Reviews
Booklist Review of Six Days Alone!: Forest Survivor
A dramatization based on true events, this entry in the Limits of Survival series (6 titles) follows Yang Chen, a student from China studying in Australia, who goes hiking to see the country’s beautiful Gorge Falls. After a strenuous, muddy hike, Yang decides to rest while her… View →
SLJ Review of Spot the Differences
Engaging animal comparisons are presented in a question-and-answer format. Text provides simple facts about the two… Readers examine the accompanying photograph, then try to identify it based on the words and image: “A frog has webbed feet. A toad does not. Which is this?” View →
SLJ Review of Eye-mazing Illusions
The exciting optical illusions throughout this series explore not only the science of optics, but also interconnected STEAM topics like… Covering both two-dimensional and three-dimensional illusions, there are mathematical, health, and artist exp View →
SLJ Review of Meet the Community Helpers
Early readers will love to learn about how veterinarians, bus drivers, construction workers, and garbage collectors work hard to serve people and animals in their communities. Each book features common situations associated with each job: Dr. Jenny has a busy day treating animals at her… View →
SLJ Review of Life on Earth! Biodiversity Explained
This series describes biomes with a focus on preservation. The connectivity of each organism in the biome is stressed, emphasizing the importance of caring for the… A sense of urgency is conveyed, with abundant facts for researchers that make it perfect for school assignments View →
Arlington School District Review of Disastrous Deaths: Death by Blundering Bodies
This is a wonderful book for readers who appreciate the curious side of history. Part of the Bearport Publishing Disastrous Deaths series, readers will learn the strange but true stories of how 6 unlucky historical figures met their deaths in the most unusual of… Reco View →
Booklist Review of Heroic Dogs
“Most kids have a soft spot for pups, so the Heroic Dogs series is sure Double-page spreads offer brief paragraphs set off by bright graphics, highlighted facts, and multiple full-colo View →
SLJ Review of Life on Earth! Biodiversity Explained
This series describes biomes with a focus on preservation. The connectivity of each organism in the biome is stressed, emphasizing the importance of caring for the Earth. A sense of urgency is conveyed, with abundant facts for researchers that make it perfect for school assignments.… View →
Arlington School District Review of Dwayne Johnson - Bearcub Bios
This book is a great beginning biography book for the younger students. It has colorful photographs, large print, a glossary with vocabulary words and a “Did you know?” section in the back to grab a young readers attention. View →
Arlington School District Review of Energy from the Sun
This book is part of a six-book series titled Power Up with Energy. The text is very simple and is accompanied by pictures supporting the text. The topic of utilizing energy from the sun, is simplified into four basic steps; 1) Light comes from the sun, 2) The light hits a panel, 3)… View →
Booklist Review of Get Outdoors
The Get Outdoors series encourages early readers to venture outside and enjoy the beauty of nature through various outdoor activities. Each title introduces the activity, details the necessary gear, advises on proper technique, warns of potential risks, and explains how to stay safe and… View →
Arlington School District Review of Library of Awesome Animals: Clown Fish
Part of a 16-item series called “Library of Awesome Animals,” this title is attractive, colorful, and just the right length for readers in 1st-3rd… Pages are laid out n a clear, mostly uncluttered way. The text eventually gets to promised topics, though sometime View →
Arlington School District Review of Football: Score with STEM
""Football: Score with Stem" is a part of the six set “Sports STEM” series which includes: Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, Hockey &… Book includes: table of contents, science, technology, engineering, math sections, Do View →
SLJ Review of Forest School
Exceptionally clear photos show readers what they should look for during their forest walks. Most of nature comes in shades of green or brown, so detailed pictures of tracks, seeds, nests, and droppings will help children identify evidence of life. Photos of woodland creatures bring kids View →
Arlington School District Review of Guiding Light
This graphic novel series includes six titles honoring heroes that saved lives during the attacks of 9/11. This volume spotlights police officer Moira Smith who used her flashlight, her wits, and her bravery to lead dozens of people out of the World Trade Center’s south tower to safety… View →
SLJ Review of Life Works!
Using stylized monster characters, these books guide readers through activities to help build empathy and understanding, while developing critical skills like time management and building trust with others. Bright colors and silly monsters keep the serious topics layered with some levity View →
SLJ Review of Pick a Plate
Part of healthy living is knowing how to fuel one’s body. Using the USDA MyPlate model, readers are taken on a “build your own plate” story to compare and contrast… There is no moral value applied to the foods; they are simply weighed for nutrition View →
SLJ Review of Fact-o-Graphics!
Using colorful illustrations and inset photos, this series presents basic facts for early readers. A section on the five senses, for example, uses small photos of foods to highlight the five categories of taste. A general statement introduces each spread’s topic and text boxes provide… View →
SLJ Review of Saving Animals from the Brink
A new take on science comics that feature groups of conservationists and activists working to help save animals from extinction. This series is tied together with the shared thread of animals at risk and their connection to the creation of the Endangered Species Act. Each title addresses View →
SLJ Review of Disastrous Deaths
Those interested in the gruesome and morbid will find plenty to explore in this series. The table of contents is listed on a tombstone, and a collection of “weird” phrases about death like, “kicked the bucket” begins each book. Within the pages are incredible stories of those who have… View →
SLJ Review of Colorful Minds
This series is like a comforting hug. For young children who might have trouble verbally expressing their feelings or controlling their emotions, this series provides interactive activities to help them understand what they are feeling and how to cope. Each emotion is associated with a… View →
SLJ Review of Library of Awesome Animals
Playful chapter titles and occasional interjections like “yikes” and “wow!” create a lighthearted feel in these animal profiles, but there’s also plenty of useful, well-organized information. The tone achieves a good balance between enthusiastic (“Elephants are eating machines”) and… View →
Booklist Review of The Sky's the Limit
Titles in the Sky’s the Limit series provide tips and information on how young readers can manage their lives, accomplish their goals, and create and maintain positive habits. Making Good Decisions discusses easy versus difficult decisions and presents five steps to help readers with the View →
SLJ Review of Be a Waste Warrior!
Adding on three additional Rs to the ubiquitous green phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle,” the new six Rs (refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, recycle, rot) express the impact everyday actions can have on the… The discussions one would expect are addressed such as si View →