Reviews
Costumes and Props
Filled with large stills—mostly from recent fantasy franchises, like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, plus glimpses of older classics such as Pirates of the Caribbean (not to mention Roman Holiday and Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush)—this entry in the Movie Magic series (6 titles)… View →
Coding in Transportation
You may not realize how many things rely on code to run these days, and vehicles are no exception. Cars are the stars of this level-2 reader, part of the “Coding Is Everywhere” series (6 titles), which reveals that most modern cars contain more than 24 computers. These computers control… View →
Olympic Records
Noteworthy Olympic athletes from around the globe fill the pages of this Incredible Sports Records series (6 titles) entry. From most-decorated (Michael Phelps) to mind-numbingly fast (speed skater Lee Sang-hwa), these competitors have left their marks on the games. One- and two-page… View →
Smelling
Young readers know when things smell beautiful or gross, and in this entry in the Five Sense series (5 titles), they’ll get an approachable introduction to how people smell and why it’s important. Readers will follow scent molecules as they float through the air and come into contact… View →
Monorails
Train-crazy kids will appreciate this offering from the Blast Off! Readers: Amazing Trains series, which showcases the monorail. As a level 1 reader, this book uses only two sentences per double-page spread, excluding headings, and a large font size to support newly independent readers;… View →
India
The Country Profiles series nicely balances its scope and depth of information for middle-grade researchers. This title begins with a view of India’s iconic Taj Mahal before presenting the country’s geographic location on a large, boldly colored map. From there, readers will… View →
Kwanzaa
Created in 1966 in the U.S., Kwanzaa celebrates African American heritage and culture and is now observed around the world. As part of the Series, this book shows young readers the traditions affiliated with Kwanzaa, such as lighting the Kinara and discussing the principles associated… View →
Bulldozers
Construction-crazy kids will dig right into this level 2 reader in the Mighty Machines in Action series. The ever-popular bulldozer pushes, lifts, digs, and rips its way across the pages, accompanied by short sentences that describe the parts of the machine itself (blade, tracks, cab,… View →
Ghosts at Sea
Pirates, ghosts, and adventure on the high seas—what better combination to interest young readers who have grown up on Pirates of the Caribbean? This title in the Ghost Stories series includes two thin but engaging narrative accounts of ships said to haunt the ocean. The first surrounds… View →
Survive in the Mountains
Stranded on a mountain? Don’t sweat it. This guide in the Survival Zone series is equipped with tips and practical advice for staying safe should this very situation occur. It begins dramatically with the true story of a plane-crash survivor and then transitions into more likely… View →
Life in a Coral Reef
Coral reefs are vibrant, dynamic biomes, and this entry in the Biomes Alive! series reflects their splendor. Brightly colored photos and backgrounds join a host of clearly explained facts, beginning with how reefs form—when tube-shaped coral polyps grow hard skeletons and attach to those View →
LEGO
This book explores the business of LEGO. The reader will learn about the creator of the LEGO brand, Ole Kirk Christiansen, and the history of the brand throughout the years. Chapters included are: What is the Lego Brand, Ole Kirk… View →