(3) K-3 Each page of this book features a large crisp photo of an animal either living in or using water. A paragraph of text provides a few facts about habitat and behavior, and a caption comments on what the animal is doing in the photo. The featured animals--both marine life and land-based creatures--are identified by their species name (e.g., wandering albatross, olive ridley turtle). The whole is random but inviting.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) K-3 Each two-page spread provides a sampling of facts about a different type of shark, with an emphasis on identifying characteristics (e.g., speed, diet, size, tooth shape). Close-up, captioned photos highlight key physical features. Information on sharks' shared characteristics is interspersed haphazardly throughout, primarily contextualizing a specific shark's attributes. Table-of-contents headings group sharks based on broad, sometimes subjective, commonalities. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 This book poses questions to readers about sharks: "Would you rather have teeth like...?" (The title is confusing as there's nothing about rays.) Each is answered on the following spread with factual information while cartoons humorously illustrate what it would it be like to, say, have the teeth of a longnose sawshark. "Shark Awards" and activity suggestions are appended.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 This book poses questions to readers about creepy-crawlies: "Would you rather live with a snail, a family of termites, a bookworm, or a tick?" Each is answered on the following spread with factual information while cartoons humorously illustrate what it would it be like to, say, "take your home with you wherever you go." "Bug Awards" and activity suggestions are appended.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Life Cycles series. This book provides basic facts about oak trees and their life cycle. Beginning with an overview, the text then briefly discusses topics such as stages (acorn, seedling, sapling, tree), what acorns need to grow, male and female flowers, fertilization, winter dormancy, and products made from oak wood. Despite choppy sentences, the book, with its many attractive color photos, will draw young readers. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 Life Cycles series. This book provides basic facts about bees and their life cycle. Beginning with the explanation that a bee is an insect, the text then briefly discusses topics such as different types of bees, stages (egg, larva, pupa, adult), life in the hive, egg laying, and beekeeping. Despite choppy sentences, the book, with its many attractive color photos, will draw young readers. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 Life Cycles series. This book provides basic facts about dogs and their life cycle. Beginning with an overview of mammal characteristics, the text includes brief mention of topics such as different dog breeds, mating and fertilization, what puppies are like, and work dogs. Despite choppy sentences, the book, with its many attractive color photos, will draw dog lovers. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 Life Cycles series. This book provides basic facts about snakes and their life cycle. Beginning with an overview, the text goes on to briefly discuss topics such as stages (egg, snakelet, adult), mating and fertilization, egg laying or giving birth, molting, and hunting. Despite choppy sentences, the book, with its many attractive color photos, will draw young readers. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 Life Cycles series. This book provides basic facts about penguins and their life cycle. Beginning with an overview, the text mentions other types of penguins but then focuses on emperor penguins, briefly discussing topics such as stages (egg, chick, adult), the colony, mating and fertilization, egg laying, incubation, and "the long walk." Despite choppy sentences, the book, with many attractive color photos, will draw young readers. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 Life Cycles series. This book provides basic facts about sea horses and their life cycle. Beginning with the explanation that a sea horse is a type of fish, the text then briefly describes stages (egg, fry, adult), courtship and mating, male "pregnancy," and life as a fry and adult. Despite choppy sentences (including an incorrect fact), the book, with many attractive color photos, will draw young readers. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Discover Sharks series. Very basic facts about physical characteristics, habitats, behaviors, and hunting habits of four different shark species are provided in simple language on double-page spreads. The full-spread, crisp color photos are action-packed (some graphically show sharks attacking prey); labels with arrows clearly point out details to aid visual understanding. Glos. Review covers these Discover Sharks titles: Great White Shark, Hammerhead Shark, Tiger Shark, and Whale Shark.

Reviewer: Betsy Thomas

(3) K-3 Discover Sharks series. Very basic facts about physical characteristics, habitats, behaviors, and hunting habits of four different shark species are provided in simple language on double-page spreads. The full-spread, crisp color photos are action-packed (some graphically show sharks attacking prey); labels with arrows clearly point out details to aid visual understanding. Glos. Review covers these Discover Sharks titles: Great White Shark, Hammerhead Shark, Tiger Shark, and Whale Shark.

Reviewer: Betsy Thomas

(3) K-3 Discover Sharks series. Very basic facts about physical characteristics, habitats, behaviors, and hunting habits of four different shark species are provided in simple language on double-page spreads. The full-spread, crisp color photos are action-packed (some graphically show sharks attacking prey); labels with arrows clearly point out details to aid visual understanding. Glos. Review covers these Discover Sharks titles: Great White Shark, Hammerhead Shark, Tiger Shark, and Whale Shark.

Reviewer: Betsy Thomas

(3) K-3 Discover Sharks series. Very basic facts about physical characteristics, habitats, behaviors, and hunting habits of four different shark species are provided in simple language on double-page spreads. The full-spread, crisp color photos are action-packed (some graphically show sharks attacking prey); labels with arrows clearly point out details to aid visual understanding. Glos. Review covers these Discover Sharks titles: Great White Shark, Hammerhead Shark, Tiger Shark, and Whale Shark.

Reviewer: Betsy Thomas

(4) 4-6 Animal Attack series. Lively double-page spreads cover general facts about sharks (physiology, behaviors, etc.) as well as brief snippets of information about different species. The organization of topics is haphazard, but the occasionally busy presentation generally provides a good balance between text, graphics, and sharp color photographs. A life-size foldout photo of a portion of a great white shark's snout is effective. Websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) 4-6 Animal Attack series. Lively double-page spreads each feature an invertebrate (e.g., scorpion, ant) as well as snippets of information about a particular species. The focus is on the creatures' destructive capabilities. The organization of topics is haphazard, but the occasionally busy presentation generally provides a good balance between text, graphics, and sharp close-up photographs. A foldout illustration of an army ant magnified one hundred times is effective. Websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) 4-6 Animal Attack series. Double-page spreads on fourteen different reptiles focus on what makes these animals dangerous. Color photographs are paired with accessible text that presents information in bite-size chunks, though the organization is random and some spreads are overly busy. Young readers will appreciate the smattering of actual-size photos and foldout illustration of an alligator's jaws. Websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) 4-6 Animal Attack series. Lively double-page spreads provide details about the predatory habits of a variety of animals, both familiar (wolf) and less so (honey badger). Color photographs are paired with accessible text that presents information in bite-size chunks, though some spreads are overly busy. Young readers will appreciate the smattering of actual-size photos and foldout illustration of a tiger's jaws. Websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) 4-6 100 Things You Should Know About series. Each of these books presents one hundred facts about the title animals or biome. Though most of the information appears to have been randomly selected and displayed, the volumes' snippets just may entice readers to seek further information. The busy pages are tightly packed with photos, cartoonlike drawings, and more realistic illustrations in addition to "I Don't Believe It!" sidebars. Ind. Review covers these 100 Things You Should Know About titles: Coral Reefs and Deadly Creatures.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 100 Things You Should Know About series. Each of these books presents one hundred facts about the title pets. Though most of the information appears to have been randomly selected and displayed, the volumes' snippets just may entice readers to seek further information. The busy pages are tightly packed with photos, cartoonlike drawings, and more realistic illustrations in addition to "I Don't Believe It!" sidebars. Ind. Review covers these 100 Things You Should Know About titles: Dogs & Puppies and Cats & Kittens.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz