(4) 4-6 Bishop packs a lot of historical detail into this (fictionalized) diary account of life aboard explorer Captain James Cook's ship Endeavor, from the perspective of the ship's cook Thomas Richmond ("likely...a freed slave from Jamaica"). The acrylic and ink drawings, in muted greens, blues, and off-whites, contain speech bubbles; sidebars provide supplementary information and very basic recipes. It's somewhat hard to follow but engaging.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(2) K-3 In dramatic double-page watercolor spreads, Ray follows Norwegian anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl and his five-man crew on their 101-day, 4,300-mile odyssey, in 1947, to prove that ancient Incan sailors could have reached the South Pacific by raft. Emphasizing high-seas adventure over theory, the story will capture the imagination of young readers with the drama of flying fish, gale-force winds, and giant waves. Bib.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2015

(3) 4-6 After the unexpected death of Tara's Grammy Claire, an ecological scientist studying butterflies on a remote South Pacific island, a mysterious scavenger hunt ensues with letters offering cryptic clues linked to ten keys that will unlock the truth behind Grammy's secrets. Suspense, intriguing characterization, and a bit of magical realism create a successful mystery with a twist in its unanticipated conclusion.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) YA Unearthing Ancient Worlds series. Each volume begins with a snapshot look at an ancient civilization, then reveals the history of its archaeological site. Readers are given insight into who the first explorers were and their lasting contributions, in addition to future digs and discoveries at the sites. Numerous sidebars, maps, and illustrations provide more information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Unearthing Ancient Worlds titles: Angkor Wat and Easter Island.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 Continentes series. These straightforward books provide basic introductions to all seven continents. Maps and photographs of varying quality highlight climate, geographical features, and famous sites. The Spanish translations, though generally accurate, do include mistakes (e.g., Lagos certainly isn't "la ciudad más poblada del mundo"). Short reference lists include at least one Spanish resource. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Continentes titles: África, Antártida, Asia, Europa, Australia y Oceanía, Norteamérica, and Suramérica.

Reviewer: Pamela Mishkin

(4) 4-6 Animal Top Tens series. REVIEW MISSING

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) 4-6 Plant Top Tens series. This series highlights some of the smelliest, scariest, and oldest plant species in the world. Simple maps provide directions for locating plant environments, while colorful photographs complement randomly selected facts about such unusual fauna as bog moss and monkey-puzzle trees. Each book also contains information regarding endangered plants. The information is limited, but the series is useful for research. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Plant Top Tens titles: Africa's Most Amazing Plants, Asia's Most Amazing Plants, Australasia's Most Amazing Plants, Europe's Most Amazing Plants, North America's Most Amazing Plants, and South America's Most Amazing Plants.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull