(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Science in Action series. The physical science topics of sound, light, force, motion, and states of matter are explained through their applications in contexts with broader appeal (Glaciers and Stars are about matter more than their title phenomena). The textbooklike prose, accompanied by stock photographs, detailed diagrams, and well-aligned activities, emphasizes key vocabulary words. Although aimed at elementary-school readers, the concepts are much more advanced. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Science in Action titles: The Science of Color, The Science of Glaciers, The Science of Music, The Science of Race Cars, The Science of Roller Coasters, and The Science of Stars.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. These level-three biographies for "fluent readers" use relatively simple sentence structure and unadorned writing styles to introduce readers to Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor and medieval Arab scholar and scientist Ibn al-Haytham. With various sidebars, text boxes, and visuals (photographs plus static illustrations in Ibn), the presentation is visually cluttered, but the material is solid. A quiz is appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these National Geographic Readers titles: Sonia Sotomayor and Ibn al-Haytham.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) 4-6 Essential Physical Science series. The authors cover the basic physics of these two forms of energy, including explanations of how we see and hear and the ways in which humans use related technologies. Cluttered, brightly colored layouts feature the main text and additional facts in asides, boxes, and captions to the photos and diagrams. Several activities exploring sound and light concepts are included. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 My World of Science series. The bright, attractive photos--often of children engaged in various actions--are the best part of these limited books that present oppositions. Royston sometimes struggles to define terms such as electricity in short sentences for an uninitiated audience. The books could be good starting points, for researchers. There are six other spring 2003 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these My World of Science titles: Conductors and Insulators, Heavy and Light, Magnetic and Nonmagnetic, Shiny and Dull, and Smooth and Rough.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(2) PS Illustrated by Julia Gorton. These books serve as guides for adults and children working together and are designed to be read for a few pages, set aside to conduct an activity, and returned to in order to make sense of what happened. The simple, well-conceived questions and explanations help young kids draw conclusions from their observations. The child-friendly, straightforward text is accompanied by bright and energetic illustrations. [Review covers these titles: I Get Wet and I See Myself.]

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2002