(4) K-3 Scholastic Discover More series. This book's draw is its plentiful close-up photographs of a wide variety of animals: from cats to spiders to hammerhead sharks. Two-page chapters provide cursory information about senses, color, hair, eyes, mouths, and more. The main text is superficial but supplemented by captions and text boxes. Good for browsing. A free digital download provides further information. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Scholastic Discover More series. Three sections ("Storm Coming," "Landfall," "Aftermath") cover Katrina's evolution, human preparations and actions, the impact on the Gulf region, the devastation of New Orleans, and residents' and volunteers' efforts to return to normalcy. Pages filled with close-up photos, fact boxes, and more convey the frenzy of the storm. A section of kids' recollections is effective. Includes an online component. Maps, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Scholastic Discover More series. From habitat to diet, a wide variety of facts about dolphins are presented. Beginning readers will marvel at dazzling underwater photographs of pods at play and will devour information about the mammals' "super senses" and unique behaviors. Simple text and sidebars sprinkled on thick pages make this book engaging and approachable. A free digital companion book can be downloaded. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(4) K-3 Scholastic Discover More series. Heavy cardstock pages suit the young audience targeted by this introduction to birds. Subtopics such as beaks, feet, and feathers are presented in colorful double-spreads, with one main photo and several smaller ones, all captioned. Coverage is worldwide, though that's made clear only in the downloadable digital companion. Facts (e.g., a bird's hollow bones) are accurate and interesting, if sometimes partial. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Scholastic Discover More series. This hefty resource will fascinate those already interested in the topic but may be daunting to others just learning. Spreads are jammed with archival photos, maps, diagrams, sidebars, and extensive details (in tiny print) about all aspects of the ship: its construction, the voyage, passengers, eyewitness accounts, controversies, etc. A free digital book of "true survivors' stories" can be downloaded. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) K-3 Scholastic Discover More series. This superficial book covers various rescue vehicles, including police cars and helicopters, fire engines, lifeboats and other sea-rescue conveyances, ambulances, and search-and-rescue vehicles. Double-page spreads highlight a specific machine (Superscooper) or type of rescue work (fire) with minimal text, easy-to-read graphics, text boxes, and large color photos. The random organization makes this best for casual browsing. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) K-3 Scholastic Discover More series. This book offers information about how to care for kittens and puppies. The book's draw is its plentiful photographs, which feature lots of cuddly animals. The main text is superficial but supplemented by informative captions, charts, and boxed text. Covering growth, communication, play, breeds, and training (of puppies), readers will gain a basic overview. A digital download for further information is available. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) K-3 Scholastic Discover More series. This well-organized presentation introduces rainforest plant layers, then concentrates on animals of the three main rainforest areas--Central and South America, Africa, and Australasia--concluding with threats to this diminishing resource. Lavishly illustrated with breathtaking photos, the book also has charts and informative captions. Though the spreads favor breadth over depth, a digital download for further information is available. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Scholastic Discover More series. Tinged by only a bit of sensationalism, this introduction to weather components and extreme occurrences such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards presents clear information in accessible bytes. Colorful, helpful visuals on each spread (some of which are cluttered) include diagrams, dramatic photos, and text boxes with facts and "eyewitness" anecdotes; running footers offer sometimes tangential information. A free digital book is available for downloading. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Scholastic Discover More series. Beginning with a clear definition of reptiles and their unique characteristics, subsequent chapters focus on three subgroups (tuataras excluded). Well-captioned bold photographs, insets, and diagrams combine with a sparse text, allowing each busy double-page spread to provide a detail-rich exploration. A concluding interview with a wildlife explorer enhances this inviting book. A free digital companion book provides additional enhancement. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) 4-6 Scholastic Discover More series. Although the subject invites an alarmist tone, this book is predominantly a well-organized presentation of accurate and interesting material about disasters--mostly natural ones, including tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. Lavishly illustrated with stirring photos, it also has clear captions and charts. Though the spreads favor breadth over depth, a digital download for further information is available. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 Scholastic Discover More series. This book is a well-organized presentation of accurate and interesting material about sharks, from ancient ancestors to pups. Lavishly illustrated with breathtaking (sometimes scary) photos, it also has informative captions and charts for easy comparisons of size, habitat, and danger to humans. Though the spreads favor breadth over depth, a digital download for further information is available. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) 4-6 Scholastic Discover More series. Packed with accurate material about the war, this book covers topics ranging from U-boats and other weapons to women's roles to wartime rations and culture. Lavishly illustrated with stirring archival photos, it also has eyewitness accounts, comparative visuals, and lots of statistics. Though the spreads favor breadth over depth, a digital download for further information is available. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Scholastic Discover More series. A variety of earth materials, including major rock and mineral groups as well as the popular subset gemstones, are presented on loosely organized, busy two-page spreads. Each section includes numerous crisp photographs of the colorful specimens and brief facts about select examples. Additional information on planet, rock, and mineral formation; exploration; and human uses are included. A free digital book is available for downloading. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 Scholastic Discover More series. Both simple books present animals' stages of growth and development; Animal Babies focuses on young animals' maturation and care. Spreads have headings, some general ("Feeding time"), some more specific ("Egg to chick"). Colorful photographs of varying sizes, sidebars, and basic diagrams accompany the text. Sometimes the material is more complicated than the short sentences can convey. A digital companion download is available. Glos., ind. Review covers these Scholastic Discover More titles: See Me Grow and Animal Babies.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Scholastic Discover More series. Clearly organized, accurate information--found in short paragraphs, captions, and labels--forms the core of this busily designed but accessible book. Colorful art includes photos, digital reconstructions, and some drawings. Headings, thoughtful questions, and some paleontologists’ contributions round out the presentation, which notes remaining questions and explains how conclusions were reached. A pronunciation guide is provided for the featured dinosaurs. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Scholastic Discover More series. Clearly organized, accurate information--found in short paragraphs, captions, and labels--forms the core of this busily designed but accessible book. Greatly magnified photos, pages of collections, and sequences of processes such as metamorphosis help extend the text. Focused explanations concern, for example, distinctions between butterflies and moths. Headings, superlatives, thoughtful questions, some surprising facts, and a pronunciation guide round out the presentation. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Scholastic Discover More series. Both simple books present animals' stages of growth and development; Animal Babies focuses on young animals' maturation and care. Spreads have headings, some general ("Feeding time"), some more specific ("Egg to chick"). Colorful photographs of varying sizes, sidebars, and basic diagrams accompany the text. Sometimes the material is more complicated than the short sentences can convey. A digital companion download is available. Glos., ind. Review covers these Scholastic Discover More titles: See Me Grow and Animal Babies.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Scholastic Discover More series. This simple book presents information on the human body, briefly discussing organs, systems, functions, senses, and more. Spreads and single-page sections have general headings, such as "Skin" or "Breathing"; colorful illustrations (mostly photographs, some with drawings superimposed), sidebars, and basic charts accompany the texts. Sometimes the material is more complicated than the short sentences can convey. A companion digital download is available. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian