(3) 4-6 Snap: Real-Life Ghost Stories series. In four engaging chapters (and after an eerie, atmospheric introduction) Peterson presents the story of the legendary La Llorona. The text touches on background, reported encounters, speculation about the weeping woman's existence, and "Ladies in White Around the World." "Fact" and "Skeptic's Note" sidebars along with haunting illustrations enhance the atmosphere. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 First Facts: U.S. National Parks Field Guides series. These image-heavy volumes introduce young readers to major features of each national park, functioning as accessible travel guides. Engaging photographs accompany brief information about landmarks including geysers, canyons, and suspension bridges, along with brief overviews of wildlife and weather. Maps included. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Facts: U.S. National Parks Field Guides titles: Grand Canyon National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) 4-6 Scooby-Doo! Scooby-Doo Solves It with S.T.E.M. series. Illustrated by Christian Cornia. Scooby-Doo and friends uncover the banal truth behind a mutant crocodile and a chemical reaction–causing ghost using their knowledge of electricity and chemistry. Cartoon illustrations and spooky trappings add atmosphere to these elementary physical-science stories, but the scientific explanations are stilted and the tiny font hampers readability. "Science and Engineering Practices" appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Scooby-Doo! Scooby-Doo Solves It with S.T.E.M. titles: Scooby-Doo!, a Science of Chemical Reactions Mystery and Scooby-Doo!, a Science of Electricity Mystery.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 Scooby-Doo! Scooby-Doo Solves It with S.T.E.M. series. Illustrated by Dario Brizuela. Scooby-Doo and friends uncover the banal truth behind a mutant crocodile and a chemical reaction–causing ghost using their knowledge of electricity and chemistry. Cartoon illustrations and spooky trappings add atmosphere to these elementary physical-science stories, but the scientific explanations are stilted and the tiny font hampers readability. "Science and Engineering Practices" appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Scooby-Doo! Scooby-Doo Solves It with S.T.E.M. titles: Scooby-Doo!, a Science of Chemical Reactions Mystery and Scooby-Doo!, a Science of Electricity Mystery.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 Snap Books: It's Haunted! series. These attractively designed stories of hauntings, communiques from the dead, and cursed objects will appeal to horror fans and may scare more gullible readers. Although "skeptics" are briefly mentioned, the creepy stories are slanted toward believers, without much proof to bolster the claims. Each entry is accompanied by a crisp color photo. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Snap Books: It's Haunted! titles: Haunted Houses Around the World and Haunted Objects Around the World.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Smithsonian Field Trips series. Each spread in this volume focuses on a particular display at the museum. Each item played an important role in aerospace history, though there is no sense of direction as to the order of presentation. Sidebars and text boxes add detail to the main text, as do numerous photographs, which give a preview of what you would see at the museum. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 Smithsonian Field Trips series. Each spread in this volume presents treasured artifacts at the museum. However, the presentation of American history is haphazard: there are no unifying themes or discernible reasons for inclusion or order. Sidebars and text boxes add detail to the main text, as do numerous photographs, which give a preview of what you would see at the museum. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Sports Illustrated Kids: Wacky Sports Trivia series. This series discusses quirky details of popular sports, incorporating athlete superstitions (NBA player Caron Butler chewed on a dozen drinking straws during each game), unusual pregame rituals (a Spanish soccer team sprinkles garlic cloves around the pitch), team trivia, and fanatic fan behavior. Even knowledgeable sports fans will learn something new in these interesting books. Color photographs illustrate the pages. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Sports Illustrated Kids: Wacky Sports Trivia titles: Wacky Basketball Trivia and Wacky Soccer Trivia.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Scooby-Doo! Scooby-Doo Solves It with S.T.E.M. series. Illustrated by Dario Brizuela. Scooby-Doo and pals use their knowledge of topics such as sound waves and energy to unmask a Pied Piper–like zombie and a ghost with electrical powers. Cartoon illustrations and mildly spooky mysteries add flavor to this mid-elementary physical-science series, but the scientific explanations feel forced and the font is too small. "Science and Engineering Practices" are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Scooby-Doo! Scooby-Doo Solves It with S.T.E.M. titles: The High-Voltage Ghost and A Song of Zombies.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 Scooby-Doo! Scooby-Doo Solves It with S.T.E.M. series. Illustrated by Christian Cornia. Scooby-Doo and pals use their knowledge of topics such as sound waves and energy to unmask a Pied Piper–like zombie and a ghost with electrical powers. Cartoon illustrations and mildly spooky mysteries add flavor to this mid-elementary physical-science series, but the scientific explanations feel forced and the font is too small. "Science and Engineering Practices" are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Scooby-Doo! Scooby-Doo Solves It with S.T.E.M. titles: The High-Voltage Ghost and A Song of Zombies.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) K-3 First Facts: Super Scary Stuff series. This series may appeal to young readers with a precocious taste for the ghoulish. Ghosts is pretty straightforward, but Places is an odd combination of real locations that contain frightening beasts (e.g. venomous golden lancehead vipers on Brazil's Snake Island) and haunted places such as England's Chillingham Castle. Stock photos, brief sidebars, and defined highlighted words appear on each "super scary" spread. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Facts: Super Scary Stuff titles: Super Scary Ghosts and Super Scary Places.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 First Facts: Super Scary Stuff series. This series may appeal to young readers with a precocious taste for the ghoulish. Ghosts is pretty straightforward, but Places is an odd combination of real locations that contain frightening beasts (e.g. venomous golden lancehead vipers on Brazil's Snake Island) and haunted places such as England's Chillingham Castle. Stock photos, brief sidebars, and defined highlighted words appear on each "super scary" spread. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Facts: Super Scary Stuff titles: Super Scary Ghosts and Super Scary Places.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 A+ Books: Awesome Asian Animals series. These large books use simple texts, impressive photos, colorful graphics, and basic organization to introduce "awesome" Asian mammals. The language is mildly engaging ("Roar!"; "Munch! Munch!"), though information occasionally feels superficial ("Camels look somewhat like alpacas and llamas. That's because they are part of the same animal group"). Each book includes Common Core critical-thinking questions. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these A+ Books: Awesome Asian Animals titles: Camels Are Awesome![cf1[, Orangutans Are Awesome!, and Bengal Tigers Are Awesome!.