(4) 4-6 Savvy: Draw Your Own Zendoodles series. Illustrated by Pimlada Phuapradit. In these books, a fair amount of boilerplate content first describes "zendoodles" (an intricate design built from a variety of simple patterns), then introduces tools, materials, and color options. Each volume offers sixteen step-by-step design possibilities and crafts, which should inspire doodlers. Some readers may be put off by the text's overuse of adjectives such as sweet, darling, adorable, and quirky-cute. Reading list. Review covers these Savvy: Draw Your Own Zendoodles titles: Draw Your Own Lettering and Decorative Zendoodles and Draw Your Own Nature Zendoodles.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Savvy: Draw Your Own Zendoodles series. Illustrated by Pimlada Phuapradit. In these books, a fair amount of boilerplate content first describes "zendoodles" (an intricate design built from a variety of simple patterns), then introduces tools, materials, and color options. Each volume offers sixteen step-by-step design possibilities and crafts, which should inspire doodlers. Some readers may be put off by the text's overuse of adjectives such as sweet, darling, adorable, and quirky-cute. Reading list. Review covers these Savvy: Draw Your Own Zendoodles titles: Draw Your Own Lettering and Decorative Zendoodles and Draw Your Own Nature Zendoodles.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Grow Your Own series. With plenty of color photos of kids demonstrating the step-by-step instructions, these guides for beginners make gardening seem approachable and enjoyable. The easy-to-read text describes planting, care, and harvesting, as well as how to spot and solve problems such as pests and disease, over- or underwatering, and frost danger. Each book ends with a gardening calendar and related recipe. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Grow Your Own titles: Lettuce, Potatoes, Strawberries, and Tomatoes.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) 4-6 Grow Your Own series. With plenty of color photos of kids demonstrating the step-by-step instructions, these guides for beginners make gardening seem approachable and enjoyable. The easy-to-read text describes planting, care, and harvesting, as well as how to spot and solve problems such as pests and disease, over- or underwatering, and frost danger. Each book ends with a gardening calendar and related recipe. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Grow Your Own titles: Lettuce, Potatoes, Strawberries, and Tomatoes.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) 4-6 Grow Your Own series. With plenty of color photos of kids demonstrating the step-by-step instructions, these guides for beginners make gardening seem approachable and enjoyable. The easy-to-read text describes planting, care, and harvesting, as well as how to spot and solve problems such as pests and disease, over- or underwatering, and frost danger. Each book ends with a gardening calendar and related recipe. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Grow Your Own titles: Lettuce, Potatoes, Strawberries, and Tomatoes.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) 4-6 Grow Your Own series. With plenty of color photos of kids demonstrating the step-by-step instructions, these guides for beginners make gardening seem approachable and enjoyable. The easy-to-read text describes planting, care, and harvesting, as well as how to spot and solve problems such as pests and disease, over- or underwatering, and frost danger. Each book ends with a gardening calendar and related recipe. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Grow Your Own titles: Lettuce, Potatoes, Strawberries, and Tomatoes.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) 1-3 On My Own History series. Illustrated by Laurie Harden. Ten-year-old Orry Jenkins and his younger stepsister, Mildred, nearly suffocate when they're caught in the Black Sunday dust storm of 1935. This simply told story, which introduces independent readers to the Dust Bowl, conveys the storm's intensity and destruction. Harden's stiff illustrations look oddly dated. An author's note and afterword provide more historical background. Bib.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 On My Own History series. Illustrated by Craig Orback. In 1844–45, seventeen-year-old Moses Schallenberger heads west to California with a wagon train but ends up spending a long, brutal winter alone in the mountains. Independent readers will find this simply told story of survival riveting. An afterword provides more information about Moses's life after his rescue. Orback's serviceable illustrations help break up the sections of text. Reading list, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 On My Own Folklore series. Illustrated by Cheryl Kirk Noll. After sharing the gods' finest treasure, chocolate, with the Mayan people, god/king Kukulkán incurs the wrath of fierce Night Jaguar. Bokuden, Japan's greatest swordsman, defeats a boastful but gullible warrior with wit instead of weapons. The illustrations for each folktale nicely reflects its native culture. Back matter contains additional information, including a pronunciation guide. Reading list, websites. Glos. Review covers these On My Own Folklore titles: Bokuden and the Bully and The Chocolate Tree.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(4) K-3 On My Own History series. Illustrated by Craig Orback. During the American Revolution, James Forten, a free black teenager, was a powder boy on the Royal Louis until the British captured his ship. Though vague on details, this historical account (with invented dialogue) is simple enough for early readers to tackle independently. The author's note and afterword provide essential context. The realistic illustrations give life to Forten's tale. Bib.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(3) K-3 On My Own Folklore series. Illustrated by Janice Lee Porter. After sharing the gods' finest treasure, chocolate, with the Mayan people, god/king Kukulkán incurs the wrath of fierce Night Jaguar. Bokuden, Japan's greatest swordsman, defeats a boastful but gullible warrior with wit instead of weapons. The illustrations for each folktale nicely reflects its native culture. Back matter contains additional information, including a pronunciation guide. Reading list, websites. Glos. Review covers these On My Own Folklore titles: Bokuden and the Bully and The Chocolate Tree.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(3) K-3 On My Own Folklore series. Illustrated by Jeni Reeves. In these stories, trickster Anansi wins a box of stories from the sky god; the Yellow Emperor fights the Black Dragon; a young man wins a princess's hand with his magic pomegranate; and a self-centered girl becomes the ghost La Llorona. Each tale is paired with an illustration style that nicely reflects the culture. Back matter provides further information. Review covers these On My Own Folklore titles: Anansi and the Box of Stories, The Tale of La Llorona, The Magic Pomegranate, and The Dragon Emperor.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(3) K-3 On My Own Folklore series. Illustrated by Melanie Hall. In these stories, trickster Anansi wins a box of stories from the sky god; the Yellow Emperor fights the Black Dragon; a young man wins a princess's hand with his magic pomegranate; and a self-centered girl becomes the ghost La Llorona. Each tale is paired with an illustration style that nicely reflects the culture. Back matter provides further information. Review covers these On My Own Folklore titles: Anansi and the Box of Stories, The Tale of La Llorona, The Magic Pomegranate, and The Dragon Emperor.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(3) K-3 On My Own Folklore series. Illustrated by Tang Ge. In these stories, trickster Anansi wins a box of stories from the sky god; the Yellow Emperor fights the Black Dragon; a young man wins a princess's hand with his magic pomegranate; and a self-centered girl becomes the ghost La Llorona. Each tale is paired with an illustration style that nicely reflects the culture. Back matter provides further information. Review covers these On My Own Folklore titles: Anansi and the Box of Stories, The Tale of La Llorona, The Magic Pomegranate, and The Dragon Emperor.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(3) K-3 On My Own Science series. Illustrated by Phyllis V. Saroff. In clear and accessible language, this book for independent readers describes efforts to establish a new migrating flock of whooping cranes. The engaging illustrations portray the cranes' natural habitat and scientists' methods of raising chicks. This detailed look at a successful conservation project would be a good choice for endangered species units for younger grades. Reading list, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) K-3 On My Own Science series. Illustrated by Ryan Durney. This book for independent readers introduces three legendary sea monsters--kraken, mermaids, and sea serpents--and compares them to actual sea creatures. Jango-Cohen explains how each real "monster" (giant squid, manatee, oarfish) fits into the legend, providing a range of details about each one. Slick-looking illustrations ably support the text with eye-catching sea animals, but human figures look lifeless. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(3) K-3 On My Own Folklore series. Illustrated by Janice Lee Porter. In these stories, trickster Anansi wins a box of stories from the sky god; the Yellow Emperor fights the Black Dragon; a young man wins a princess's hand with his magic pomegranate; and a self-centered girl becomes the ghost La Llorona. Each tale is paired with an illustration style that nicely reflects the culture. Back matter provides further information. Review covers these On My Own Folklore titles: Anansi and the Box of Stories, The Tale of La Llorona, The Magic Pomegranate, and The Dragon Emperor.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(4) K-3 On My Own Science series. Illustrated by John Bindon. Walker describes Dr. William Hammer's efforts to discover the first Antarctic dinosaur fossils in 1991. The text is choppy but straightforward and easy to read; engaging illustrations ably support the narrative. Details, including the expedition's preparations for the extreme cold and how the fossils were removed from rock, will appeal to young science fans. Reading list, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(3) K-3 On My Own Folklore series. Illustrated by Lisa Carlson. These entertaining books adapt for young readers the oft-told tales of larger-than-life North American folk heroes. The titles' humor, richly colored (although sometimes muddy) illustrations, and accessible text sprinkled with colloquialisms combine for an enjoyable read. A general discussion of folklore introduces each title, providing examples and definitions; Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill include age-appropriate further reading and websites. Review covers these On My Own Folklore titles: Calamity Jane, John Henry, Paul Bunyan, and Pecos Bill.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(3) K-3 On My Own Folklore series. Illustrated by Mark Oldroyd. These entertaining books adapt for young readers the oft-told tales of larger-than-life North American folk heroes. The titles' humor, richly colored (although sometimes muddy) illustrations, and accessible text sprinkled with colloquialisms combine for an enjoyable read. A general discussion of folklore introduces each title, providing examples and definitions; Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill include age-appropriate further reading and websites. Review covers these On My Own Folklore titles: Calamity Jane, John Henry, Paul Bunyan, and Pecos Bill.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett