(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: They Survived series. In clear, vivid texts, these series entries tell the true stories of two courageous individuals: surfer Hamilton, who lost an arm in a shark attack, and professional climber Ralston, who amputated his own hand to escape being trapped in a canyon. Both books rely on photographs from their movie versions, clearly noted in the captions, and include tips on dealing with deadly situations. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: They Survived titles: Surviving a Canyon and Surviving a Shark Attack

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: They Survived series. In clear, vivid texts, these series entries tell the true stories of two courageous individuals: surfer Hamilton, who lost an arm in a shark attack, and professional climber Ralston, who amputated his own hand to escape being trapped in a canyon. Both books rely on photographs from their movie versions, clearly noted in the captions, and include tips on dealing with deadly situations. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: They Survived titles: Surviving a Canyon and Surviving a Shark Attack

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(4) 4-6 Monster Mania series. A wide-range of legendary "monsters" are discussed in this series. Each volume focuses on a specific category and details stories from ancient times up through modern pop culture. Color illustrations and photographs feature various depictions of the creatures. The occasionally crammed paragraphs and hurried texts still provide lots of information for curious readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Monster Mania titles: Sea Monsters, Beastly Monsters, Magic Monsters, and Undead Monsters.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Monster Mania series. A wide-range of legendary "monsters" are discussed in this series. Each volume focuses on a specific category and details stories from ancient times up through modern pop culture. Color illustrations and photographs feature various depictions of the creatures. The occasionally crammed paragraphs and hurried texts still provide lots of information for curious readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Monster Mania titles: Sea Monsters, Beastly Monsters, Magic Monsters, and Undead Monsters.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Monster Mania series. A wide-range of legendary "monsters" are discussed in this series. Each volume focuses on a specific category and details stories from ancient times up through modern pop culture. Color illustrations and photographs feature various depictions of the creatures. The occasionally crammed paragraphs and hurried texts still provide lots of information for curious readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Monster Mania titles: Sea Monsters, Beastly Monsters, Magic Monsters, and Undead Monsters.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: Key Questions in Physical Science series. Each volume lucidly introduces a major topic in the physical sciences through definitions of important terms, profiles of scientists and their historic discoveries, and applications to everyday experiences. Most pages include numerous relevant photographs and clear diagrams of science concepts. A "Try It!" activity is included at the end of each book. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Key Questions in Physical Science titles: Energy Investigations, Forces and Motion Investigations, Magnetism Investigations, Sound and Light Waves Investigations, States of Matter Investigations, Electricity Investigations.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 4-6 STEM Trailblazer Bios series. This set of the continuing series features both contemporary and historical science and technology innovators. The inspiring profiles, which touch on childhood, education, and the subjects' breakthrough accomplishments, will tie in well with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum objectives. A colorful, easy-to-read format features photos and "tech talk" sidebars with quotes, mostly from the "trailblazers" themselves. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these STEM Trailblazer Bios titles: Space Engineer and Scientist Margaret Hamilton, Genius Physicist Albert Einstein, Inventor, Engineer, and Physicist Nikola Tesla, Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson, and Super Soaker Inventor Lonnie Johnson.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 4-6 STEM Trailblazer Bios series. This set of the continuing series features both contemporary and historical science and technology innovators. The inspiring profiles, which touch on childhood, education, and the subjects' breakthrough accomplishments, will tie in well with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum objectives. A colorful, easy-to-read format features photos and "tech talk" sidebars with quotes, mostly from the "trailblazers" themselves. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these STEM Trailblazer Bios titles: Space Engineer and Scientist Margaret Hamilton, Genius Physicist Albert Einstein, Inventor, Engineer, and Physicist Nikola Tesla, Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson, and Super Soaker Inventor Lonnie Johnson.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) YA Special Reports series. Authors give historical context and contemporary analysis of current topics to help high school readers understand world affairs. Stock photographs and frequent sidebars contribute to the choppy layouts. Because both US-Cuba relations and ISIS's impact on the world are changing, these print resources will be dated quickly. Nevertheless, each volume provides serviceable background for report writers. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Special Reports titles: US-Cuba Relations and ISIS.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) 4-6 Math Everywhere! series. Challenging multi-step word problems center on practical topics--fitness, gardening, money, weather--with scenarios and questions that are livelier than typical word-problem fare. Hints offer formulas, unit conversions, and suggestions for rounding, but more substantive problem-solving strategies are not suggested or demonstrated. Well-chosen stock photos are included, and detailed answers are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Math Everywhere! titles: Fitness Math, Garden Math, Money Math, and Weather Math.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 Math Everywhere! series. Challenging multi-step word problems center on practical topics--fitness, gardening, money, weather--with scenarios and questions that are livelier than typical word-problem fare. Hints offer formulas, unit conversions, and suggestions for rounding, but more substantive problem-solving strategies are not suggested or demonstrated. Well-chosen stock photos are included, and detailed answers are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Math Everywhere! titles: Fitness Math, Garden Math, Money Math, and Weather Math.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 Math Everywhere! series. Challenging multi-step word problems center on practical topics--fitness, gardening, money, weather--with scenarios and questions that are livelier than typical word-problem fare. Hints offer formulas, unit conversions, and suggestions for rounding, but more substantive problem-solving strategies are not suggested or demonstrated. Well-chosen stock photos are included, and detailed answers are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Math Everywhere! titles: Fitness Math, Garden Math, Money Math, and Weather Math.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 Math Everywhere! series. Challenging multi-step word problems center on practical topics--fitness, gardening, money, weather--with scenarios and questions that are livelier than typical word-problem fare. Hints offer formulas, unit conversions, and suggestions for rounding, but more substantive problem-solving strategies are not suggested or demonstrated. Well-chosen stock photos are included, and detailed answers are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Math Everywhere! titles: Fitness Math, Garden Math, Money Math, and Weather Math.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 What Were They Fighting For? series. A useful text provides a broad overview of World War II and adequate examination of what motivated Allied and Axis forces to join the war. Captioned black-and-white photos and occasional sidebars complement the serviceable narrative. Upper-elementary and middle school students will find the book useful for reports. Reading list, timelime. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(4) YA Science Discovery Timelines series. Clear organization helps make fairly dense content accessible. Four sections (e.g., "Milestones in Motion") begin with a pictorial timeline of selected milestones, such as Newton's 1687 laws of motion, followed by illustrated text that expounds on these milestones. The selections are generally sound, though somewhat limited, and the prose undistinguished. A suggested activity lacks sufficient background. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Math Everywhere! series. Challenging multi-step word problems center on everyday activities: shopping, traveling, sports, and cooking. The scenarios and questions are livelier than typical word-problem fare. However, other than definitions of formulas and suggestions for rounding, no problem-solving strategies are suggested or demonstrated. Well-chosen stock photos are included, and detailed answers are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Math Everywhere! titles: Ball Game Math, Kitchen Math, Math on the Move, and Shopping Trip Math.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 Math Everywhere! series. Challenging multi-step word problems center on everyday activities: shopping, traveling, sports, and cooking. The scenarios and questions are livelier than typical word-problem fare. However, other than definitions of formulas and suggestions for rounding, no problem-solving strategies are suggested or demonstrated. Well-chosen stock photos are included, and detailed answers are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Math Everywhere! titles: Ball Game Math, Kitchen Math, Math on the Move, and Shopping Trip Math.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 Math Everywhere! series. Challenging multi-step word problems center on everyday activities: shopping, traveling, sports, and cooking. The scenarios and questions are livelier than typical word-problem fare. However, other than definitions of formulas and suggestions for rounding, no problem-solving strategies are suggested or demonstrated. Well-chosen stock photos are included, and detailed answers are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Math Everywhere! titles: Ball Game Math, Kitchen Math, Math on the Move, and Shopping Trip Math.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 Math Everywhere! series. Challenging multi-step word problems center on everyday activities: shopping, traveling, sports, and cooking. The scenarios and questions are livelier than typical word-problem fare. However, other than definitions of formulas and suggestions for rounding, no problem-solving strategies are suggested or demonstrated. Well-chosen stock photos are included, and detailed answers are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Math Everywhere! titles: Ball Game Math, Kitchen Math, Math on the Move, and Shopping Trip Math.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 Awesome Inventions You Use Every Day series. From 3D movies to flushable toilets, these formulaic books briefly introduce common innovations that affect daily life. The tone is light (sometimes irritatingly so: "American forces needed a way to make big British ships go kaboom!") and the treatments are brief, making the series good for browsing. The colorful layouts feature archival photos and illustrations alongside contemporary images. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Awesome Inventions You Use Every Day titles: Exciting Entertaining Inventions, Stinky Sanitation Inventions, Tremendous Technology Inventions, and Terrific Transportation Inventions.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie