(3) 4-6 Bizarre Science series. If readers ignore the gimmicky series title and dripping purple caption boxes, they'll find this revised book contains an informative text and engaging close-up photos. Five chapters cover the different ways carnivorous plants catch their prey--flypaper traps, pitfall traps, trigger traps--as well as adaptations these plants have made to survive in their environments. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(4) K-3 Bunny Greta misses Dad when he is working as a professional photographer. She wants to be the one in front of his camera so she mimics his famous subjects using her costume collection. In a flat ending, Dad finally focuses on Greta. The warm story is illustrated with simply composed acrylic paintings.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(3) 4-6 Bizarre Science series. If readers ignore the gimmicky series title, dripping purple caption boxes, and descriptors such as ugly, they'll find this revised book contains an informative text and engaging photographs. Five chapters cover different types of insects, behaviors, characteristics, life cycles, and defenses. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(3) 4-6 National Geographic: Everything series. With Beverly Joubert and Dereck Joubert. Similar in trim size and layout to National Geographic Kids magazine, this volume provides readers with lots of information about big cats, from types of creatures to locations and behaviors to conservation efforts. Striking photographs, including a useful "Photographic Diagram" labeling body parts and their uses, roar off the pages. A "What's Your Cat Purr-sonality?" quiz is included. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. The question of which pets are better, cats or dogs, is the frame for this volume's comparison of the two types of animals: "Fur will fly in this battle of the pets!" Topics include ancestors, senses, diet, behavior, and communication. "Weird but True" sidebars along with corny jokes and lots of photographs maintain readers' interest until the "Final Showdown." Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(3) PS "Rain falls, / Kitten dashes. / Rabbit races, / Turtle splashes." As Kitten runs home, she passes by various forest animals also seeking shelter from the rain. The double-page mixed-media collages featuring clay and acrylic paint are impressive. Readers will enjoy seeing their animal friends in their natural habitats; the simple rhyming text would work well with both preschoolers and beginning readers.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(4) K-3 Gibbons presents another accessible, reliable, and fact-filled book complete with maps and labeled illustrations. The three species of gorillas (western lowland, eastern lowland, and mountain) are portrayed in shades of gray and black. The text is frequently lost amidst the full-bleed illustrations and sidebars. A final page provides additional information about gorillas, primatology, and conservation. Websites.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(3) PS "I spy with my little eye...something that is blue." A die-cut gives readers a peek, while a speech bubble provides a hint: "I am the biggest animal in the whole world." The blue whale, in deep-hued digital illustrations, appears on the next spread. The pattern and hints guarantee success for preschoolers, who will be richly rewarded with each page turn.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Dereck Joubert. Two National Geographic "Explorers-in-Residence" provide information about various African animals, one for each letter of the alphabet. The volume's standouts are the photographs; the text is less successful, with its search-and-find game element leading to awkward alliteration: "Two dung beetles roll dirty dung into a decorative ball..." Still, it's a worthy addition to collections. Reading list, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(3) 4-6 Bizarre Science series. If readers ignore the gimmicky series title and dripping purple caption boxes, they'll find that this revised book contains informative text and engaging photos of mummified remains. Six chapters cover mummy discoveries and what we can learn about the past from these findings. Also discussed are how bodies are mummified and some history of the practice. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(3) 4-6 Bizarre Science series. If readers ignore the gimmicky series title and dripping purple caption boxes, they'll find this revised book contains an informative text and close-up photographs of the creatures in action. Six chapters cover specific bloodsuckers, including mosquitoes, vampire bats, lice, and leeches. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(3) PS McGuirk uses rocks from her collection to form both the letters and items they stand for in this creative alphabet book. The sea-worn rocks made of fossilized sandstone look uncannily like the real things. The book could be a catalyst for collectors and naturalists; an author's note describes how she waited "for many years...for the letter K to appear."

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mary Newell DePalma. "I hate school, and I'm sure not looking forward to the 100th day of it," thinks Graham on the first day of school while his teacher plays up the later-in-the-year celebration. Graham's not a strong reader, yet he must get through one hundred books before the big day--also his birthday. Creatively composed mixed-media illustrations reflect Graham's emotions while demonstrating potential hundredth-day projects.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(3) 4-6 National Geographic: Everything series. With David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes. Similar in trim size and layout to National Geographic Kids magazine, this volume provides readers with lots of information about sharks, from types of creatures to habitat and behaviors to conservation efforts. Readers will sink their teeth into the striking photographs, including a useful "Photographic Diagram" labeling body parts and their uses. A "Fun with Sharks" section adds interest. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(3) 4-6 Bizarre Science series. If readers ignore the gimmicky series title and dripping purple caption boxes, they'll find this revised book contains an informative text and engaging illustrations. Five chapters cover astronomy-based explanations behind dinosaurs' extinction, some history of meteoric activity on Earth, current threats to the planet, and the possibility of future catastrophic events. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(3) K-3 Young Tom is excited to ride his new bike to pal Sam's house. While waiting at Sam's door, Tom's bike disappears (temporarily). The spare text will hold readers' attention--"He zooms down the hill / around the curve / and back up"--while unfussy watercolor and pencil illustrations with lots of white space enhance accessibility.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Paul Rátz de Tagyos. House-pet ferrets Fudge and Einstein nervously welcome visiting cat, Marvel, into their home. When Marvel mistakes them for rats ("I love tasty...rats"), the two must show her who's boss in order to save their necks. Fudge and Einstein's humorous exchanges with each other and with Marvel will entertain readers. Clean-lined marker and ink cartoon-panel illustrations add to the liveliness.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(4) PS Illustrated by Kat Whelan. "One little blueberry fell to the ground. / Two tiny red ants spied it from their mound." A parade of insects and arachnids pursue the berry. Their efforts are thwarted by a bird that "swooped down and ate it-- / Gulp! / --right before their eyes." The rhymes, though unremarkable, do scan. Illustrations featuring smiling bugs give little fingers something to count.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(4) K-3 Measuring Time series. These volumes attempt to explain the abstract concept of time for young children. Examples are provided; the ones in Hours ("Each clap is about a second," "You can wash your hands in one minute") are more useful than those in Days ("This girl visits a library on Monday"). Many photos are included; picture glossaries of questionable usefulness are appended. Ind.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(4) K-3 Measuring Time series. These volumes attempt to explain the abstract concept of time for young children. Examples are provided; the ones in Hours ("Each clap is about a second," "You can wash your hands in one minute") are more useful than those in Days ("This girl visits a library on Monday"). Many photos are included; picture glossaries of questionable usefulness are appended. Ind.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky