(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Off to School series. Illustrated by Paula J. Becker. This overtly purposeful yet reader-friendly series (with varied but complementary illustration styles) features a diverse group of children experiencing different aspects of school life. Topics include the first and the one hundredth days, school employees, making friends, visiting the library, and taking the bus. Apple-shaped sidebars scattered throughout each book provide additional relevant information. Back matter includes a subject-tailored activity. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: Off to School titles: Sofia's First Day of School, Who Works at Hannah's School?, William's 100th Day of School, Michael Makes Friends at School, Sam Visits the School Library, and Tanya Takes the School Bus.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Off to School series. Illustrated by Miki Sakamoto. This overtly purposeful yet reader-friendly series (with varied but complementary illustration styles) features a diverse group of children experiencing different aspects of school life. Topics include the first and the one hundredth days, school employees, making friends, visiting the library, and taking the bus. Apple-shaped sidebars scattered throughout each book provide additional relevant information. Back matter includes a subject-tailored activity. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: Off to School titles: Sofia's First Day of School, Who Works at Hannah's School?, William's 100th Day of School, Michael Makes Friends at School, Sam Visits the School Library, and Tanya Takes the School Bus.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Off to School series. Illustrated by Mike Byrne. This overtly purposeful yet reader-friendly series (with varied but complementary illustration styles) features a diverse group of children experiencing different aspects of school life. Topics include the first and the one hundredth days, school employees, making friends, visiting the library, and taking the bus. Apple-shaped sidebars scattered throughout each book provide additional relevant information. Back matter includes a subject-tailored activity. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: Off to School titles: Sofia's First Day of School, Who Works at Hannah's School?, William's 100th Day of School, Michael Makes Friends at School, Sam Visits the School Library, and Tanya Takes the School Bus.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Where I Live series. Illustrated by Holli Conger. Each volume in this series focuses on a particular geographic area, from a local neighborhood to an entire continent. In the slight framing stories, young characters learn about their region, studying landmarks, government, and community; bubbles throughout share facts. Despite the sometimes awkward delivery, this series presents a useful approach for social studies curricula. Reading list, websites. Glos, ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: Where I Live titles: This Is My Continent, This Is My Country, This Is My Neighborhood, This Is My State, and This Is My Town.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Where I Live series. Illustrated by Doreen Mulryan. Each volume in this series focuses on a particular geographic area, from a local neighborhood to an entire continent. In the slight framing stories, young characters learn about their region, studying landmarks, government, and community; bubbles throughout share facts. Despite the sometimes awkward delivery, this series presents a useful approach for social studies curricula. Reading list, websites. Glos, ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: Where I Live titles: This Is My Continent, This Is My Country, This Is My Neighborhood, This Is My State, and This Is My Town.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Where I Live series. Illustrated by Holli Conger. Each volume in this series focuses on a particular geographic area, from a local neighborhood to an entire continent. In the slight framing stories, young characters learn about their region, studying landmarks, government, and community; bubbles throughout share facts. Despite the sometimes awkward delivery, this series presents a useful approach for social studies curricula. Reading list, websites. Glos, ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: Where I Live titles: This Is My Continent, This Is My Country, This Is My Neighborhood, This Is My State, and This Is My Town.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Where I Live series. Illustrated by Paula Becker. Each volume in this series focuses on a particular geographic area, from a local neighborhood to an entire continent. In the slight framing stories, young characters learn about their region, studying landmarks, government, and community; bubbles throughout share facts. Despite the sometimes awkward delivery, this series presents a useful approach for social studies curricula. Reading list, websites. Glos, ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: Where I Live titles: This Is My Continent, This Is My Country, This Is My Neighborhood, This Is My State, and This Is My Town.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Where I Live series. Illustrated by Paula Becker. Each volume in this series focuses on a particular geographic area, from a local neighborhood to an entire continent. In the slight framing stories, young characters learn about their region, studying landmarks, government, and community; bubbles throughout share facts. Despite the sometimes awkward delivery, this series presents a useful approach for social studies curricula. Reading list, websites. Glos, ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: Where I Live titles: This Is My Continent, This Is My Country, This Is My Neighborhood, This Is My State, and This Is My Town.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Alike and Different series. Illustrated by Paula Becker. Romelie hears a lot of different languages around her neighborhood. New kid Camila speaks Spanish; brother Theo uses sign language; Mom says that "many place-names in the United States come from American Indian languages"; a family at the park speaks Hmong. Accompanied by cheerful cartoon illustrations, this is an appealing if limited introduction. An American Sign Language visual is appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Alike and Different series. Illustrated by Christine M. Schneider. The students in Manuel's class report on special foods their families eat. Tony and Ms. Chen talk about noodles from Italy and China. Lara's Jewish family eats challah bread. Manuel's abeula's salsa is made from tomatoes--like Tony's sauce. Accompanied by cheerful cartoon illustrations, this is an appealing if simplistic introduction to cultural differences. A salsa recipe is appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Alike and Different series. Illustrated by Renée Kurilla. Jayden is looking for "the right home for my family." He considers apartments, single-family houses, mobile homes, and more. Chloe wonders about clothing choices and learns about work attire from her moms, and personal expression and religious and cultural traditions from friends and family. Accompanied by cheerful cartoon illustrations, these are appealing if simplistic introductions. An activity concludes each volume. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: Alike and Different titles: My Clothes, Your Clothes and My Home, Your Home.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Alike and Different series. Illustrated by Paula Becker. Jayden is looking for "the right home for my family." He considers apartments, single-family houses, mobile homes, and more. Chloe wonders about clothing choices and learns about work attire from her moms, and personal expression and religious and cultural traditions from friends and family. Accompanied by cheerful cartoon illustrations, these are appealing if simplistic introductions. An activity concludes each volume. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: Alike and Different titles: My Clothes, Your Clothes and My Home, Your Home.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Alike and Different series. Illustrated by Holli Conger. After attending his neighbor's bat mitzvah, David, who's Christian, is interested in learning about other religions. Friend Sophia's family isn't religious, but she likes helping others. Fahmi's Muslim family has their own special celebrations. His babysitter tells him about Buddhism. Accompanied by cheerful cartoon illustrations, this is an appealing if limited introduction. An activity encouraging helpfulness is appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Alike and Different series. Illustrated by Renée Kurilla. Makayla is "spending time with other families" learning how "different can be great." Mateo has a big family. A lesbian couple doesn't have kids. Olivia's parents are divorced. Parker's dads adopted him. Accompanied by cheerful cartoon illustrations, this is an appealing if simplistic introduction; the text boxes provide more details then the young narrator. An activity is appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Monster Buddies series. Illustrated by Chiara Buccheri. Popular monsters made famous in movies and folklore are explored in these slim volumes perfect for young ones dying to learn about their favorite creepy characters. Facts include multicultural origins and variations (no sources are cited for such information) along with how to defeat these ghouls. Slick digital cartoons contribute to the friendly feel. There are four other fall 2014 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Monster Buddies titles: I'm a Midnight Snacker!, I'm Fearsome and Furry!, I'll Haunt You!, and I'm Undead and Hungry!.

Reviewer: April Mazza

(4) K-3 Monster Buddies series. Illustrated by Mike Moran. Popular monsters made famous in movies and folklore are explored in these slim volumes perfect for young ones dying to learn about their favorite creepy characters. Facts include multicultural origins and variations (no sources are cited for such information) along with how to defeat these ghouls. Slick digital cartoons contribute to the friendly feel. There are four other fall 2014 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Monster Buddies titles: I'm a Midnight Snacker!, I'm Fearsome and Furry!, I'll Haunt You!, and I'm Undead and Hungry!.

Reviewer: April Mazza

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Money Basics series. Illustrated by Mike Byrne. This series features stories in which kids and their families learn about earning and saving money, buying and selling, and other personal finance issues. Although some of the math can get confusing, the realistic situations, well-explained concepts, and cartoony (if slick) illustrations are welcoming. Each book includes a related activity. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Money Basics titles: Brody Borrows Money, Gabriel Gets a Great Deal, Lily Learns About Wants and Needs, Kyle Keeps Track of Cash, Ella Earns Her Own Money, and Shanti Saves Her Money.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Money Basics series. Illustrated by Christine Schneider. This series features stories in which kids and their families learn about earning and saving money, buying and selling, and other personal finance issues. Although some of the math can get confusing, the realistic situations, well-explained concepts, and cartoony (if slick) illustrations are welcoming. Each book includes a related activity. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Money Basics titles: Brody Borrows Money, Gabriel Gets a Great Deal, Lily Learns About Wants and Needs, Kyle Keeps Track of Cash, Ella Earns Her Own Money, and Shanti Saves Her Money.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 4-6 Trav goes to rural Minnesota to visit his grandmother and finds more than he bargained for. The father he never got to meet supposedly held up a bank fourteen years ago, and a threatening stranger thinks Trav knows where the money is. Trav's entertaining (if occasionally credulity-stretching) struggle to solve this family mystery plays nicely against the comic turbulence of early adolescence.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Money Basics series. Illustrated by Christine Schneider. This series features stories in which kids and their families learn about earning and saving money, buying and selling, and other personal finance issues. Although some of the math can get confusing, the realistic situations, well-explained concepts, and cartoony (if slick) illustrations are welcoming. Each book includes a related activity. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Money Basics titles: Brody Borrows Money, Gabriel Gets a Great Deal, Lily Learns About Wants and Needs, Kyle Keeps Track of Cash, Ella Earns Her Own Money, and Shanti Saves Her Money.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee