(4) K-3 Let's Investigate with Nate series. Illustrated by Wes Hargis. PBS host/scientist Ball (in cartoon form) and a group of adventurous children travel back in time from a science museum to the Mesozoic era to return a wayward dinosaur to its rightful period. The main text briefly describes conditions in different geologic periods while dialogue bubbles convey the slight fictional frame story; one student's journal pages provide additional facts. A fossil-dig activity is appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 Let's Investigate with Nate series. Illustrated by Wes Hargis. This entry in the Magic School Bus read-alike series introduces a cartoon-illustrated version of real-life scientist Nate Ball and four children at a science museum. Shrinking as small as molecules, they travel through the water cycle (although the definition misrepresents the process). Speech-bubble dialogue accompanies the cursory facts, with pages from one child's journal reinforcing vocabulary concepts throughout. A relevant experiment is appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 Let's Investigate with Nate series. Illustrated by Wes Hargis. Real-life scientist Nate Ball and four kid "Investigators" hop into a spacecraft and visit major objects in the solar system in this installment of the Magic School Bus read-alike series. Alongside cartoon illustrations, their speech-bubble dialogue accompanies superficial text about the system's formation, gravity, planets, asteroids, and more. Pages from child Braden's journal reinforce vocabulary concepts throughout. A relevant experiment is appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 1-3 Alien in My Pocket series. Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan. In book seven, Amp, the small blue alien living in Zack's bedroom, finds a telescope and discovers an alien invasion in progress. Zack, his best friend Olivia, and Olivia's grandpa must use their savvy--and a little real science--to save Amp and, hopefully, Earth. Black-and-white cartoons complement the humor, and the appended try-it-yourself experiment elucidates a scientific concept within the story.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 1-3 Alien in My Pocket series. Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan. Until now, only Zack and his best friend Olivia knew about Amp, the small blue alien from Erde who crash landed into Zack's bedroom. But that changes in this satisfying series conclusion when a fleet of Erdians invades Earth. Utilizing science and Amp's favorite foods, Zack and Olivia help save the planet. Black-and-white illustrations and a detailed appended science experiment amplify the sci-fi fun.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 1-3 Alien in My Pocket series. Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan. Zack's best friend Olivia and Amp, the small blue alien who crashed in his room, are last-minute additions to the family's annual camping trip. When the trio gets lost, Amp uses his scientific approach to steer the kids to safety. As usual, abundant black-and-white illustrations and a blend of silly sci-fi and palatable science (a related project is included) will please new readers.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 1-3 Alien in My Pocket series. Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan. Amp, a small blue alien who crash lands in Zack's bedroom, needs help returning home. But Zack prefers baseball to science, so his best friend Olivia and Amp illuminate various scientific concepts for Zack amid spaceship reconstruction. Complete with instructions for safe experiments and illustrated with comic black-and-white ink drawings, this series is a winning concoction of silly action and serious science. Review covers these Alien in My Pocket titles: Blast Off! and The Science Unfair.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 1-3 Alien in My Pocket series. Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan. Amp, a small blue alien who crash lands in Zack's bedroom, needs help returning home. But Zack prefers baseball to science, so his best friend Olivia and Amp illuminate various scientific concepts for Zack amid spaceship reconstruction. Complete with instructions for safe experiments and illustrated with comic black-and-white ink drawings, this series is a winning concoction of silly action and serious science. Review covers these Alien in My Pocket titles: Blast Off! and The Science Unfair.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 1-3 Alien in My Pocket series. Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan. The latest installments in this silly series packs comic punches as Amp, the small blue alien, continues to wreak havoc on human Zack's life. While packaged for maximum reluctant-reader appeal, the book will engage new readers with entertaining plots, believable characters, humorous black-and-white line illustrations, and palatable science; each volume includes a related science experiment, appropriately detailed for elementary students. Review covers these Alien in My Pocket titles: On Impact! and Radio Active.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 1-3 Alien in My Pocket series. Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan. The latest installments in this silly series packs comic punches as Amp, the small blue alien, continues to wreak havoc on human Zack's life. While packaged for maximum reluctant-reader appeal, the book will engage new readers with entertaining plots, believable characters, humorous black-and-white line illustrations, and palatable science; each volume includes a related science experiment, appropriately detailed for elementary students. Review covers these Alien in My Pocket titles: On Impact! and Radio Active.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca