(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tilly. Claybourne and Tilly exploit the well-worn Where's Waldo? model to introduce children to ten Shakespeare plays. Each play is summarized in six to eight brief illustrated paragraphs followed by a double-page spread inviting readers to pick out major characters (and William Shakespeare) from a crowded, often subtly comical, scene. A muted color palette complicates the challenge but diminishes the book's visual appeal.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) 4-6 Animal Abilities series. This clear introduction to octopus intelligence begins with distribution and habitat; moves through subtopics like anatomy, solitary behavior, and surprising abilities to learn and play; and concludes with some rather futile applications to humans ("If you had eight arms..."). Colorful, well-captioned photos and sidebars extend the text, and "How do we know?" boxes explain research in simple terms. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Explorer Travel Guides series. The premise here is that middle-grade readers are embarking on exploratory excursions. Each book introduces the landform and its ecosystems and touches on trip planning, equipment, and preparation. Brief interviews with scientists or explorers are engaging. The approachable design includes photographs (some captioned, others not), text boxes, and accessible texts. The treatment is superficial but engaging. Map, reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Explorer Travel Guides titles: Caves, Deserts, and Mountains.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 Web of Life series. These books survey crucial biological concepts. Seven processes (movement, respiration, sensitivity, nutrition, excretion, reproduction, and growth), food chains and webs, biodiversity, conservation, and animal case studies provide a detailed picture of the connectedness of earth's creatures. The spacious design includes captioned photos, sidebars, and helpful charts and diagrams. Essential vocabulary is defined throughout. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Web of Life titles: The Future of Life on Earth, Life Processes, and Food Chains and Webs.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Web of Life series. These leveled-text editions for reluctant upper-elementary-age readers survey crucial biological concepts. Seven processes (movement, respiration, sensitivity, nutrition, excretion, reproduction, and growth), food chains/webs, biodiversity, conservation, and animal case studies provide a detailed picture of the connectedness of earth's creatures. The spacious design includes captioned photos, sidebars, and helpful charts and diagrams. Essential vocabulary is defined throughout. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Web of Life titles: The Future of Life on Earth: Express Edition, Life Processes: Express Edition, and Food Chains and Webs: Express Edition.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Be Creative series. These volumes are aimed at young crafters, but with somewhat verbose instructions and cluttered spreads, few children could muddle through without adult aid. However, the featured craft ideas--like button jewelry, wall stencils, pop-up cards, and embellished sneakers--will be relished by wannabe DIYers. Basic supplies of magazines, fabric scraps, beads, and paint are needed; additional equipment tips are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these Be Creative titles: Customize Your Clothes, Cards, Wrap, and Tags, Bedroom Makeover, and Accessories for All.

Reviewer: Lela Nargi

(4) K-3 Be Creative series. These volumes are aimed at young crafters, but with somewhat verbose instructions and cluttered spreads, few children could muddle through without adult aid. However, the featured craft ideas--like button jewelry, wall stencils, pop-up cards, and embellished sneakers--will be relished by wannabe DIYers. Basic supplies of magazines, fabric scraps, beads, and paint are needed; additional equipment tips are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these Be Creative titles: Customize Your Clothes, Cards, Wrap, and Tags, Bedroom Makeover, and Accessories for All.

Reviewer: Lela Nargi

(4) K-3 Be Creative series. These volumes are aimed at young crafters, but with somewhat verbose instructions and cluttered spreads, few children could muddle through without adult aid. However, the featured craft ideas--like button jewelry, wall stencils, pop-up cards, and embellished sneakers--will be relished by wannabe DIYers. Basic supplies of magazines, fabric scraps, beads, and paint are needed; additional equipment tips are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these Be Creative titles: Customize Your Clothes, Cards, Wrap, and Tags, Bedroom Makeover, and Accessories for All.

Reviewer: Lela Nargi

(4) K-3 Be Creative series. These volumes are aimed at young crafters, but with somewhat verbose instructions and cluttered spreads, few children could muddle through without adult aid. However, the featured craft ideas--like button jewelry, wall stencils, pop-up cards, and embellished sneakers--will be relished by wannabe DIYers. Basic supplies of magazines, fabric scraps, beads, and paint are needed; additional equipment tips are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these Be Creative titles: Customize Your Clothes, Cards, Wrap, and Tags, Bedroom Makeover, and Accessories for All.

Reviewer: Lela Nargi

(4) 4-6 On the Edge series. Claybourne superficially touches on a variety of unique animals, from giant squids to hagfish, mole rats, and blue-footed boobies. A "Weird Animal Awards" section highlights superlatives (e.g., "Slimiest," "Most Leggy," "Loudest"). Photographs provide clear images of the creatures, while short sidebars add interest. A "Weird Creature Finder" lists very general habitat locales. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(3) 4-6 Breakthroughs in Science and Technology series. Clearly and substantively, these books trace the development of the periodic table and fission from the time of the ancient Greeks through the present day. Although each spread addresses a subtopic, the texts read smoothly; the many sidebars, photos, and biographical sketches are well integrated. In both volumes, the answer to the title question is, of course, many different people--increasingly, in collaboration. Reading list, websites. Glos, ind. Review covers these Breakthroughs in Science and Technology titles: Who Split the Atom? and Who Invented the Periodic Table?

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) 4-6 Breakthroughs in Science and Technology series. Clearly and substantively, these books trace how the theory of natural selection was developed and how DNA was discovered. Although each spread addresses a subtopic, the texts read smoothly; the many sidebars, photos, and biographical sketches are well integrated. In both volumes, the answer to the title question is, of course, many different people--increasingly, in collaboration. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Breakthroughs in Science and Technology titles: Who Discovered Natural Selection? and Who Discovered DNA?

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 100 Things You Should Know About series. This book presents one hundred facts about our planet. The text jumps around among mountains, volcanoes, glaciers, weather, and other random earth science topics, possibly enticing readers to seek further information about the subjects. The busy pages are packed with photos, cartoonlike drawings, and more realistic illustrations in addition to "I Don't Believe It!" sidebars. Ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 100 Things You Should Know About series. These books present one hundred facts (most randomly selected and presented) about endangered animals or the environment, in addition to "I Don't Believe It!" sidebars. Though not particularly helpful on their own, the volumes' snippets may entice readers to seek further information. The busy pages are tightly packed with photos, cartoonlike drawings, and more realistic illustrations. Ind. Review covers these 100 Things You Should Know About titles: Saving the Earth and Endangered Animals.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) YA Art on the Wall series. This series provides budding artists and historians with background about different movements. It also encourages direct engagement with the artwork through call-outs that demonstrate techniques (e.g., vanishing point and orthogonals labeled on a Renaissance painting) and "Try it yourself" projects. Though the overly busy design and off-kilter placement of the reproductions are distracting, the series offers lots of solid information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Art on the Wall titles: Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, and The Renaissance.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) 4-6 Do It Yourself series. This book imparts information on diet and nutrition, explaining different components of food such as fat, fiber, protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals, and what their roles are in helping the body. Many easy-to-follow healthy recipes are offered, as well as information about which unhealthy foods should be eaten only sparingly. Photos and digital art clutter the pages. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) 4-6 Do It Yourself series. These books intersperse information on life- and physical-science topics with well-worn demonstration experiments that illustrate the featured scientific principles. Magnets and Electrical rely on materials more readily found in classrooms than at home. Color diagrams illustrate steps in the experiments; photographs help break up the texts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Do It Yourself titles: Growing Plants, Electrical Experiments, Experiments with Light, Gravity, and Magnets.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 This tour of volcano facts, including geologic processes and terminology, historical and modern volcanic eruptions, and the ways in which volcanologists work, includes typical basic information but suffers from a scattered treatment of a multitude of topics. Each double-page spread features a central captioned photograph or illustration surrounded by text, helpful diagrams, and additional photos. Timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 Earth's Final Frontiers series. These books explore the subjects of oceans and jungles and the unique and diverse species inhabiting them. Information includes statistics related to these regions, equipment needed to explore them, and current environmental threats. Crisp photographs and clear illustrations support the texts, though the pages are quite crowded. "In their own words" sidebars provide quotes from scientists and explorers. Oceans has a timeline. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Earth's Final Frontiers titles: Deep Oceans and Remote Jungles.

Reviewer: Ernie J. Cox

(4) 4-6 Time Travel Guides series. These leveled-text editions are written as travel guides to ancient civilizations. This approach makes accessible the cultural and historical details. Occasional inaccuracies are the result of long spans of history condensed for the target audience. While the books do tend to oversimplify, they're a good way to encourage interest. There are four other new books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Time Travel Guides titles: The Aztec Empire, The Inca Empire, Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, and Ancient China.

Reviewer: Thom Barthelmess