(4) 4-6 I Want to Do Magic series. Mind Tricks provides instructions for mind-reading illusions. Science Magic describes over a dozen easy-to-perform tricks, with sidebars explaining the scientific principles that make each one possible. Illustrated with color photos and drawings, the books in this series are engaging, but the pages are so crowded that it's sometimes hard to follow the step-by-step instructions. Glos., ind. [Review covers these I Want to Do Magic titles: Mind Tricks and Science Magic.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 I Want to Do Magic series. Mind Tricks provides instructions for mind-reading illusions. Science Magic describes over a dozen easy-to-perform tricks, with sidebars explaining the scientific principles that make each one possible. Illustrated with color photos and drawings, the books in this series are engaging, but the pages are so crowded that it's sometimes hard to follow the step-by-step instructions. Glos., ind. [Review covers these I Want to Do Magic titles: Mind Tricks and Science Magic.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 I Want to Do Magic series. The volumes in this series introduce a number of illusions that can be performed using a deck of cards or some simple household objects. Illustrated with color photos and step-by-step drawings, the books explain how to stand an egg on its end and how to predict what card someone will choose, among other tricks. Unfortunately, the pages are so crowded and the actions so complex that it is sometimes difficult to follow the instructions. Glos., ind. [Review covers these titles: Magic with Cards and Simple Magic.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 I Want to Do Magic series. The volumes in this series introduce a number of illusions that can be performed using a deck of cards or some simple household objects. Illustrated with color photos and step-by-step drawings, the books explain how to stand an egg on its end and how to predict what card someone will choose, among other tricks. Unfortunately, the pages are so crowded and the actions so complex that it is sometimes difficult to follow the instructions. Glos., ind. [Review covers these titles: Magic with Cards and Simple Magic.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) K-3 Fascinating Science Projects series. These series books' too-busy pages describe experiments in both light (such as smashing sugar cubes in a plastic bag with a rolling pin to make light) and sound (such as using yogurt cups, clay, and a candy tube to make a seagull's sound). Most materials are easy to find, and the majority of projects are simple and will prove satisfying. Explanations are complete without being confounding. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Fascinating Science Projects titles: Light and Sound.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 How? What? Why? series. In each of these series books, four cartoon kids examine questions (How do mirrors work? What are echoes?) and suggest possible explanations. Sequenced experiments test the hypotheses and offer brief explanations; some related questions are answered at the back of each book. It's accurate science, but by not employing a scientific vocabulary, some explanations are simplistic. Ind. [Review covers these How? What? Why? titles: What Is a Shadow?, Why Does a Battery Make It Go?, How Does a Trumpet Work?, and What Makes It Swing?.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 How? What? Why? series. In each of these series books, four cartoon kids examine questions (How do mirrors work? What are echoes?) and suggest possible explanations. Sequenced experiments test the hypotheses and offer brief explanations; some related questions are answered at the back of each book. It's accurate science, but by not employing a scientific vocabulary, some explanations are simplistic. Ind. [Review covers these How? What? Why? titles: What Is a Shadow?, Why Does a Battery Make It Go?, How Does a Trumpet Work?, and What Makes It Swing?.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 How? What? Why? series. In each of these series books, four cartoon kids examine questions (How do mirrors work? What are echoes?) and suggest possible explanations. Sequenced experiments test the hypotheses and offer brief explanations; some related questions are answered at the back of each book. It's accurate science, but by not employing a scientific vocabulary, some explanations are simplistic. Ind. [Review covers these How? What? Why? titles: What Is a Shadow?, Why Does a Battery Make It Go?, How Does a Trumpet Work?, and What Makes It Swing?.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 How? What? Why? series. In each of these series books, four cartoon kids examine questions (How do mirrors work? What are echoes?) and suggest possible explanations. Sequenced experiments test the hypotheses and offer brief explanations; some related questions are answered at the back of each book. It's accurate science, but by not employing a scientific vocabulary, some explanations are simplistic. Ind. [Review covers these How? What? Why? titles: What Is a Shadow?, Why Does a Battery Make It Go?, How Does a Trumpet Work?, and What Makes It Swing?.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 How? What? Why? series. Simple questions, simple answers, and simple experiments fill the books in this series. In bright primary colors, cartoon-style children pose questions and offer possible explanations, followed by sequenced experiments and brief explanations, with some related questions answered at the back of the book. These books present accurate science, but little effort is made to introduce scientific vocabulary. Ind. [Review covers these How? What? Why? Titles: How Does a Ship Float?, What Does a Wheel Do? Why Does Ice Melt?, and Why Does it Fall Over?. ]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 How? What? Why? series. Simple questions, simple answers, and simple experiments fill the books in this series. In bright primary colors, cartoon-style children pose questions and offer possible explanations, followed by sequenced experiments and brief explanations, with some related questions answered at the back of the book. These books present accurate science, but little effort is made to introduce scientific vocabulary. Ind. [Review covers these How? What? Why? Titles: How Does a Ship Float?, What Does a Wheel Do? Why Does Ice Melt?, and Why Does it Fall Over?. ]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 How? What? Why? series. Simple questions, simple answers, and simple experiments fill the books in this series. In bright primary colors, cartoon-style children pose questions and offer possible explanations, followed by sequenced experiments and brief explanations, with some related questions answered at the back of the book. These books present accurate science, but little effort is made to introduce scientific vocabulary. Ind. [Review covers these How? What? Why? Titles: How Does a Ship Float?, What Does a Wheel Do? Why Does Ice Melt?, and Why Does it Fall Over?. ]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 How? What? Why? series. Simple questions, simple answers, and simple experiments fill the books in this series. In bright primary colors, cartoon-style children pose questions and offer possible explanations, followed by sequenced experiments and brief explanations, with some related questions answered at the back of the book. These books present accurate science, but little effort is made to introduce scientific vocabulary. Ind. [Review covers these How? What? Why? Titles: How Does a Ship Float?, What Does a Wheel Do? Why Does Ice Melt?, and Why Does it Fall Over?. ]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Fascinating Science Projects series. This collection of experiments includes explorations of circuits, power sources, magnets, and electromagnetism. Each topic receives four rather crowded pages filled with instructions, color illustrations, and additional facts. While the accompanying explanations are brief, the experiments are organized coherently. Some of the materials required suggest classroom use rather than science projects at home. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 Fascinating Science Projects series. These series books' too-busy pages describe experiments in both light (such as smashing sugar cubes in a plastic bag with a rolling pin to make light) and sound (such as using yogurt cups, clay, and a candy tube to make a seagull's sound). Most materials are easy to find, and the majority of projects are simple and will prove satisfying. Explanations are complete without being confounding. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Fascinating Science Projects titles: Light and Sound.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Awesome Space series. This book offers a random collection of facts about the technology used to explore space, including telescopes, space stations, space shuttles, and exploratory probes. The concepts of optics, motion laws, and other underlying physical principles are introduced. The pages are busy with photos, diagrams, cartoonish drawings, text boxes, and other graphics. This is an adequate overview. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(4) 4-6 Awesome Space series. These books offer a random collection of simple facts about the universe and objects in it. The information is more descriptive than explanatory, but it is age-appropriate. The pages are busy with photos, diagrams, cartoonish drawings, text boxes, and other graphics. Universe contains a few errors, apparently due to oversimplification. The general picture in both books is acceptable. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Awesome Space titles: The Sun and Other Stars, The Universe.]

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(4) 4-6 Awesome Space series. These books offer a random collection of simple facts about the universe and objects in it. The information is more descriptive than explanatory, but it is age-appropriate. The pages are busy with photos, diagrams, cartoonish drawings, text boxes, and other graphics. Universe contains a few errors, apparently due to oversimplification. The general picture in both books is acceptable. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Awesome Space titles: The Sun and Other Stars, The Universe.]

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(4) 4-6 Closer Look At series. Grasslands discusses types of grasslands, grasses as food, and the impact of farming and ranching. Deserts looks at plant and animal life, archaeological finds, and deserts around the world. The cramped design, which includes sidebars and small, captioned color photos and artwork, make these books visually confusing. Packed with information, the books lend themselves to browsing. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) K-3 Read About series. Large print, a simple vocabulary, and profuse color illustrations make these geological and climatological introductions accessible. The books explain what causes these events and the scientific methods used to study them. Accompanying photographs of varying quality show the devastation that can be caused by natural disasters and drive home some of the safety tips included in the texts. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta