(4) 4-6 Dabble Lab: Take Making to the Next Level 4D series. Readers will need batteries, LEDs, resistors, a breadboard, and wires to conduct the experiments in this collection. Once equipped, they can explore series and parallel circuits and switches. Step-by-step directions on how to assemble the set-ups are further detailed in helpful photographs. Facts and explanations scattered throughout provide minimal scientific content; the "4D" feature is an online video portal. Ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 Dabble Lab: Take Making to the Next Level 4D series. Routine experiments feature topics such as chemical reactions with baking soda, vinegar, and yeast; phase changes with ice cream; and photosynthesis through plant growth. The activities use fairly common household items and have clear directions. Photographs accompany the trickier steps, though many reveal the results. Explanations of the underlying science lack depth; the "4D" feature is an online video portal. Ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 4-6 Next Best Junior Chef series. Illustrated by Aurélie Blard-Quintard. Surviving two elimination rounds (covered in previous volumes), remaining Next Best Junior Chef contestants Rae and Caroline face challenges, unfamiliar ingredients, and the surprising return of rival Oliver. They struggle to balance their competitive natures and TV appearances with their friendship. Occasional dialogue bubbles add personal insight. Who will win the big prize? Series fans will be satiated by this finale. Culinary facts are appended.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Next Best Junior Chef series. Illustrated by Aurélie Blard-Quintard. After the initial four-person competition (covered in Lights, Camera, Cook!), remaining cooking contestants Oliver, Rae, and Caroline face various challenges and unfamiliar ingredients. They believably struggle to balance their competitive natures, the need to learn from one another, and their TV appearances. Who will be eliminated next? Occasional interview-style speech bubbles provide personal insights from the contestants; expressive black-and-white spot art offers additional context.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Dabble Lab: Next Chapter Crafts 4D series. Dabble Lab: Next Chapter Crafts 4D series. Each book offers step-by-step directions for nine literary-genre-themed craft projects including games, decorations, toys, and more. Some require unusual materials such as wing nuts, washers, and plumbing materials. Each entry includes lists of supplies and multiple full-color photos to clarify processes; occasional “Now Try This” boxes suggest alterations or extensions. Additional content available through the Capstone 4D app. Reading list.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 1-3 Alien Next Door series. Illustrated by Anjan Sarkar. Harris suspects Zeke, the new kid, is not quite of this world: Zeke's lunch is totally weird, he can balance on his fingertips while upside down, and he's never eaten pizza. As Zeke tries to fit in, a wary new friendship with Harris develops, presumably to be expanded on in future volumes. Black-and-white illustrations on every page enhance this humorous early chapter book.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) K-3 Dabble Lab: Next Chapter Crafts 4D series. Dabble lab: Next Chapter Crafts 4D series. Each book offers step-by-step directions for nine literary-genre-themed craft projects including games, decorations, toys, and more. Some require unusual materials such as wing nuts, washers, and plumbing materials. Each entry includes lists of supplies and multiple full-color photos to clarify processes; occasional "Now Try This" boxes suggest alterations or extensions. Additional content available through the Capstone 4D app. Reading list. Review covers these Dabble Lab: Next Chapter Crafts 4D titles: Stellar Science Fiction Crafts and Legendary Nonfiction Crafts.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 1-3 Spy Next Door series. In Mutant, boring third grader Dexter Drabner dreams of being a skateboarding spy like Toby Falcon; when his rat-flatulence-collecting science teacher accidentally turns a pet into a mutant monster, Dex's dreams come true. Curse finds the newly minted skateboarding spy-hero facing a mummy's ancient curse. This new series is chock-full of cartoons and slapstick situations reminiscent of Captain Underpants but with less successful humor. Review covers these titles: The Spy Next Door: The Curse of the Mummy's Tummy and The Spy Next Door: Mutant Rat Attack!

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 1-3 Spy Next Door series. In Mutant, boring third grader Dexter Drabner dreams of being a skateboarding spy like Toby Falcon; when his rat-flatulence-collecting science teacher accidentally turns a pet into a mutant monster, Dex's dreams come true. Curse finds the newly minted skateboarding spy-hero facing a mummy's ancient curse. This new series is chock-full of cartoons and slapstick situations reminiscent of Captain Underpants but with less successful humor. Review covers these titles: The Spy Next Door: The Curse of the Mummy's Tummy and The Spy Next Door: Mutant Rat Attack!

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 Next Best Junior Chef series. Illustrated by Aurélie Blard-Quintard. Four preteens participate in a TV cooking competition. As the contestants seesaw between confidence and nervousness, friendship and rivalry, triumphs and flubs, they learn about cooking and even more about themselves. Scattered interview-style speech bubbles let readers in on contestants' personal thoughts; emotive illustrations are also included. Who will be eliminated? Readers will excitedly tune in to the series' next episode for answers.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Our World: The Next 100 Years series. In this graphic introduction to energy technologies, fictional "futurist" Luna Li and companions tour a present-day coal plant; travel twenty-five years into the future to examine the state of natural gas, wind, solar, and other power technologies; then jump to 2120 to look at possible future technologies. The comic-panel illustrations featuring cutting-edge technologies add interest to a contrived frame story. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Next Page: States series. This series (which includes tie-ins to the publisher's subscription-based internet resources) focuses on basic facts about states, touching on physical location, geography, weather, and landmarks as well as history, government, industry, and population. Famous people, state symbols, and "Fast Facts" are listed at the end. Level-appropriate text and frequent photographs make these volumes suitable first starts in mid-elementary research. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Next Page: States titles: Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, Washington, DC, Iowa, and Maryland.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Next Page: States series. This series (which includes tie-ins to the publisher's subscription-based internet resources) focuses on basic facts about states, touching on physical location, geography, weather, and landmarks as well as history, government, industry, and population. Famous people, state symbols, and "Fast Facts" are listed at the end. Level-appropriate text and frequent photographs make these volumes suitable first starts in mid-elementary research. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Next Page: States titles: Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, Washington, DC, Iowa, and Maryland.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Next Page: States series. This series (which includes tie-ins to the publisher's subscription-based internet resources) focuses on basic facts about states, touching on physical location, geography, weather, and landmarks as well as history, government, industry, and population. Famous people, state symbols, and "Fast Facts" are listed at the end. Level-appropriate text and frequent photographs make these volumes suitable first starts in mid-elementary research. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Next Page: States titles: Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, Washington, DC, Iowa, and Maryland.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Next Page: States series. This series (which includes tie-ins to the publisher's subscription-based internet resources) focuses on basic facts about states, touching on physical location, geography, weather, and landmarks as well as history, government, industry, and population. Famous people, state symbols, and "Fast Facts" are listed at the end. Level-appropriate text and frequent photographs make these volumes suitable first starts in mid-elementary research. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Next Page: States titles: Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, Washington, DC, Iowa, and Maryland.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Next Page: States series. This series (which includes tie-ins to the publisher's subscription-based internet resources) focuses on basic facts about states, touching on physical location, geography, weather, and landmarks as well as history, government, industry, and population. Famous people, state symbols, and "Fast Facts" are listed at the end. Level-appropriate text and frequent photographs make these volumes suitable first starts in mid-elementary research. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Next Page: States titles: Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, Washington, DC, Iowa, and Maryland.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Next Page: States series. This series (which includes tie-ins to the publisher's subscription-based internet resources) focuses on basic facts about states, touching on physical location, geography, weather, and landmarks as well as history, government, industry, and population. Famous people, state symbols, and "Fast Facts" are listed at the end. Level-appropriate text and frequent photographs make these volumes suitable first starts in mid-elementary research. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Next Page: States titles: Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, Washington, DC, Iowa, and Maryland.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) 4-6 Our World: The Next 100 Years series. Fictional "futurist" Luna Li tours the Air and Space Museum for highlights of past space exploration, then transports herself and a companion to a hologram-based future in which NASA explores unexamined bodies in the solar system, commercial space flight exists, and planets' natural resources can be exploited. The comic-like panel illustrations featuring cutting-edge space technologies add interest to a contrived frame story. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Next Door series. Illustrated by Gene Barretta. When five unruly pirates buy the farm next door, the narrator observes that, while her mom is appalled, her dad helps them unload their trunks, fix their boat, etc. An author's note explains that the Bible verse "Love your neighbor as yourself" guides this story, but Fretz preaches quietly. The illustrations are unspectacular but capture some of the story's broad comedy. Glos.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 What's Next? series. With technological advances come changes in traveling and communicating, fueling society's abilities to move and connect. Each title begins with a vision of the future followed by the challenges and discoveries that led to the present and future projects. Sidebars add additional information to the straightforward text, but the stock color photographs are uninspiring and the page design may put off some readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these What's Next? titles: The Future of Transportation and The Future of Communication.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale