(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

(3) K-3 How Is It Made? series. Close-up color photos illustrate each step in the creation of the titular items, from raw material (sugar, nectar, sap) to final product. Two or three simple sentences add very basic but level-appropriate explanation to each spread's picture; curious young readers may seek out more substantive information. A few additional facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Is It Made? titles: How Is Cotton Candy Made?, How Is Honey Made?, How Is Maple Syrup Made?, and How Is Root Beer Made?.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 How Is It Made? series. Close-up color photos illustrate each step in the creation of the titular items, from raw material (sugar, nectar, sap) to final product. Two or three simple sentences add very basic but level-appropriate explanation to each spread's picture; curious young readers may seek out more substantive information. A few additional facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Is It Made? titles: How Is Cotton Candy Made?, How Is Honey Made?, How Is Maple Syrup Made?, and How Is Root Beer Made?.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 How Is It Made? series. Close-up color photos illustrate each step in the creation of the titular items, from raw material (sugar, nectar, sap) to final product. Two or three simple sentences add very basic but level-appropriate explanation to each spread's picture; curious young readers may seek out more substantive information. A few additional facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Is It Made? titles: How Is Cotton Candy Made?, How Is Honey Made?, How Is Maple Syrup Made?, and How Is Root Beer Made?.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 How Is It Made? series. Close-up color photos illustrate each step in the creation of the titular items, from raw material (sugar, nectar, sap) to final product. Two or three simple sentences add very basic but level-appropriate explanation to each spread's picture; curious young readers may seek out more substantive information. A few additional facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Is It Made? titles: How Is Cotton Candy Made?, How Is Honey Made?, How Is Maple Syrup Made?, and How Is Root Beer Made?.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 How Is It Made? series. Close-up color photos illustrate each step in the creation of the titular items, from raw material to final product. Two or three simple sentences add very basic but level-appropriate explanation to each spread's picture; curious young readers may seek out more substantive information. A few additional facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Is It Made? titles: How Is a Firework Made? and How Is a Pencil Made?.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 How Is It Made? series. Close-up color photos illustrate each step in the creation of the titular items, from raw material to final product. Two or three simple sentences add very basic but level-appropriate explanation to each spread's picture; curious young readers may seek out more substantive information. A few additional facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Is It Made? titles: How Is a Firework Made? and How Is a Pencil Made?.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Engineering That Made America series. This series takes an in-depth look at the history, conception, and practical application of key engineering feats and inventions. Each volume thoughtfully breaks down events and inspiration that led up to each invention, as well as its evolution and impact over the years. Archival photos break up the narratives. There are four other spring 2017 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Engineering That Made America titles: The Invention of the Assembly Line, The Invention of the Airplane, The Invention of the Transistor, and The Building of the Hoover Dam.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(2) YA A mysterious glow-in-the-dark painting links modern-day teen Julie to Lydia and her sisters, in 1917–18, as they work at a factory that produces luminous watch faces, unaware that the paint they use causes radiation poisoning. This parallel narrative gives Julie's conventional YA romance story an infusion of originality. The historical background (expanded in an author's note) is intriguing, embracing chemistry, medicine, and labor and women's histories.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2017

(3) K-3 How Is It Made? series. Close-up color photos spill across the gutter to illustrate each step in the creation of the titular items, from raw agricultural material (cotton and wool, cacao beans, milk, peanuts) to final product. Two or three simple sentences add very basic but level-appropriate explanation to each spread's picture; curious young readers may seek out more substantive information. A few additional facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Is It Made? titles: How Is a Sweater Made?, How Is Chocolate Made?, How Is Ice Cream Made?, and How Is Peanut Butter Made?.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 How Is It Made? series. Close-up color photos spill across the gutter to illustrate each step in the creation of the titular items, from raw agricultural material (cotton and wool, cacao beans, milk, peanuts) to final product. Two or three simple sentences add very basic but level-appropriate explanation to each spread's picture; curious young readers may seek out more substantive information. A few additional facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Is It Made? titles: How Is a Sweater Made?, How Is Chocolate Made?, How Is Ice Cream Made?, and How Is Peanut Butter Made?.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 How Is It Made? series. Close-up color photos spill across the gutter to illustrate each step in the creation of the titular items, from raw agricultural material (cotton and wool, cacao beans, milk, peanuts) to final product. Two or three simple sentences add very basic but level-appropriate explanation to each spread's picture; curious young readers may seek out more substantive information. A few additional facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Is It Made? titles: How Is a Sweater Made?, How Is Chocolate Made?, How Is Ice Cream Made?, and How Is Peanut Butter Made?.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 How Is It Made? series. Close-up color photos spill across the gutter to illustrate each step in the creation of the titular items, from raw agricultural material (cotton and wool, cacao beans, milk, peanuts) to final product. Two or three simple sentences add very basic but level-appropriate explanation to each spread's picture; curious young readers may seek out more substantive information. A few additional facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Is It Made? titles: How Is a Sweater Made?, How Is Chocolate Made?, How Is Ice Cream Made?, and How Is Peanut Butter Made?.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 How Is It Made? series. Children will be drawn into the origins of these familiar objects. Close-up color photos spill across the gutter to illustrate each step in the manufacturing process, from raw material to final product. Two or three simple sentences add a very basic but level-appropriate explanation to each spread's picture; curious young readers may seek out more substantive information. A few additional facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Is It Made? titles: How Is a Book Made? and How Is a Crayon Made?.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 How Is It Made? series. Children will be drawn into the origins of these familiar objects. Close-up color photos spill across the gutter to illustrate each step in the manufacturing process, from raw material to final product. Two or three simple sentences add a very basic but level-appropriate explanation to each spread's picture; curious young readers may seek out more substantive information. A few additional facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Is It Made? titles: How Is a Book Made? and How Is a Crayon Made?.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Robotics in Our World series. With clear text, strong organization, and appropriate photographs, this high-interest series introduces branches of robotics to newly independent readers. Each book straightforwardly explains the history and current uses of particular types of robots and keeps a rosy outlook on these technological advancements. Bright page colors add to the books' visual appeal without being distracting. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Robotics in Our World titles: Factory Robots and Drones.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) 4-6 Orca Footprints series. Information about the history of international trade leads into why fair trade is an important component of today's fight for social justice and equality. Jones urges young people to get involved in spreading the word and changing their own consumer habits. Illustrated with compelling color photographs, the narrative includes anecdotes from the author's international travels in service to fair trade. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Searchlight Books: What Can We Do about Pollution? series. Though standard (and somewhat choppy) in describing the types of pollution or waste in each category and the problems they create, these texts may extend kids' outlooks and interest in the subjects. Illustrated with appropriate color photos and infographics, the books conclude with ways in which adults and kids can help, including writing to their representatives in government. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Searchlight Books: What Can We Do About Pollution titles: Transportation Pollution, Nuclear Pollution, Agricultural Pollution, Manufacturing Pollution, Household Waste, and Fossil Fuel Pollution.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti. Conversational text and cheery retro cartoons work together to provide a step-by-step look at the ways in which key materials are obtained and processed to produce common articles of clothing such as cotton jeans and rubber boots. The content-packed spreads, which emphasize the manufacturing process (sans politics), reward a careful reading of text and images with abundant substantive information. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Start to Finish, Second Series: Nature's Treasures series. A clean design and clear texts make these books solid, basic nonfiction choices. The appealing photographs feature a diverse group of people working or enjoying the products. The occasionally awkward writing ("In the kitchen, gardeners become bakers") doesn't fully diminish the interesting overall concept of explaining how food and spices are made. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Start to Finish, Second Series: Nature's Treasures titles: From Goat to Cheese, From Pumpkin to Pie, From Sea to Salt, From Strawberry to Jam, and From Sugar Beet to Sugar.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee