(3) PS This follow-up to counting book Stack the Cats introduces balance with adorably comical birds: two small birds on either side of a tree, five opposite an enormous owl, etc., and "Now the birds balance!" Subtly reinforcing the concept are smart uses of the gutter (to which the tree's center is aligned--or precariously unaligned) and background color (calm turquoise appears across the balanced spreads vs. bright, mismatched pages when unbalanced).

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) K-3 Size It Up series. These volumes introduce relative-size comparisons. Accompanied by stock photos (that aren't always to scale), the formulaic texts are easy to read, but the repetitive sentence structure throughout becomes tiresome. There's occasional depth to the information: some comparisons build on previous examples, providing readers with substantive facts (there's a coast redwood in California that's "as tall as 20 giraffes"). Review covers these Size It Up titles: Big, Bigger, Biggest, Heavy, Heavier, Heaviest, Long, Longer, Longest, Short, Shorter, Shortest, Small, Smaller, Smallest, and Tall, Taller, Tallest.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Wacky Comparisons series. Illustrated by Bill Bolton. Two lines of rhyming text combine with cartoony illustrations to convey the concepts of height and weight. The perspectives are entertaining, but some comparisons aren't exactly specific, and many of the rhymes stumble ("How much does a triceratops weigh? / The same as 4.2 million gummy bears, I dare say"). A text box includes measurements in English units with metric equivalents. Reading list. Review covers these Wacky Comparisons titles: How Heavy? and How Tall?.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(2) PS Illustrated by Julia Gorton. In this latest entry in the Science Play series, the concepts center on gravity, with questions and age-appropriate experiments and opportunities for observation that encourage young listeners to think like scientists. The sense of joy, highlighted in the rollicking illustrations, with sentences bounding across the pages, reinforces the concept that there is wonder in even the most everyday of occurrences.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2004

(3) K-3 MathStart series. Illustrated by Bernice Lum. In Mighty, a little girl compares the weights of her toys as she tidies. In Tally, siblings play a competitive counting game to kill time on a long drive. In Treasure, a map leads the Elm Street Kids' Club to a time capsule. The appeal of this popular series lies in its blend of unforced humor, real-kid scenarios, and the cheerful picture book format. Review covers these MathStart titles: Mighty Maddie, Tally O'Malley, and Treasure Map.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Sensational Science Experiments series. Happily unsensational, the books in this series present experiments that are generally simple, feasible, and interesting, such as estimating the height of skyscrapers. Materials are easily obtainable, and instructions are clear, augmented with relaxed illustrations and photos. More important, without fanfare Gardner encourages thinking about the experiments, supplying a few necessary answers at the end. Reading list, websites. Glos, ind. [Review covers these Sensational Science Experiments titles: Far-out Science Projects with Height and Depth, Heavy-duty Science Projects with Weight, It's about Time! Science Projects, and Split-second Science Projects with Speed.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(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) K-3 Illustrated by Steven Kellogg. Marvelosissimo the Mathematical Magician (How Much Is a Million?) returns with a look at the history of measurement. This is an excellent treatment of a common math topic, combining the unfailing logic of Schwartz's explanations with Kellogg's humorous portrayals of people, past and present. A standout feature is the inclusion of actual-size rulers in both English and metric measurements.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2003

(4) 4-6 Math for Fun series. Illustrated by Tony Kenyon. These books offer step-by-step instructions for hands-on activities, which vary in difficulty and are most suitable for upper-elementary students. Sizes contains a few misleading illustrations and suggests using old burned matches to simulate fences--perhaps not the best idea for unsupervised kids. However, both volumes are useful resources for teachers in search of simple projects to supplement their math curriculum. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger