(4) YA Barbara Guth Worlds of Wonder Science series. After a quick history of the sport, Taylor dives into the complex math, physics, biomechanics, and biochemistry of soccer. Dry, textbooklike chapters explore what happens when a foot or head makes contact with the ball; why a modern soccer ball bounces, spins, and curves; and how the human body moves--and has the energy to do so. Experiments are included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Matt Celeskey. Weaver imagines the lives (and often gristly deaths) of five youths from various prehistoric eras, grounding their lengthy, at times slow-moving, stories in evidence from actual fossil remains. Additional summaries at the end of each chapter recap and extend the excellent factual information. Crude color illustrations of modern and ancient people, landscapes, and tools are found throughout.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Translated by Enríque Lamadríd. Illustrated by Amy Córdova. In this book, originally called Maya's Children: The Story of La Llorona, the father of Chicano literature retells the classic Latino folktale of the woman who cries at night for her children. In Anaya's version, La Llorona is an immortal girl named Marisol who is tricked by Father Time. The new illustrations in this bilingual edition appropriately evoke Mexican folk art.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Noël Chilton. Luz's abuela arrives for a visit and to teach her granddaughter how to make tamales (recipe appended). While the two prepare the dish, Abuela tells the story of how Luz's great-grandfather learned to make tamales from a favorite aunt. The story, in both English and Spanish, is wordy, but the family connection comes through. Chilton's layered illustrations reflect the multigenerational dynamic. Glos.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) YA Barbara Guth Worlds of Wonder Science series. In this textbooklike volume, the authors break down cell phones into their component parts to provide detailed, informative explorations of what they're made of (plastic, semiconductors, and batteries) and how they work. Additional text boxes explore the basic underlying concepts and history of the many sciences represented. Helpful illustrations are critical to understanding the explanations. Websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Worlds of Wonder series. Singer's conversational yet scientifically advanced narrative explains nuclear physics and the potential of nuclear fusion as a source of nearly limitless energy. This is a blow-by-blow account of cutting-edge science in the making, with detailed profiles of scientists, their equipment, and their ideas in labs in the U.S. and France. Color photographs and diagrams illustrate the complex concepts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 Abalone, barbecue, canoe--the words that Boyden has selected and written about (sometimes for several dense paragraphs) are a nod to the English-language contributions made by "the First Peoples of the Americas--North, South, and Central." Even older readers may find the book inaccessibly esoteric, but Boyden's collages, some masterfully crafted, speak to all ages. Bib.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) YA Worlds of Wonder series. The authors tackle environmental issues with depth and rigor, attuned to both current events and the concerns of today's teens. Global Warming and Powering look at the science and human impact of climate change and alternative energies, while Eco-tracking encourages citizen-science investigation for young environmentalists. The excellent texts are enhanced by color photographs and diagrams that further explain scientific ideas. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Worlds of Wonder titles: What Are Global Warming and Climate Change?, Eco-tracking, and Powering the Future.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Worlds of Wonder series. The authors tackle environmental issues with depth and rigor, attuned to both current events and the concerns of today's teens. Global Warming and Powering look at the science and human impact of climate change and alternative energies, while Eco-tracking encourages citizen-science investigation for young environmentalists. The excellent texts are enhanced by color photographs and diagrams that further explain scientific ideas. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Worlds of Wonder titles: What Are Global Warming and Climate Change?, Eco-tracking, and Powering the Future.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Worlds of Wonder series. Illustrated by Catherine Paplin. The authors tackle environmental issues with depth and rigor, attuned to both current events and the concerns of today's teens. Global Warming and Powering look at the science and human impact of climate change and alternative energies, while Eco-tracking encourages citizen-science investigation for young environmentalists. The excellent texts are enhanced by color photographs and diagrams that further explain scientific ideas. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Worlds of Wonder titles: What Are Global Warming and Climate Change?, Eco-tracking, and Powering the Future.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Murv Jacob. In Duvall's original folktale based on Cherokee animal lore, the ravens try to acquire Rabbit's necklace, made of human finger bones. After a long journey, Rabbit begins to understand why the necklace must be returned to the ravens. Jacob's paintings in rich hues are beautifully detailed. The large amount of text on the pages may overwhelm readers.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) YA Barbara Guth Worlds of Wonder Science series. This book on scientific exploration and dendroclimatology (studying tree rings to determine past climates) introduces information about scientists past and present. The varied chapters cover topics ranging from John Wesley Powell to El Niño and how they relate to the science of tree rings. Experiments for young scientists are also included. The textbooklike design incorporates many sidebars, photographs, and diagrams. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Pearl Higgins

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Janet Stevens. Short stories build to mnemonic phrases designed to help readers remember the definitions of "weighty words," from aggrandizement to zealot. For example, a circus manager looking for a new act finds ice-skating hippo Cora: "Boy, can that Cora skate!" (coruscate). Some work better than others, but educators will appreciate the approach for visual learners. The cartoon art is uneven in skill. Review covers these titles: The Weighty Word Book and Weighty Words, Too.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Katherine Karcz. Short stories build to mnemonic phrases designed to help readers remember the definitions of "weighty words," from aggrandizement to zealot. For example, a circus manager looking for a new act finds ice-skating hippo Cora: "Boy, can that Cora skate!" (coruscate). Some work better than others, but educators will appreciate the approach for visual learners. The cartoon art is uneven in skill. Review covers these titles: The Weighty Word Book and Weighty Words, Too.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Murv Jacob. During a drought, Ji-Stu, the rabbit trickster, is discovered to be stealing water from the well he refused to help dig. The other animals set a sticky trap for the lazy trickster in the form of a wolf made of pine pitch. This well-told Cherokee tar baby story is paired with pleasing white-outlined earth-tone illustrations.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) 4-6 Worlds of Wonder series. Informative text and a variety of photographs and illustrations contribute to this thorough look at different types of bats, their habits and behavior, and their place in popular culture. The combination of facts and hands-on activities, such as building a bat house, creates a useful book with strong student appeal. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(3) YA This compilation includes works (mostly poems, also a few essays and short stories) by teens of various ethnicities in an Albuquerque, New Mexico, writing program. There's some impressively mature work here, with poems that evoke a local flavor (green chiles and Route 66) along with more universal adolescent concerns. This will certainly appeal to budding teen writers. Short contributor bios are appended.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) K-3 Translated by Enrique R. Lamadrid. Illustrated by Amy Córdova. To plead for rain to save her people, young Jade follows a hummingbird to see the mountain spirit. Impressed by her courage, the mountain spirit gives Jade the gift of corn, and Jade prepares and names the first tortilla. Anaya incorporates elements from Mexican legends into his original story. Córdova's swirling folk-art illustrations are richly layered. Glos.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) K-3 "Powwow's coming, hear the beat? / Powwow's coming, dancing feet." A contemporary Native American family prepares for and then participates in a powwow. The simple, rhythmic text describes activities that occur at a powwow (dancing, storytelling, selling crafts). The mixed-media collages incorporate tactile materials that look like feathers, fabric, and beads. An author's note gives more information on the subject.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by George Lawrence. Rosie, a beetle, describes traveling with Darwin aboard the Beagle. Simply and entertainingly, Rosie describes the amazing animals Darwin encounters on his trip around the world and explains how he developed his theory of the origin of species. Delicate pencil drawings and color illustrations aid in understanding the subject. A detailed afterword separates fact from fiction. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett