(4) 1-3 Makers Make It Work series. Illustrated by Maine Diaz. In each of these early-reader stories, the main character employs a makerspace skill--chemistry, rocketry, beekeeping, and sewing--to solve a problem. If the child's first effort fails, he or she persists to achieve success. The various illustrations (by different artists) are serviceable and the stories are fairly engaging, but kids will likely be more interested in the instructions for hands-on activities. Useful for early-elementary classrooms and makerspaces. Review covers these Makers Make It Work titles: Slime King, Rocket Rivals, The Broken Bees' Nest, and The Lost and Found Weekend.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Valpuri Kerttula. Where did your breakfast banana come from? How are your jeans made? How does your house have electricity? Each two-page spread illuminates these and other "journeys" with numbered steps for each process. Technologies such as cellphones, the internet, and--yes--indoor plumbing are covered. A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at items and systems readers may take for granted. Back matter would have increased the educational value.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Lucy Cartwright. Sleep, nocturnal animals, constellations, vampires...everything you need to know about nighttime is covered in this oversize illustrated guide. Loosely grouped by the sky, earth (which includes animals in different habitats), and humans at night, the information is engaging, with the kind of trivia kids love. Much of the type is extremely tiny; a table of contents and an index would have made navigation easier.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) 1-3 Makers Make It Work series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. In each of these early-reader stories, the main character employs a makerspace skill--chemistry, rocketry, beekeeping, and sewing--to solve a problem. If the child's first effort fails, he or she persists to achieve success. The various illustrations (by different artists) are serviceable and the stories are fairly engaging, but kids will likely be more interested in the instructions for hands-on activities. Useful for early-elementary classrooms and makerspaces. Review covers these Makers Make It Work titles: Slime King, Rocket Rivals, The Broken Bees' Nest, and The Lost and Found Weekend.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) PS Bespectacled babies travel to space to learn about the moon, sun, and planets. There's a fact or two about each as the babies float around in their spacesuits, making cartoon speech-balloon comments. Even though the "nerd" label and glasses for anyone interested in science is a bit stereotypical, this is a lively introduction to outer space for the youngest readers, who are encouraged to "stay curious!"

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) PS Bespectacled babies explore the seashore and ocean, with an emphasis on marine animals at different ocean depths and their adaptations. The babies float around in scuba gear, making cartoon speech-balloon comments. Even though the "nerd" label and glasses for anyone interested in science is a bit stereotypical, this is a lively introduction to science for the youngest readers, who are encouraged to "stay curious!"

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Mike Shiell. Where there's a stink, there's bound to be something disgusting--that's the charm of this book about the olfactory senses of humans and animals. From rotting flesh to poop to skunk spray, readers learn about many aspects of smell. Cartoony caricature illustrations add to the kid-appeal. The fonts of the chapter titles and subject headings are close enough to make the organization a little confusing. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) 4-6 Days after the end of book one, Ken and the EngiNerds are tracking down the final robot from the horde that menaced their town. A girl named Mikaela, who claims she's seen an alien, is a distraction, but Ken refuses to be thrown off his mission. Ample humor, short chapters, and the introduction of a smart, independent girl character make this a worthy successor to EngiNerds.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) 1-3 Makers Make It Work series. Illustrated by André Ceolin. In each of these early-reader stories, the main character employs a makerspace skill--chemistry, rocketry, beekeeping, and sewing--to solve a problem. If the child's first effort fails, he or she persists to achieve success. The various illustrations (by different artists) are serviceable and the stories are fairly engaging, but kids will likely be more interested in the instructions for hands-on activities. Useful for early-elementary classrooms and makerspaces. Review covers these Makers Make It Work titles: Slime King, Rocket Rivals, The Broken Bees' Nest, and The Lost and Found Weekend.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) K-3 Hitchhiking, catapulting, and drifting--these are just three of the ways seeds move. Thirteen other forms of seed dispersal are described, all illustrated with large, colorful digital illustrations. The final pages encourage readers to try growing a seed themselves. While the text and illustrations are engaging and fairly informative, curious readers may be left with questions; back matter would have been helpful.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Thomas Hegbrook. Everything you've ever wanted to know about the moon--its atmosphere, phases, related mythology and legends, its effect on our bodies, poems and songs about it, lunar exploration, and more--is included in this illustrated volume. The disparate subjects, small font, and lack of an index or additional resources make this interesting and browsable book one that may struggle to find an audience.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Gilbert Ford. From dung beetles to rotten logs to that weird stuff in the back of your refrigerator, this book covers all kinds of decomposition; there's also a chapter that relates what happens when there is no decomposition, specifically in overflowing landfills. The tone is light but respectful, and plenty of real-world examples and illustrations will keep readers engaged. Hands-on activities are scattered through the text. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Colombet. Singer looks at hair and fur on different mammals, starting with a human baby. The book explores the main functions of hair and fur--including camouflage, warmth, and attracting a mate--and more specific functions of hair such as eyebrows and whiskers. With interesting facts, engaging writing, cartoon bubbles, and plenty of photographs, this will be enthusiastically received by young scientists. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) 1-3 Makers Make It Work series. Illustrated by Barbara Bongini. In each of these early-reader stories, the main character employs a makerspace skill--chemistry, rocketry, beekeeping, and sewing--to solve a problem. If the child's first effort fails, he or she persists to achieve success. The various illustrations (by different artists) are serviceable and the stories are fairly engaging, but kids will likely be more interested in the instructions for hands-on activities. Useful for early-elementary classrooms and makerspaces. Review covers these Makers Make It Work titles: Slime King, Rocket Rivals, The Broken Bees' Nest, and The Lost and Found Weekend.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Rebecca Evans. Growing up in seventeenth-century Denmark, Ole Romer wondered why lightning appeared before thunder sounded. Later, as an astronomer in Paris, Romer's observations of Jupiter's moon (Io) led him to calculate the speed of light. Dense scientific information is lightened by comic-panel illustrations with speech-bubble jokes about ice cream, plumbing, and butts. Budding scientists will enjoy learning the slow process of scientific discovery. Timeline.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Anna Raff. Light, energy, color, shadows, and reflection are all covered in this engaging, information-packed picture book. Simple activities with household objects (spoons, drinking straws, etc.) demonstrate the properties of light, such as how it travels in a straight line or how light waves can be bent. The illustrations, featuring a smiling boy and girl and (oddly) their cow professor, support the information in the text. Glos.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) 4-6 Amazing illustrations created entirely with pressed plants are the centerpiece of this nature guide covering the four seasons. Each image reflects an accompanying paragraph on various topics including nest building, deer rutting, and hibernation. Ahpornsiri's book provides a more advanced nature study, so this is ideally suited for upper-elementary-age readers. Appreciation of the art may inspire kids to try their own pressings. Glos.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 A year in the life of a newly hatched emperor penguin is described in engaging present-tense text. As the chick grows into an independent year-old adult, the straightforward text explains penguins' food, habitat, skills, adaptations, and threats from global warming. Numerous large, up-close photos of penguins in action help document the penguin's early life and add to the book's appeal for elementary-age animal lovers.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 In an engaging present-tense text, a panda grows from a tiny cub to an independent adult, a process that takes a little over a year. The straightforward and informative text covers pandas' diet, habitat, skills, adaptations, and endangered status. Numerous large, up-close photos of pandas in action help document the panda's early life and add to the book's appeal for elementary-age animal lovers.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) 1-3 Magic School Bus Rides Again series. Keesha is applying to astronaut camp, so a trip into space on the Magic School Bus to fix a satellite sounds perfect. Disaster strikes, though, when Keesha tries to take a selfie for her application and accidentally bumps the satellite out of orbit. The latest episode in the rebooted series offers early-chapter-book readers humorous adventure with a good dose of STEM education. Glos.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson