(4) K-3 Smithsonian Little Explorer: Little Paleontologist series. Focusing on animals from different prehistoric periods, these books describe what scientists infer about the creatures' physical features, behavioral traits, and habitats. Helpful comparisons to coexisting species, including predators, underscore their unique characteristics. Illustrations include awkward computer-generated images of dinosaurs on photographic backgrounds as well as diagrams and pictures of fossils. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Smithsonian Little Explorer: Little Paleontologist titles: American Mastodon and Brachiosaurus.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 Smithsonian Little Explorer: Little Paleontologist series. Focusing on animals from different prehistoric periods, these books describe what scientists infer about the creatures' physical features, behavioral traits, and habitats. Helpful comparisons to coexisting species, including predators, underscore their unique characteristics. Illustrations include awkward computer-generated images of dinosaurs on photographic backgrounds as well as diagrams and pictures of fossils. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Smithsonian Little Explorer: Little Paleontologist titles: American Mastodon and Brachiosaurus.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Smithsonian Little Explorer: Little Astronauts series. These information-packed volumes use age-appropriate vocabulary to teach about astronaut training and qualifications (Astronaut) and life on the International Space Station (Living). Both include many highly detailed photographs of astronauts in action. Some pages are packed with colorful text boxes, graphs, maps, and inset photos, but that should encourage multiple perusals. Common Core critical thinking questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Smithsonian Little Explorer: Little Astronauts titles: Astronaut in Training and Living in Space.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) K-3 Smithsonian Little Explorer: Little Astronauts series. These information-packed volumes use age-appropriate vocabulary to teach about astronaut training and qualifications (Astronaut) and life on the International Space Station (Living). Both include many highly detailed photographs of astronauts in action. Some pages are packed with colorful text boxes, graphs, maps, and inset photos, but that should encourage multiple perusals. Common Core critical thinking questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Smithsonian Little Explorer: Little Astronauts titles: Astronaut in Training and Living in Space.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) K-3 Smithsonian Little Explorer: Introducing Primary Sources series. This engaging series strikes the right balance between information and images. Each volume focuses on a primary source or site, examining the events that led to its creation, its evolving role throughout history, and its current status. Well-captioned photographs, maps, documents, and paintings are featured prominently throughout, breaking up the age-appropriate texts. Core standards–aligned critical-thinking questions are appended. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Smithsonian Little Explorer titles: The Declaration of Independence, The U.S. Capitol, The White House.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Smithsonian Little Explorer: Introducing Primary Sources series. This engaging series strikes the right balance between information and images. Each volume focuses on a primary source or site, examining the events that led to its creation, its evolving role throughout history, and its current status. Well-captioned photographs, maps, documents, and paintings are featured prominently throughout, breaking up the age-appropriate texts. Core standards–aligned critical-thinking questions are appended. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Smithsonian Little Explorer titles: The Declaration of Independence, The U.S. Capitol, The White House.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Smithsonian Little Explorer: Introducing Primary Sources series. This engaging series strikes the right balance between information and images. Each volume focuses on a primary source or site, examining the events that led to its creation, its evolving role throughout history, and its current status. Well-captioned photographs, maps, documents, and paintings are featured prominently throughout, breaking up the age-appropriate texts. Core standards–aligned critical-thinking questions are appended. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Smithsonian Little Explorer titles: The Declaration of Independence, The U.S. Capitol, The White House.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Smithsonian Little Explorer: Introducing Primary Sources series. This engaging series strikes the right balance between information and images. Each volume focuses on a primary source, examining the events that led to its creation, its evolving role throughout history, and its current status. Well-captioned photographs, maps, documents, and paintings are featured prominently throughout, breaking up the age-appropriate texts. Common Core critical thinking questions are appended. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Smithsonian Little Explorer: Introducing Primary Sources titles: The U.S. Constitution, The Liberty Bell, and That Statue of Liberty.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Little Pebble: Celebrate Spring series. In three very simple chapters, vibrant full-page photographs will catch the attention of young readers as they learn about springtime creature behavior (nesting, babies being born, animals emerging from hibernation). Though the volume is light on information, its uncomplicated language and sentence structure lend themselves well to independent reading. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Little Pebble: Celebrate Spring series. In four very simple chapters, vibrant full-page photographs will catch the attention of young readers as they learn about springtime weather and how rain helps plants and animals. Though the volume is light on information, its uncomplicated language and sentence structure lend themselves well to independent reading. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Little Pebble: Construction Vehicles at Work series. Using the high-interest subject of construction machinery, these sturdy books very basically introduce the parts and work of these vehicles as well as nonfiction conventions including tables of contents, labeled illustrations, and opportunities for additional research. Simple and clear texts, clean graphics, and abundant photographs will appeal to newly literate and preliterate vehicle fans. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Little Pebble: Construction Vehicles at Work titles: Bulldozers and Dump Trucks.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 Little Pebble: Construction Vehicles at Work series. Using the high-interest subject of construction machinery, these sturdy books very basically introduce the parts and work of these vehicles as well as nonfiction conventions including tables of contents, labeled illustrations, and opportunities for additional research. Simple and clear texts, clean graphics, and abundant photographs will appeal to newly literate and preliterate vehicle fans. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Little Pebble: Construction Vehicles at Work titles: Bulldozers and Dump Trucks.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) K-3 Little Pebble: Celebrate Winter series. Simple declarative sentences and vivid photographs encourage readers to explore the winter world. The scattershot text shares random (occasionally misleading) observations, including "Brrr! The air is cold" and "Plows keep streets safe." It's easy to read, though, and while there are plenty of more informative books on the topic, this would work as a basic classroom text and reading exercise. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Wild About Wheels series. These books use brief texts and large photographs to introduce types of mechanical equipment. Military features helicopters, battle tanks, transport vehicles, fighter planes, and ocean-going vessels; Farm includes tractors used for specific operations: plowing, planting, cultivating, and harvesting. The information is cursory, but the books will appeal to kids drawn to machinery. Common Core questions are included. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following titles: Military Vehicles and Farm Machines.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Blazers: The World of Robots series. Battling introduces the Robocup soccer tournament, ArtBot-Musical competition, sumo-wrestling robots, and other robo-contests. Risky profiles robots performing rescue work, exploration, and military missions. Each book is divided into five chapters, which feature easy-to-read texts, mostly clear photos, and "Robot Fact" boxes. Though the coverage is superficial, the high-interest topic and accessible presentation will lure elementary-age readers. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Blazers: The World of Robots titles: Battling for Victory and Robots in Risky Jobs.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Blazers: The World of Robots series. Battling introduces the Robocup soccer tournament, ArtBot-Musical competition, sumo-wrestling robots, and other robo-contests. Risky profiles robots performing rescue work, exploration, and military missions. Each book is divided into five chapters, which feature easy-to-read texts, mostly clear photos, and "Robot Fact" boxes. Though the coverage is superficial, the high-interest topic and accessible presentation will lure elementary-age readers. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Blazers: The World of Robots titles: Battling for Victory and Robots in Risky Jobs.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Time to Sign series. Illustrated by Randy Chewning. This utilitarian but well-organized book focuses on words related to the home and is divided into categories such as "kitchen," "clothes," and "family." For each word, a photo of a familiar object such as milk or a toothbrush is paired with a clearly drawn image of a boy signing the word and a written description of how to carry out the sign. Reading list. Glos.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Time to Sign series. Illustrated by Margeaux Lucas. This utilitarian but well-organized book focuses on words related to school and is divided into categories such as "classroom," "playground," and "colors." For each word, a photo of a familiar object such as a pencil or a slide is paired with a clearly drawn image of a girl signing the word and a written description of how to carry out the sign. Reading list. Glos.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus Bilingüe: Datos geniales sobre seportes / Cool Sports Facts series. These books feature a random selection of facts, including information about records, rules, equipment, and significant dates. The very simple, easy-to-read but superficial texts, in both English and Spanish, are supported by large engaging photos. The Spanish translation is adequate, though not all sports terms translate successfully. Glos., ind. Review covers these Pebble Plus Bilingüe: Datos geniales sobre seportes / Cool Sports Facts titles: Datos geniales sobre béisbol/Cool Baseball Facts and Datos geniales sobre fútbol americano/Cool Football Facts.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus Bilingüe: Datos geniales sobre seportes / Cool Sports Facts series. These books feature a random selection of facts, including information about records, rules, equipment, and significant dates. The very simple, easy-to-read but superficial texts, in both English and Spanish, are supported by large engaging photos. The Spanish translation is adequate, though not all sports terms translate successfully. Glos., ind. Review covers these Pebble Plus Bilingüe: Datos geniales sobre seportes / Cool Sports Facts titles: Datos geniales sobre béisbol/Cool Baseball Facts and Datos geniales sobre fútbol americano/Cool Football Facts.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham