(3) K-3 Big Picture Sports series. Just a modicum of information, presented in large, easy-to-read type, characterizes these slim books on NFL teams. What they do have, though, are lots of colorful action photos; some interactive pages; and features, such as headers, captions, and maps, that help teach nonfiction conventions. These could also be good resources for struggling readers. There are twenty-six other fall 2016 books in this series. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Big Picture Sports titles: Meet the Arizona Cardinals, Meet the Atlanta Falcons, Meet the Chicago Bears, Meet the New England Patriots, Meet the Philadelphia Eagles, and Meet the Seattle Seahawks.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) K-3 Big Picture Sports series. Just a modicum of information, presented in large, easy-to-read type, characterizes these slim books on NFL teams. What they do have, though, are lots of colorful action photos; some interactive pages; and features, such as headers, captions, and maps, that help teach nonfiction conventions. These could also be good resources for struggling readers. There are twenty-six other fall 2016 books in this series. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Big Picture Sports titles: Meet the Arizona Cardinals, Meet the Atlanta Falcons, Meet the Chicago Bears, Meet the New England Patriots, Meet the Philadelphia Eagles, and Meet the Seattle Seahawks.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) K-3 Big Picture Sports series. Just a modicum of information, presented in large, easy-to-read type, characterizes these slim books on NFL teams. What they do have, though, are lots of colorful action photos; some interactive pages; and features, such as headers, captions, and maps, that help teach nonfiction conventions. These could also be good resources for struggling readers. There are twenty-six other fall 2016 books in this series. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Big Picture Sports titles: Meet the Arizona Cardinals, Meet the Atlanta Falcons, Meet the Chicago Bears, Meet the New England Patriots, Meet the Philadelphia Eagles, and Meet the Seattle Seahawks.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) K-3 Big Picture Sports series. Just a modicum of information, presented in large, easy-to-read type, characterizes these slim books on NFL teams. What they do have, though, are lots of colorful action photos; some interactive pages; and features, such as headers, captions, and maps, that help teach nonfiction conventions. These could also be good resources for struggling readers. There are twenty-six other fall 2016 books in this series. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Big Picture Sports titles: Meet the Arizona Cardinals, Meet the Atlanta Falcons, Meet the Chicago Bears, Meet the New England Patriots, Meet the Philadelphia Eagles, and Meet the Seattle Seahawks.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) K-3 Big Picture Sports series. Just a modicum of information, presented in large, easy-to-read type, characterizes these slim books on NFL teams. What they do have, though, are lots of colorful action photos; some interactive pages; and features, such as headers, captions, and maps, that help teach nonfiction conventions. These could also be good resources for struggling readers. There are twenty-six other fall 2016 books in this series. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Big Picture Sports titles: Meet the Arizona Cardinals, Meet the Atlanta Falcons, Meet the Chicago Bears, Meet the New England Patriots, Meet the Philadelphia Eagles, and Meet the Seattle Seahawks.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) K-3 Big Picture Sports series. Just a modicum of information, presented in large, easy-to-read type, characterizes these slim books on NFL teams. What they do have, though, are lots of colorful action photos; some interactive pages; and features, such as headers, captions, and maps, that help teach nonfiction conventions. These could also be good resources for struggling readers. There are twenty-six other fall 2016 books in this series. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Big Picture Sports titles: Meet the Arizona Cardinals, Meet the Atlanta Falcons, Meet the Chicago Bears, Meet the New England Patriots, Meet the Philadelphia Eagles, and Meet the Seattle Seahawks.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Picture This! series. This eclectic but organized book presents comparative data about animals, such as depth distribution of deep-sea life and flying abilities of bird species, through minimal text and busy, colorful infographics (tables, graphs, maps, callout labels, etc.). The volume requires careful study instead of light browsing, but occasional humor heightens the appeal. Though generally correct, there are few inaccuracies. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 My First Picture Encyclopedias series. Many clear photos and short definitions convey basic information about dogs. Subtopics include dog development, behavior, and forms of play, as well as basic care, physiology, and different breeds. This accessible treatment offers good browsing and accurate facts, though the dogs are not presented alphabetically. Reading list.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 My First Picture Encyclopedias series. Many clear photos and short definitions convey basic information about forms of transportation. Subtopics include cars, trucks, trains, bikes, and emergency vehicles, as well as watercraft and power sources. This accessible treatment offers good browsing and accurate facts, though the vehicles are arranged randomly. Reading list.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 History Speaks: Picture Books Plus Reader's Theater series. Illustrated by Jamel Akib. This series informs readers about specific events in American history through vignettes starring made-up or real characters. The texts, though easy to follow, include unconvincing invented dialogue. Illustrations of varying quality accompany the stories. Appended "Reader's Theater" sections provide room for further research, elaboration, and performance. The series could be useful in classrooms to engage reluctant historians. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos. Review covers these History Speaks titles: Annie Shapiro and the Clothing Workers' Strike, John Greenwood's Journey to Bunker Hill, and Lizzie Newton and the San Francisco Earthquake.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(4) K-3 History Speaks: Picture Books Plus Reader's Theater series. Illustrated by Craig Orback. This series informs readers about specific events in American history through vignettes starring made-up or real characters. The texts, though easy to follow, include unconvincing invented dialogue. Illustrations of varying quality accompany the stories. Appended "Reader's Theater" sections provide room for further research, elaboration, and performance. The series could be useful in classrooms to engage reluctant historians. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos. Review covers these History Speaks titles: Annie Shapiro and the Clothing Workers' Strike, John Greenwood's Journey to Bunker Hill, and Lizzie Newton and the San Francisco Earthquake.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(4) K-3 History Speaks: Picture Books Plus Reader's Theater series. Illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau. This series informs readers about specific events in American history through vignettes starring made-up or real characters. The texts, though easy to follow, include unconvincing invented dialogue. Illustrations of varying quality accompany the stories. Appended "Reader's Theater" sections provide room for further research, elaboration, and performance. The series could be useful in classrooms to engage reluctant historians. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos. Review covers these History Speaks titles: Annie Shapiro and the Clothing Workers' Strike, John Greenwood's Journey to Bunker Hill, and Lizzie Newton and the San Francisco Earthquake.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(4) 4-6 Picture That! series. This book explores the history of battles and weapons by studying works of art (mostly paintings). Four sections cover ancient through modern warfare. Each section introduces several art pieces and gives general information about the battle depicted, followed by a closer look at details in each piece. This provides an interesting if somewhat basic look at the evolution of warfare. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) PS Super Sturdy Picture Book series. Illustrated by David Walker. "Five puppies went out to play. Four puppies were big. One puppy was small." Domino can't keep up with the bigger pups, but when a ball gets stuck under a fence, his size comes in handy. The story is slight, but the springtime-colored paintings of bouncy puppies will appeal to preschoolers.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) PS Super Sturdy Picture Book series. Illustrated by Hideko Takahashi. Simple text describes the imagined journey of Matthew's toy truck: "it explores green, leafy forests... / and sneaks under dark, shadowy bridges" while the bright, acrylic illustrations show the truck (with Matthew as driver) navigating around potted plants and under kitchen chairs. The "sturdy" pages of the pleasant but mild story probably won't have to endure repeated readings.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) PS Super Sturdy Picture Book series. Browne's preschool-level paean to the wonder of books is a fine choice to reissue in this series. Unfortunately, the balanced design of the pages and the rhythm and pace of the text have been lost in this edition, in which the text begins on the verso rather then the recto, so that related text originally sharing a spread is now split up.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 1989

(3) PS Super Sturdy Picture Book series. Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott. "Beets. Meats. Ham. / Peanut butter. Jam." This brief, rhyming romp through the market captures the chaos a toddler in a shopping cart can create. Westcott's humorous illustrations show the mayhem that follows mother and child down the aisles. The book, printed on sturdy card stock, is sure to please little ones who spend much time in this supermarket hot seat.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) 4-6 Picture That! series. Reproduced on double-page spreads, paintings by such artists as Bingham, Catlin, Homer, and Remington are used to discuss life in the American West, including information about Native Americans. The text describes each painting, gives historical context, and provides details that a casual observer might miss. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Picture That! series. Basic history about the era of knights--including how and where they lived, how they waged war, and what they did for entertainment--is pictured in famous works of art with details enlarged and captioned. The clearly written text explains the art, giving information about the era. Reproductions include paintings, an illustrated shield, and the Bayeux Tapestry. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Picture the American Past series. This series examines important events in American history and how they affected children. Illustrated with numerous tinted photos from the past, each volume contains a clear overview of relevant issues. Related activities ("Understanding Historical Photographs," "A Recipe for Make-Do Cake," etc.) are included at the back of each well-designed volume. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire