(2) K-3 A pirate captain gingerbread man refuses to accept his crew's fate on the plate of the season's most notorious cookie eater, Santa. In the end, Santa steps in to teach the pirates about the true nature of Christmas, graciously forgoing his snack. Tavares's vivid watercolor and gouache paintings dramatize Kladstrup's lively text with vigor in this imaginative adventure story.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2009

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Crista Forest. Arnold's clear text explains that electric fish, such as eels, knife fish, and catfish, have an extra sense--an electric sense--that they use for defending themselves, stunning and/or finding their prey, navigating, and communicating. Unfortunately, the dark paintings make these sea creatures, which can be visually exciting, look muddy and formless. A list of Internet sources is included. Glos.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Karen Barnes. Included are such questions as "What gives hair its color?" and "What makes you dizzy after you spin around?" The format dictates that the explanations be brief and therefore not always as clear as they could be. Detailed illustrations accompany the text, which will provide readers with some basic information about human anatomy. Ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Robert Sullivan. Questions range from "What is wind?" and "Do mobile homes attract twisters?" to "Who is called the 'human lightning rod'?" and "What was the most amazing escape from a tornado?" The format dictates that explanations are brief and therefore not always clear. Nevertheless, young readers will find some useful and interesting information. Clear illustrations accompany the text. Ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Vincent Di Fate. These simple questions and answers, accompanied by clear illustrations, cover topics ranging from the composition of stars to the existence of life on other planets. The format dictates that explanations are brief and therefore not always clear, but the book offers a basic tour of objects as grand as galaxies and as small as shooting stars. Ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jim Effler. This book informs readers that, no, insects do not fall in love, but that gall midge flies are mean because larvae feed on their mother's body. These odd anthropomorphisms aside, the text does provide some useful information, though the format dictates that the explanations be brief and therefore sometimes incomplete. Detailed illustrations accompany the text. Ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(4) 4-6 Baseball Legends series. Each of the books begins with an action-packed chapter focusing on a decisive ice hockey game, then goes back to trace the athlete's journey from childhood to the NHL and, except for Kariya, an Olympic hockey team. Personal information is sometimes glossed over in favor of sports details, but fans probably won't mind. The accompanying black-and-white photographs are often mediocre. Time lines and player stats are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(4) 4-6 Baseball Legends series. Each of the books begins with an action-packed chapter focusing on a decisive ice hockey game, then goes back to trace the athlete's journey from childhood to the NHL and, except for Kariya, an Olympic hockey team. Personal information is sometimes glossed over in favor of sports details, but fans probably won't mind. The accompanying black-and-white photographs are often mediocre. Time lines and player stats are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(4) K-3 Science Factory series. Each of these books offers twelve simple experiments with a few fresh spins on some tried and true activities. Photographs and drawings clearly show the steps involved in constructing such things as a sound cannon, light mixing tubes, and an electronic quiz game built from common items (paper plates, flashlights, batteries). The emphasis is on the projects, however, rather than the ideas they illustrate. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(4) K-3 Science Factory series. Each of these books offers twelve simple experiments with a few fresh spins on some tried and true activities. Photographs and drawings clearly show the steps involved in constructing such things as a sound cannon, light mixing tubes, and an electronic quiz game built from common items (paper plates, flashlights, batteries). The emphasis is on the projects, however, rather than the ideas they illustrate. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(4) K-3 Starting with Nature series. Illustrated by Heather Collins. This look at insect life offers information about life cycles, habitats, hibernation, and migration, for example, without much depth on any particular topic. Activities designed to observe bugs in nature emphasize studying insects without harming them or removing them from their habitats. The straightforward text is accompanied by muted, textbooklike illustrations. Ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(4) 4-6 Science of the Past series. Each book offers a straightforward introduction to some of the scientific and technical accomplishments of these cultures. Among the areas discussed are medicine, mathematics, astronomy, natural history, and physics. Science is defined broadly and includes mention of such peripheral applications as the Mayan use of decorative jade and gold dental fillings and the Indian practice of yoga. Color photos and reproductions illustrate the texts. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(4) 4-6 Science of the Past series. Each book offers a straightforward introduction to some of the scientific and technical accomplishments of these cultures. Among the areas discussed are medicine, mathematics, astronomy, natural history, and physics. Science is defined broadly and includes mention of such peripheral applications as the Mayan use of decorative jade and gold dental fillings and the Indian practice of yoga. Color photos and reproductions illustrate the texts. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(3) K-3 Eyewitness Readers series. While the many parasites that live in and around the human body--dust mites, bacteria, fleas, and lice--are usually little more than an annoyance, the detailed, close-up photographs and first-person narratives (from the parasites' perspective) give them an immediacy readers may (or may not) find fascinating. The text is geared toward independent readers and offers plenty of relevant information in an entertaining format. Glos.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(3) 4-6 Animals in Order series. Cicadas and aphids are two members of the order Homopteran, which also includes mealybugs, whiteflies, and spittlebugs. Fourteen homopterans are pictured and briefly described. The clear color photos capture some of the stranger traits of these insects, and the concise text explains some of the more interesting characteristics. A final chapter contains tips on observing these creatures. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(3) 4-6 Animals in Order series. Perching birds, classified as birds that have three forward-pointing toes and one backward-pointing toe, are briefly discussed in a clear, concise text. Fourteen birds, including the titmouse, the blackbird, the chickadee, and the bluebird, are described and pictured in close-up color photos. A chapter on birdwatching closes the book. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(3) 4-6 Animals in Order series. Turtles are all members of the same order within the animal kingdom, which is called, conveniently enough, Turtle. Fifteen examples of this order, including the musk turtle, the snapping turtle, and the gopher tortoise, are described in three or four paragraphs and shown in a color photo. A note about conservation closes the well-organized, clearly written book. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(3) 4-6 Animals in Order series. Traits of this animal group and a section on animal classification introduce this book. Specific members of the order, including newts, arboreal salamanders, and sirens, are presented in double-page spreads that include a large color photo. The information is well organized and clearly presented. A chapter on how to observe salamanders in the wild concludes the book. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(3) 4-6 Animals in Order series. Traits of this animal order and a section on animal classification introduce this book. Specific members of the order, including various kinds of geese and ducks, as well as less familiar waterfowl (southern screamers, king eiders), are presented in double-page spreads that include a large photo. The information is well organized and clearly presented. Two pages on observing waterfowl in the wild are appended. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(3) 4-6 Animals in Order series. Traits of the perissodactyl group (hooved mammals with an odd number of toes) and a section on animal classification introduce this book. Specific members of the order, including zebras, horses, rhinos, and tapirs, are presented in double-page spreads that include a large photo. The information is well organized and clearly presented. A chapter on perissodactyls and humans concludes the book. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard