complex historical trail of evidence collection and theory development that make up what we currently believe we know about dinosaur family life. The mix of illustrations is well done and includes soft-focus artistic renditions of dinosaurs, crisp biological illustrations of dinosaur anatomy, and color photos of fossils and scientists at work. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2001

(4) K-3 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Illustrated by Lucia Washburn. Acknowledging that scientists know little about prehistoric parental habits, the author focuses on maiasaurs, a dinosaur whose fossils seem to indicate a high degree of maternal care. Though color illustrations of the prehistoric creatures tend to have somewhat anthropomorphized expressions, the text is generally clear and informative. A project at the end of the book tells readers how to make their own fossil egg to excavate.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(2) K-3 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Illustrated by Paul Meisel. Zoehfeld and Meisel add competently to this venerable series as they explain the three states of matter to beginning readers. Children are invited to make personal observations of water as it changes from one state to another, and the homey experiments are demonstrated by a cheerful cast of boys and girls, parents, and animals. The handy lesson in fundamental science will be appreciated by teachers and enjoyed by children.

Reviewer: Margaret A. Bush | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 1998