(3) 4-6 Brief hyperbolic descriptions accompany bright photos of these devices--mostly contemporary, with a nod to historical harebrained ideas. High-tech trumps all, from an inflatable bike helmet to a fold-up car, a river-cleaning boat, and a walking house. Concept-only inventions are noted, but most of these attention-grabbing contraptions, whether food- or transportation-related, are not generally available--yet. Ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Facts at Your Fingertips: The World of Endangered Animals series. This encyclopedic series gives detailed information about a wide range of endangered animals. Front and back matter explains the context and threat levels, while two dozen spreads each feature an excellent photograph, packed paragraphs of text, and a data panel for a single animal such as Siberia's Baikal seal. Though the theme is inherently cautionary, conservation measures are also documented. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Facts at Your Fingertips: The World of Endangered Animals titles: Africa, Australia and Southeast Asia, Europe, North and South America, and South and Central Asia.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Facts at Your Fingertips: The World of Endangered Animals series. This encyclopedic series gives detailed information about a wide range of endangered animals. Front and back matter explains the context and threat levels, while two dozen spreads each feature an excellent photograph, packed paragraphs of text, and a data panel for a single animal such as Siberia's Baikal seal. Though the theme is inherently cautionary, conservation measures are also documented. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Facts at Your Fingertips: The World of Endangered Animals titles: Africa, Australia and Southeast Asia, Europe, North and South America, and South and Central Asia.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Facts at Your Fingertips: The World of Endangered Animals series. This encyclopedic series gives detailed information about a wide range of endangered animals. Front and back matter explains the context and threat levels, while two dozen spreads each feature an excellent photograph, packed paragraphs of text, and a data panel for a single animal such as Siberia's Baikal seal. Though the theme is inherently cautionary, conservation measures are also documented. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Facts at Your Fingertips: The World of Endangered Animals titles: Africa, Australia and Southeast Asia, Europe, North and South America, and South and Central Asia.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Facts at Your Fingertips: The World of Endangered Animals series. This encyclopedic series gives detailed information about a wide range of endangered animals. Front and back matter explains the context and threat levels, while two dozen spreads each feature an excellent photograph, packed paragraphs of text, and a data panel for a single animal such as Siberia's Baikal seal. Though the theme is inherently cautionary, conservation measures are also documented. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Facts at Your Fingertips: The World of Endangered Animals titles: Africa, Australia and Southeast Asia, Europe, North and South America, and South and Central Asia.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Facts at Your Fingertips: The World of Endangered Animals series. This encyclopedic series gives detailed information about a wide range of endangered animals. Front and back matter explains the context and threat levels, while two dozen spreads each feature an excellent photograph, packed paragraphs of text, and a data panel for a single animal such as Siberia's Baikal seal. Though the theme is inherently cautionary, conservation measures are also documented. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Facts at Your Fingertips: The World of Endangered Animals titles: Africa, Australia and Southeast Asia, Europe, North and South America, and South and Central Asia.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Anna Raff. "A gear is a wheel with teeth. Gears can change the speed, power, and direction of a machine's work." With the help of a seen-but-not-heard cat and a collection of children, this book gives accessible examples of the simple machines of the title, such as seesaws, faucets, and construction cranes. Pastel illustrations are lively and friendly, with just enough detail.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 The conceit of this book--that the author wants to overcome her loathing of spiders--effectively and engagingly conveys accurate information about these arachnids, from various types to anatomy and capabilities. The humorous tone is matched by cartoon drawings and random lettering, punctuated by black splotches for when loathing overcomes good intent. All ends well, though.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Basher Science series. Written by Dan Green. The pun-laden prose of this handbook accurately introduces microbes, or "bugs." Group color-coding of topics like "Bacteria Basics" is repeated throughout as individual subtopics speak for themselves (e.g., Helminth: "[I'm] A squirmy, wormy bag of fun..."), and anthropomorphized cartoon illustrations reinforce the point (Thermophile wears a hazmat suit). Standard data, such as capabilities and year discovered, accompany each subtopic. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Basher Science series. Written by Adrian Dingle and Dan Green. The jaunty prose of this handbook accurately introduces the periodic table. Group color-coding on the standard matrix is repeated throughout, as each personified element gives its own attributes (e.g., Calcium: "They call me 'The Scaffolder'") and oddly anthropomorphized manga characters reinforce the point (Calcium wears a tool belt and hardhat). Standard data (symbol, atomic number, etc.) accompany each element. Removable poster included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Basher Science series. Written by Dan Green. The pun-laden prose of this balanced discussion introduces major factors in climate change, such as El Niño and acidification. Color-coding of topics like "Greenhouse Gang" is repeated throughout as individual subtopics speak for themselves (e.g., Smog: "I'm a flagon of foul air, a can of cough and splutter"), and anthropomorphized cartoon illustrations reinforce the point. Standard data, such as capabilities and extremes, accompany each subtopic. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) 4-6 National Geographic: Everything series. With Brendan Mullan. The facts in this book are accurate and progressively organized from layers of the atmosphere through space phenomena and space exploration to a final section, "Space Fun." The tone is accessible without being hyperbolic, with occasional contributions from a National Geographic astronomer. Short boxes of information are presented scrapbook-style with excellent photos. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Ecosystems of the World series. An anecdote followed by an accessible definition begins each book; subsequent chapters cover each ecosystem's special features, plants, animals, relation to people, and future. Despite a dull template, the books explain their topics clearly and extend understanding via sidebars of further material and questions. Captioned photos and diagrams illustrate the texts. There are four other fall 2015 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Ecosystems of the World titles: Wetland Ecosystems, Woodland Forest Ecosystems, Coral Reef Ecosystems, and Grassland Ecosystems.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Camilla de la Bédoyère. The conceit of placing an octopus in human situations helps readers understand the animal's features and capabilities, such as its three hearts requiring three stethoscopes for a medical exam. A sense of humor permeates both the text and cartoon-style illustrations, though the pictures occasionally omit an important feature described, such as the octopus's beak. "Fact file" and a map are appended.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Camilla de la Bédoyère. The conceit of placing a penguin in human situations helps readers understand the animal's features and capabilities, such as its ability to swim four times faster than humans and hold its breath for five minutes. A sense of humor permeates both the text and accessible cartoon-style illustrations (e.g., the penguin toboggans down a bowling alley). "Fact file" and a map are appended.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Wendell Minor. With energy and suspense, Burleigh tells the true story of a group of divers rescuing a female humpback whale that had become entangled in an abandoned crab net. Dramatic gouache illustrations suit the underwater struggle, and readers will cheer when the whale is freed. A note on the dangers of such rescues for the untrained and facts about humpback whales are appended. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Brad Sneed. The effect of wind on beach-goers begins this book, which then pictures offshore windmills as a source of renewable energy. A rhythmic text rhymes just enough, and lighthearted paintings effectively convey the movement and energy of the wind. But the implication that one windmill field supplies electric power that's "Charging the grid / That fuels our nation" is misleading.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) PS Illustrated by R. W. Alley. This somewhat nostalgic story features two young children visiting their grandparents' farm. When the youngsters bumble typical activities such as picking apples and gathering eggs, instead of criticizing them, the grandparents gently show them a better way, ending with a fond bedtime. The upbeat, affectionate mood is reinforced by delicate mixed-media art with humorous touches.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) 4-6 Beginning with a brief report lamenting wildfire danger and damage, Collard devotes the rest of the book to a contemporary, enlightened view of such fires, with specific birds as the main beneficiary of the resulting food and shelter. Salvage logging also receives thoughtful treatment as an economic boon but an ecological bust. Colorful nature photos illustrate the account. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Unstable Earth series. These titles present worst-case scenarios for each topic. Clear explanations of general problems come first, followed by chapters with specifics (e.g., oil drilling, pesticides) in text blocks. Increasingly dire projections for future decades and centuries are interspersed, complete with dystopian headlines. Small, individual mitigations are suggested on the last pages. Color photographs, charts, and other visuals fill busy spreads. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Unstable Earth titles: What Happens if the Ozone Disappears?, What Happens if the Rain Forests Disappear?, What Happens if We Overfish the Oceans?, and What Happens When an Ice Cap Melts?.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian