(3) K-3 Food Heroes series. Illustrated by Christy Hale. A market’s diverse offerings motivate Eva Sommaripa to explore gardening, growing unusual herbs and experimenting with new methods of composting. Her unique approach soon brings quality herbs and other plants to Boston-area restaurants, enhancing local cuisine and demonstrating how her work inspires communal pride and fulfillment. Collage and print illustrations alternate between double-page spreads of idyllic farmyards and vignettes of helpful garden inhabitants. Back matter includes an afterword by Sommaripa, information on women farmers in the United States, “Eva’s Recipe for Growing Pea Shoots,” glossary, and resource list.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 Discovering History's Heroes series. In 1889, Susan La Flesche became the first Native American to earn a medical degree. Born and raised in the Omaha tribe, she used her education to doctor her people, to improve public health, and to advocate for her tribe's land rights. This well-written biography uses short, declarative sentences and plenty of context to help readers understand La Flesche's pathbreaking accomplishments and includes numerous quotes from the subject's letters to convey a sense of her personality (lack of any archival photos is unfortunate). The text ends with a glossary and bibliography.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II series. This series provides readers with insights beyond the usual recounting of battles and politics commonly found in juvenile WWII resources, focusing instead on more personal aspects of the war and on anecdotes of heroism. Maps and archival images enrich the clear, informative texts; periodic "Hero Highlight" and "STEM Highlight" sidebars provide interesting context and detail. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II titles: D-Day Invasion, World War II Resistance Fighters, Navajo Code Talkers, World War II Spies and Secret Agents, Attack on Pearl Harbor, and Japanese American Internment Camps.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II series. This series provides readers with insights beyond the usual recounting of battles and politics commonly found in juvenile WWII resources, focusing instead on more personal aspects of the war and on anecdotes of heroism. Maps and archival images enrich the clear, informative texts; periodic "Hero Highlight" and "STEM Highlight" sidebars provide interesting context and detail. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II titles: D-Day Invasion, World War II Resistance Fighters, Navajo Code Talkers, World War II Spies and Secret Agents, Attack on Pearl Harbor, and Japanese American Internment Camps.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II series. This series provides readers with insights beyond the usual recounting of battles and politics commonly found in juvenile WWII resources, focusing instead on more personal aspects of the war and on anecdotes of heroism. Maps and archival images enrich the clear, informative texts; periodic "Hero Highlight" and "STEM Highlight" sidebars provide interesting context and detail. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II titles: D-Day Invasion, World War II Resistance Fighters, Navajo Code Talkers, World War II Spies and Secret Agents, Attack on Pearl Harbor, and Japanese American Internment Camps.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II series. This series provides readers with insights beyond the usual recounting of battles and politics commonly found in juvenile WWII resources, focusing instead on more personal aspects of the war and on anecdotes of heroism. Maps and archival images enrich the clear, informative texts; periodic "Hero Highlight" and "STEM Highlight" sidebars provide interesting context and detail. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II titles: D-Day Invasion, World War II Resistance Fighters, Navajo Code Talkers, World War II Spies and Secret Agents, Attack on Pearl Harbor, and Japanese American Internment Camps.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II series. This series provides readers with insights beyond the usual recounting of battles and politics commonly found in juvenile WWII resources, focusing instead on more personal aspects of the war and on anecdotes of heroism. Maps and archival images enrich the clear, informative texts; periodic "Hero Highlight" and "STEM Highlight" sidebars provide interesting context and detail. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II titles: D-Day Invasion, World War II Resistance Fighters, Navajo Code Talkers, World War II Spies and Secret Agents, Attack on Pearl Harbor, and Japanese American Internment Camps.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II series. This series provides readers with insights beyond the usual recounting of battles and politics commonly found in juvenile WWII resources, focusing instead on more personal aspects of the war and on anecdotes of heroism. Maps and archival images enrich the clear, informative texts; periodic "Hero Highlight" and "STEM Highlight" sidebars provide interesting context and detail. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II titles: D-Day Invasion, World War II Resistance Fighters, Navajo Code Talkers, World War II Spies and Secret Agents, Attack on Pearl Harbor, and Japanese American Internment Camps.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 DC Super Heroes: Science Behind Superman series. This book examines where feats of strength like Superman's are found in science and nature. Bolstered by key vocabulary terms, the text explores the science of human muscle movement, strength building, mechanical exoskeletons, and powerful animals. Additional fact sidebars accompany the main text. Relevant photos and diagrams are accompanied by mostly unnecessary, generic drawings of Superman characters. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) YA Hidden Heroes series. The life and work of journalist Ida Tarbell is just one of several topics in this inspiring and accessible volume. Bodden also examines the history of investigative journalism and its impact on the rise of big business and the Progressive era; later chapters cover the evolution of modern investigative journalism through the twenty-first century, including the influence of technology. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Hidden Heroes series. Well-paced chapters with archival photos examine Native American activists' first attempt to invade Alcatraz in 1964, the history of their struggles with white settlers and the government, and the seeds of activism in the Native American community. Later chapters cover the nearly two-year-long occupation of Alcatraz beginning in 1969 and the protest's ongoing impact. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Hidden Heroes series. This well-researched volume examines the overlooked history of black women who worked for NASA as "human computers." Despite their essential research and diligence, the women faced segregation and unequal opportunities in the work place. The book also discusses the history of educating black Americans, the Space Race, and basics of aerospace engineering and computation. Archival photos illustrate the account. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 DC Super Heroes: Science Behind Superman series. This book explains the differences between Superman's powers of flight and real airborne inventions and wildlife. Basic science and engineering vocabulary elucidates the principles that allow airplanes, helicopters, and animals to take flight. Additional fact sidebars accompany the main text. Generic drawings of Superman characters often feel unnecessary beside the more relevant diagrams and photos of inventions and animals. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 Sports Illustrated Kids: Real Heroes of Sports series. Barriers highlights ten individuals or teams who have "pushed the limits of their sport into new territory," from Roberto Clemente to the all-women's Toledo Troopers football team. Comebacks's ten chapters focus on "athletes who don't listen to those who doubt." The informative but adulatory texts stick to a rah-rah inspirational tone. Well-placed sidebars and photos appear throughout. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Illustrated Kids: Real Heroes of Sports titles: Breaking Barriers and Heroic Comebacks.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) 4-6 Fact Finders: Military Heroes series. Aimed at third and fourth graders, this brief history of the elite group of Navy personnel covers the selection, training, and endurance of the few who are chosen; historic missions, including the killing of Osama bin Laden, are also touched on. Photographs and sidebars provide additional insight. "Did You Know?" comments and Common Core–linked questions extend the informative text. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Fact Finders: Military Heroes series. Aimed at third and fourth graders, this brief account of African American soldiers' roles during the First World War touches on recruitment of a volunteer regiment in 1916, prejudice and hostility during training, and the regiment's eventual combat in France. Archival photographs and sidebars provide additional insight. "Did You Know?" comments and Common Core–linked questions extend the informative text. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Hidden Heroes series. Moore explores the history of female pilots (American, British, and Soviet) during WWII in this well-researched volume. Biographical details of notable pilots are included throughout, along with stories of resistance and skepticism toward the very idea of female pilots. A concluding chapter chronicles the sudden exclusion women pilots faced after the war. Archival photos illustrate the account. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Hidden Heroes series. With the Stonewall riots as its focal point, this volume examines the history of LGBT activism and the evolution of attitudes toward homosexuality. Details of the events at the Stonewall Inn, profiles of individuals who played a significant role, and the impact of the Stonewall riots are relayed in engaging detail and illustrated with moving archival photos. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) 4-6 Sports Illustrated Kids: Real Heroes of Sports series. Barriers highlights ten individuals or teams who have "pushed the limits of their sport into new territory," from Roberto Clemente to the all-women's Toledo Troopers football team. Comebacks's ten chapters focus on "athletes who don't listen to those who doubt." The informative but adulatory texts stick to a rah-rah inspirational tone. Well-placed sidebars and photos appear throughout. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Illustrated Kids: Real Heroes of Sports titles: Breaking Barriers and Heroic Comebacks.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) YA Hidden Heroes series. This volume examines the history of women in baseball, specifically the formation of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. In addition to an engaging overview of women's participation in--and exclusion from--the sport, this volume provides biographical accounts of the most well-known female players and their accomplishments. Archival photos illustrate the account. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello