Reviews
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 On the Hunt with Animal Predators from Horn Book Guide on October 1, 2016
On the Hunt with Animal Predators series. This slight book presents basic information about one of the most feared sea creatures including habitat, behaviors, food sources, and reproduction. The brief narrative is interesting but may be inadequate for report-driven readers. Large up-close… View →
A noteworthy review of In the Driver's Seat from Horn Book Guide on October 1, 2016
In the Driver’s Seat series. These books focus on what a young reader might experience while driving the featured vehicle. The second-person narration includes pertinent information about the vehicles; color photos and occasional sidebars support the texts. Safety issues are mentioned… 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 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, these volumes focus on two earthquakes and tsunamis that hit Asia. In each book, a brief introduction describes the disaster, followed by chapters that detail real individuals’ involvement… View →
A noteworthy review of Wonders of Space from Horn Book Guide on October 1, 2016
Wonders of Space series. Accounts of major events in space exploration—including the historic Apollo 11 moon landing, Voyager probes, Mars rovers, and Hubble telescope as well as recent missions to Saturn and Pluto—are presented in short narrative formats, with numerous quotes from those… 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 →
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 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. 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 How America Works from Booklist on October 1, 2016
The How America Works series examines foundational elements of the U.S. government at a level appropriate for upper-elementary readers. This volume introduces the U.S. Constitution by first describing why the country’s founders felt it was needed, the events of the 1787 constitutional… 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 →