(3) 4-6 How Nature Works series. Photographs by Andrew Martinez. Erickson profiles venomous residents of the sea, including colorful and dangerous corals, anemones, rays, jellies, and worms. Additional sidebar information about species interactions, warnings about the effects of toxins on humans, and vocabulary-heavy details about the underlying science are included. The excellent photographs capture the details of each organism, and diagrams help explain their defense mechanisms. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Photographs by Andrew Martinez. This thoughtful book concerns marine life during a twenty-four-hour period at an abandoned pier in the Gulf of Maine. From plankton to the predacious wolffish, Erikson explains the animals' salient features, such as "Mister Mom" behavior of the male radiated shanny. Numerous underwater color photos illustrate each page. Before-and-after composite illustrations ask readers to spot changes from one morning to the next.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Text-dense pages supplemented with reproductions, color drawings, and photos from historical reenactment sites detail the history of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts and follow the family of Jonathan Prentiss through their daily routine. The sometimes crowded information is substantial and accurate, although putative quotes are undocumented. A time line is included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 As in 'Daily Life in a Covered Wagon', Erickson uses a family to make the information in the text accessible. This book follows two families (it's unclear whether they are fictional or not), one living in the "Big House" and the other a slave family, through a typical day--a technique that provides a personal, well-informed view of slavery. Sidebars provide additional information. Color photos and illustrations accompany the text. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.