(3) K-3 Disgusting Critters series. This humorous, informative volume gives basic facts about toads, including clarification about frogs: "The toad is a type of frog... Toads are frogs that live on land and have drier skin, shorter legs, and stouter bodies." Cartoon illustrations and zany speech-bubble text (re: habitat, "Some live in water, some in trees... 'Some live in your bed! Ha ha, just kidding'") play up the kid-friendly silliness.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Disgusting Critters series. On the covers of these entertaining, informative volumes, readers are greeted by a smiling spider ("Howdy!") or louse ("Hey there!"). The texts go on to provide both accurate information ("The head louse is...about the size of a sesame seed") and humorous commentary. Cartoon illustrations and speech-bubble asides--"I might be small, but to your parents I'm scarier than a lion"--enhance the kid-friendliness. Review covers these Disgusting Critters titles: Head Lice and The Spider.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Disgusting Critters series. On the covers of these entertaining, informative volumes, readers are greeted by a smiling spider ("Howdy!") or louse ("Hey there!"). The texts go on to provide both accurate information ("The head louse is...about the size of a sesame seed") and humorous commentary. Cartoon illustrations and speech-bubble asides--"I might be small, but to your parents I'm scarier than a lion"--enhance the kid-friendliness. Review covers these Disgusting Critters titles: Head Lice and The Spider.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Disgusting Critters series. A smiling rat on the cover ("Hi!") welcomes readers in to this humorous science book. Accurate facts--"In Latin, the black rat is called Rattus Rattus"--appear alongside smart-alecky commentary and silly cartoon illustrations. Two rats shaking hands: "'Hey, I'm Rattus Rattus.' 'Nice to meet you! I'm Debbie Debbie.'" A kid-friendly, giggle-inducing approach to information.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Disgusting Critters series. A smiling slug ("Yo!") welcomes readers in to this humorous science book. Accurate facts ("The slug is a mollusk, like the snail, but it doesn't have a shell") appear alongside smart-alecky commentary and silly cartoon illustrations: "Ha ha! You're naked!" taunts a snail to the blushing slug. A kid-friendly, giggle-inducing approach to information.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Disgusting Critters series. This humorous, informative volume gives basic facts about the title creature. Cartoon illustrations and speech-bubble text play up the kid-friendly silliness: "No eyes? That can't be true. I'm sure I had some eyes around here somewhere. " Unfortunately, the illustrations picture the worm's clittelum in the wrong place (it should be near the worm's anterior).

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Disgusting Critters series. This humorous, informative volume gives basic facts about the title creature. Cartoon illustrations and speech-bubble text play up the kid-friendly silliness: "The housefly is a member of the Muscidae family. Mom Muscidae, Dad Muscidae...Teenager Muscidae: 'Yo!'" The familiar subject and friendly presentation give this book broad appeal.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz