(4) K-3 Illustrated by Marc Aspinall. Thirty-two pages contain a potpourri of facts very loosely grouped (brain, muscles, etc.) on double-page spreads. The tidbits of information are quirky though largely useless. Small details in the bright, amusing cartoon art link spreads: e.g., an arm and hand in a striped shirt on the bottom of one page leads to a girl in the same shirt on the next page.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Marc Aspinall. This book is chock-full of pirate facts vaguely organized by topic (e.g., a spread about women pirates). Short, readable text and amusing illustrations and visuals are spread out in chunks across brightly colored pages. Lack of a table of contents and an index makes the scattershot volume difficult to navigate, and there are no sources. Still, pirate aficionados will appreciate the trivia.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Marc Aspinall. Each spread in this book is illustrated with several friendly looking animals on a vibrantly colored background. Small paragraphs as well as curvy strings of text impart random facts about the pictured animals, sometimes grouped together by related characteristics (birds, large mammals, polar animals, etc.) There isn't much substance to the scattershot information, but young trivia buffs will likely be sold.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Marc Aspinall. Four chapters straightforwardly address questions about physiology, most focused on the human body though some stray to include philosophical queries ("What am I here for?" "How do I know I am real?") that are thought-provoking but feel incongruous. Retro-looking illustrations, "Brain Burn!" boxes, and relevant quotations fill the thick multicolored pages. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges