(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs series. Color photographs accompany short informative sections covering the origin of the dog family and the appearance and various behavioral characteristics of individual breeds. Straightforward, bland texts cover the care, feeding, and maintenance of pet dogs as well as information about responsible puppy ownership. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs titles: Bull Terriers, French Bulldogs, Rottweilers, and Australian Shepherds.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs series. Color photographs accompany short informative sections covering the origin of the dog family and the appearance and various behavioral characteristics of individual breeds. Straightforward, bland texts cover the care, feeding, and maintenance of pet dogs as well as information about responsible puppy ownership. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs titles: Bull Terriers, French Bulldogs, Rottweilers, and Australian Shepherds.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs series. Color photographs accompany short informative sections covering the origin of the dog family and the appearance and various behavioral characteristics of individual breeds. Straightforward, bland texts cover the care, feeding, and maintenance of pet dogs as well as information about responsible puppy ownership. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs titles: Bull Terriers, French Bulldogs, Rottweilers, and Australian Shepherds.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) K-3 Text by Gillian Shields. Dog Ruff stays busy cleaning, weeding, planting flowers, and so forth. When his home beautification efforts inadvertently trash mouse Hubble's house, guilt-ridden Ruff plugs away rebuilding. He discovers that working with a friend is more fun than toiling alone (and having roommates is pretty great, too). The story meanders, but Ruff's benevolent nature is in full bloom in the welcoming illustrations.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) 4-6 Dog Heroes series. The work of "dog heroes" includes assisting military personnel (Soldiers) and first responders (Ground Zero). Talented dogs can also overcome physical challenges (Disabled) and compete in surfing competitions (Surf), both of which inspire humans to face obstacles. The volumes are accessible, with numerous photographs and personal anecdotes rounding out the texts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers this Dog Heroes title: Disabled Dogs, Ground Zero Dogs, Soldiers' Dogs, and Surf Dog Miracles.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs series. Color photographs accompany short informative sections covering the origin of the dog family and the appearance and various behavioral characteristics of individual breeds. Straightforward, bland texts cover the care, feeding, and maintenance of pet dogs as well as information about responsible puppy ownership. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Dogs titles: Bull Terriers, French Bulldogs, Rottweilers, and Australian Shepherds.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) K-3 This book chronicles the development of a red fox from birth through the first few months of life. Close-up color photographs illustrate how fox kits interact with their mother, their littermates, and their environment. Some clumsy writing and a dull design weaken the presentation slightly. Back matter nicely expands on the information; readers are pointed to the publisher's website for cross-curricular activities.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) PS Hyperactive rhymes roll out the story of a dedicated crew of construction-working dogs. Under the leadership of crew boss Duke, the team hurries to their worksite where a variety of machines await their commands, and then race through their task of building a park that opens at day's end. Digital illustrations capture the pups' frenzy and the quick-moving progress of their project.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) K-3 My Favorite Dogs series. This series offers basic information about different dog breeds including characteristics, physical development, training tips, and feeding and care for optimum health. Color photographs and easy-to-read texts (which begin with four pages written in the first-person/dog) and fact boxes increase reader appeal. Each of these introductions to nonfiction reading includes a table of contents, short list of vocabulary words, and a simple index. Review covers these My Favorite Dogs titles: Beagle, Boxer, Bulldog, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Poodle, and Yorkshire Terrier.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) K-3 My Favorite Dogs series. This series offers basic information about different dog breeds including characteristics, physical development, training tips, and feeding and care for optimum health. Color photographs and easy-to-read texts (which begin with four pages written in the first-person/dog) and fact boxes increase reader appeal. Each of these introductions to nonfiction reading includes a table of contents, short list of vocabulary words, and a simple index. Review covers these My Favorite Dogs titles: Beagle, Boxer, Bulldog, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Poodle, and Yorkshire Terrier.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) K-3 My Favorite Dogs series. This series offers basic information about different dog breeds including characteristics, physical development, training tips, and feeding and care for optimum health. Color photographs and easy-to-read texts (which begin with four pages written in the first-person/dog) and fact boxes increase reader appeal. Each of these introductions to nonfiction reading includes a table of contents, short list of vocabulary words, and a simple index. Review covers these My Favorite Dogs titles: Beagle, Boxer, Bulldog, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Poodle, and Yorkshire Terrier.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) K-3 My Favorite Dogs series. This series offers basic information about different dog breeds including characteristics, physical development, training tips, and feeding and care for optimum health. Color photographs and easy-to-read texts (which begin with four pages written in the first-person/dog) and fact boxes increase reader appeal. Each of these introductions to nonfiction reading includes a table of contents, short list of vocabulary words, and a simple index. Review covers these My Favorite Dogs titles: Beagle, Boxer, Bulldog, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Poodle, and Yorkshire Terrier.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) K-3 My Favorite Dogs series. This series offers basic information about different dog breeds including characteristics, physical development, training tips, and feeding and care for optimum health. Color photographs and easy-to-read texts (which begin with four pages written in the first-person/dog) and fact boxes increase reader appeal. Each of these introductions to nonfiction reading includes a table of contents, short list of vocabulary words, and a simple index. Review covers these My Favorite Dogs titles: Beagle, Boxer, Bulldog, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Poodle, and Yorkshire Terrier.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) K-3 My Favorite Dogs series. This series offers basic information about different dog breeds including characteristics, physical development, training tips, and feeding and care for optimum health. Color photographs and easy-to-read texts (which begin with four pages written in the first-person/dog) and fact boxes increase reader appeal. Each of these introductions to nonfiction reading includes a table of contents, short list of vocabulary words, and a simple index. Review covers these My Favorite Dogs titles: Beagle, Boxer, Bulldog, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Poodle, and Yorkshire Terrier.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) K-3 My Favorite Dogs series. This series offers basic information about different dog breeds including characteristics, physical development, training tips, and feeding and care for optimum health. Color photographs and easy-to-read texts (which begin with four pages written in the first-person/dog) and fact boxes increase reader appeal. Each of these introductions to nonfiction reading includes a table of contents, short list of vocabulary words, and a simple index. Review covers these My Favorite Dogs titles: Beagle, Boxer, Bulldog, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Poodle, and Yorkshire Terrier.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) K-3 My Favorite Dogs series. This series offers basic information about different dog breeds including characteristics, physical development, training tips, and feeding and care for optimum health. Color photographs and easy-to-read texts (which begin with four pages written in the first-person/dog) and fact boxes increase reader appeal. Each of these introductions to nonfiction reading includes a table of contents, short list of vocabulary words, and a simple index. Review covers these My Favorite Dogs titles: Beagle, Boxer, Bulldog, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Poodle, and Yorkshire Terrier.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) K-3 Step into Reading series. Illustrated by Michael Fleming. Twinky may be small in stature but he's giant-size in aspiration. "Twinky-Poo" is mortified when his owner dresses him in silly clothes, carries him around in a purse, etc. But, thanks to lessons from the big dogs, Twinky proves himself by scaring away a would-be robber. Humorous digital illustrations, though too synthetic-looking, express the pup's big-dog personality in this simple dreaming-big story.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) K-3 Photographs by Brian Skerry. This early introduction to marine life features double-page spreads with close-up color photographs and interesting information about ocean animals, from one green sea turtle to ten Bermuda sea chub fish. Fact boxes concisely summarizing basic details of each animal and a world map pinpointing the locations of the photos are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) PS Photographs by Gretchen LeMaistre. Silly posed photographs that fill each page highlight Pomeranian Boo, "the world's cutest dog" (he might be), and his equally adorable best friend Buddy gamboling through the day, letter by letter. Starting with "awake" as the fluff ball peeks out from under the covers and circling back to "ZZZZZs," the alphabet lesson is adequate but it's LaMaistre's photos that are irresistible.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) 4-6 National Geographic Kids Chapters series. Three sections comprised of short chapters sprinkled with color photographs and fact boxes showcase animals with unusual talents--Opee, "Motocross Biker Pup"; Sidewinder, "Groundhog Weather Wonder"; and Tuna, "Kitty Rock Star"--and the humans they're devoted to. High-interest, easy-to-read text filled with amusing anecdotes traces the animals' paths from obscurity to performing fame. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo