Reviews
A noteworthy review of Earth-Friendly Projects from Children's Bookwatch on November 1, 2016
‘Build a Neighborhood Library’ is an intriguing title from the Earth Friendly Projects series for elementary age children, to make with adult supervision or assistance. The book begins by exploring the different kinds and sizes of libraries, with an introduction From Trees to Paper to… View →
A noteworthy review of Incredible Sports Records from Booklist on November 1, 2016
From the Incredible Sports Records series, this appealing book looks at Olympic records. While results from the 2016 Summer Games are not included, that matters less than media hype might suggest. Michael Phelps’ record for the most gold medals in one year (eight in 2008) still stands, and… View →
A noteworthy review of How America Works from School Library Journal on November 1, 2016
With 24 pages per book, these titles are brief. Even so, elegant design and substantive content make them strong contenders. Each one tackles a specific component of U.S. government and describes, in brief, the influences and other formative issues surrounding it. For instance, in How the… View →
A noteworthy review of Highly Guarded Places from School Library Journal on November 1, 2016
Well-writlen text and a copious amount of illustrations on an attention grabbing subject make for an attractive series. Each title begins with a real-life account concerning an immense peril to U.S. citizens or property. After the hook, the text delves into where the recognizable (and… View →
A noteworthy review of Military Special Forces in Action from Horn Book Guide on October 1, 2016
Military Special Forces in Action series. This series briefly profiles special forces units designed to perform difficult and dangerous missions. Each volume provides a history of the unit’s origin and its mission, as well as the grueling and strenuous training involved. Brief vignettes… View →
A noteworthy review of In the Barnyard from Children's Bookwatch on October 1, 2016
‘Cats’ is an introduction to the world of domestic cats from the series, In the Barnyard, written for young readers age 5 and up. ‘Cats’ has information on domestic cat colors, characteristics, claws, eating hunting, and life expectancy, plus multiple color photo portraits of many different… View →
A noteworthy review of Eyewitness to World War II from School Library Connection on October 1, 2016
This comprehensive series does an excellent job of covering the very broad and popular topic of World War II. Each brief volume addresses a different aspect of the war, from important and well-known battles to the contributions and experiences of women and different ethnic groups. The text… View →
A noteworthy review of True Stories, Real People from Horn Book Guide on October 1, 2016
True Stories, Real People series. Integrating objective, fact-based narration and primary source quotations, this title communicates the hardships and applauds the fortitude of the Chilean men who were trapped in the San Jose Mine for sixty-nine days. Simple layouts use call-out boxes… View →
A noteworthy review of Highly Guarded Places from Booklist on October 1, 2016
If the swirling lengths of razor wire don’t ensnare readers, the chance to look into a cell in the most secure prison in the U.S. will. Kicking off with bank robber Jack Powers’ prison escape and relocation to Colorado’s federal supermax prison, the Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX)… View →
A noteworthy review of Natural Disaster True Survival Stories from Horn Book Guide on October 1, 2016
Natural Disaster True Survival Stories series. In a series about real-life disaster survival, this volume focuses on the earthquake that decimated Haiti in 2010. A brief introduction describes this disaster, followed by five chapters that detail real individuals’ involvement. Gripping… View →
A noteworthy review of True Stories, Real People from Horn Book Guide on October 1, 2016
True Stories, Real People series. Each short, inspiring biography is divided into four or five chapters written in an objective, unpretentious manner. Quotation sources are fastidiously footnoted and listed in the back matter. Navigation is easy thanks to clean layouts and a simple color… View →
A noteworthy review of On the Hunt with Animal Predators from Horn Book Guide on October 1, 2016
On the Hunt with Animal Predators series. These slight books present basic information about reptiles of tropical swamps and grasslands. Characteristics of each species are recounted including their habitats, social behaviors, food sources, and nurturing of offspring. The simply written… View →