(2) PS Illustrated by Bob Staake. Tony, a sturdy eighteen-wheeler with a pronounced underbite, sets out to deliver his truckload of goods: "The road ahead was awful. / Tony bumped and bounced. / 'I f-feel I'll lose another w-wheel!' / The troubled truck announced." On his treacherous route Tony faces nearly every obstacle imaginable--and then some (honestly, who could predict a rocket ship in the middle of the road?). At every turn, a new fiasco dislodges another wheel from its axle until he risks losing them all. Can he make it to the end with only one, or even none? Carefully planned page-turns and perfectly executed rhymes steer readers into heightened anticipation until Tony arrives at his (surprising) destination. Staake's sharp and bold illustrations highlight Tony's wild ride in primary and secondary colors that explode with every crash, bang, and boom the truck faces on the road. A thrill for truck lovers and young mathematicians alike, this raucous read-aloud will rev up listeners, who will surely be counting on their fingers Tony's rapidly disappearing wheels--and will cheer with delight at the concluding twist.

Reviewer: Grace McKinney | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021

(3) K-3 Fast Track: Simple Machines series. Captioned color photographs and instructive diagrams accompany these clear, simple texts that explain to young readers the science, mechanics, history, applications, and embellishments of six simple machines. An appended pictorial spread quizzes readers on identifying the machine being discussed, followed by a one-page set of directions describing how to build the machine and use it practically. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Fast Track: Simple Machines titles: Levers, Pulleys, Ramps, Screws, Wedges, and Wheels and Axles.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. From the world's heaviest limo and tallest motorcycle to the largest motorized shopping cart and the largest skateboard, this quick read identifies twenty-five offbeat vehicle-related world records. Color photos accompany large-print text (two to three sentences per page) providing the briefest description for each record. The presentation is random, but this should have appeal for many beginning readers.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) K-3 Flintstones Explain Simple Machines series. Illustrated by Alan Brown. Fred Flintstone describes the basic workings and everyday uses of simple machines in these cartoon books. Small inset photos of modern real-world examples connect readers to sound factual material, but the text format--paragraph-long word bubbles of tin-eared dialogue ("something tells me today is going to be a great day for using pulleys") in small type--is cumbersome. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Flintstones Explain Simple Machines titles: Fred Flintstone's Adventures with Inclined Planes, Fred Flintstone's Adventures with Pulleys, and Fred Flintstone's Adventures with Wheels and Axles.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 Last-Minute Science Projects series. Typical science activities are sorted by the amount of time they take to complete--all under an hour, for readers desperate to meet their homework deadlines. Step-by-step directions, diagrams, and full explanations of the results undermine the learning potential, although each experiment is accompanied by good but easy-to-bypass suggestions to "keep exploring." Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Last-Minute Science Projects titles: Atoms and Molecules Experiments Using Ice, Salt, Marbles, and More, Electricity and Magnetism Experiments Using Batteries, Bulbs, Wires, and More, Energy Experiments Using Ice Cubes, Springs, Magnets, and More, Human Body Experiments Using Fingerprints, Hair, Muscles, and More, Simple Machine Experiments Using Seesaws, Wheels, Pulleys, and More, and Solids, Liquids, and Gases Experiments Using Water, Air, Marbles, and More.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Searchlight Books: How Do Simple Machines Work? series. These books start with definitions of force, work, and machines, then explain how machines reduce the amount of force needed to do work. Interactivity is encouraged, as readers are directed to perform simple experiments along with children shown in accompanying pictures; the texts provide guidance on what to look for. Clear explanations, relatable examples, and effective visuals make these solid selections. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Searchlight Books: How Do Simple Machines Work? titles: Put Inclined Planes to the Test, Put Levers to the Test, Put Pulleys to the Test, and Put Wheels and Axles to the Test.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 4-6 Score! Sports Science Projects series. These collections of mathematics and physical science experiments use popular sports to engage middle school investigators. After general introductions to scientific methods and safety, the texts present various projects and activities, many of which illustrate how scientific data can help improve performance. Detailed instructions and color diagrams, explanations of the featured scientific principles, and suggestions for further study are included. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Score! Sports Science Projects titles: Slam Dunk! and Wheels!

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Simple Machines series. Machines couldn't be any simpler in this newly revised series that introduces six basic tools for making work easier. Clear, brief text accompanies pictures of everyday objects showing force applied, motion achieved, and effort reduced. The concepts behind levers are easiest to understand, while gears and pulleys are more challenging. Easy activities invite experimentation so kids can see for themselves how things work. Glos., ind. Review covers these Simple Machines titles: Levers, Pulleys and Gears, Ramps and Wedges, Screws, Springs, and Wheels and Cranks.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Buddy Books: Simple Machines series. Attempting to explain physics to a very young audience, these books wisely follow a simple template involving definition, parts, principles, history, and applications. Some of the color photos, diagrams, and clip art are clear; others, such as a complicated wheel and axle, are confusing. Some definitions are helpful, while others are incomplete (e.g., how a wedge can help fasten is never explicit). Glos., ind. Review covers these Buddy Books: Simple Machines titles: Inclined Planes, Levers, Pulleys, Screws, Wedges, and Wheels & Axles.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 How? What? Why? series. Simple questions, simple answers, and simple experiments fill the books in this series. In bright primary colors, cartoon-style children pose questions and offer possible explanations, followed by sequenced experiments and brief explanations, with some related questions answered at the back of the book. These books present accurate science, but little effort is made to introduce scientific vocabulary. Ind. [Review covers these How? What? Why? Titles: How Does a Ship Float?, What Does a Wheel Do? Why Does Ice Melt?, and Why Does it Fall Over?. ]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Science Experiments series. Besides color photos of children performing the experiments and other related material, the busy pages in this series include accurate written explanations and diagrams of the theory of these phenomena, as well as boxes of related information. While some experiments may be too delicate for children, most are practical. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Science Experiments titles: Flight; Gravity; Levers, Wheels, and Pulleys; Magnetism; Solids, Liquids, and Gases.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Machines in Action series. These books introduce simple mechanisms, explain their basic scientific principles, and show how they are used in almost every aspect of civilization, including transportation, architecture, and farming. The simply written texts include instructions for pertinent projects and experiments; questions are scattered throughout each volume. Photos, illustrations, and blocks of text with colored backgrounds contribute to the books' crowded layouts. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) K-3 Bridgestone Science Library series. These six easy-to-read science books, which explore simple machines, could easily have been combined into one volume. Each book describes how a particular machine works and offers examples of how it's used in everyday life. At books' end, a hands-on science experiment encourages students to investigate the physical concepts further. Color photos accompany the bland texts. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire