Reviews
Educator Review of The World of Dinosaurs - Pachycephalosaurus
The “World of Dinosaurs” is a set of 22 books that presents the latest information on not only the well-known creatures, but also some of the lesser known (or more recently known) representatives of this group. This high/low series is packed full of information in the form of graphics,… View →
Educator Review of The World of Dinosaurs - Therizinosaurus
The “World of Dinosaurs” is a set of 22 books that presents the latest information on not only the well-known creatures, but also some of the lesser known (or more recently known) representatives of this group. This high/low series is packed full of information in the form of graphics,… View →
Educator Review of The World of Dinosaurs - Dilophosaurus
“The World of Dinosaurs” is a set of 22 books that presents the latest information on not only the well-known creatures, but also some of the lesser known (or more recently known) representatives of this group. This high/low series is packed full of information in the form of graphics,… View →
SLJ Review of Cities Through Time
These titles survey the history of cities from ancient to modern times. Seven important dates are highlighted, each with a few sentences of information in colorfully illustrated spreads. A cartoon character adds a fun fact on some pages. Coverage spans over 1,000 years, so the seven… View →
SLJ Review of Animal Battles
The titles in this series have animals facing off in a mostly realistic, albeit dramatic, battle. The animals pitted against each other in each book are from similar habitats and could cross paths in the wild. While there aren’t graphic photos of the battle, there are photos of the… View →
Educator Review of Animals in My Yard
This series set of 6 titles offers an introduction to common critters found comprehend facts about a range of common critters in an approachable format. The included color photos bring the reader View →
Librarian Review of Behind the Brand
The Behind the Brand series hits the mark with these high-interest titles that take readers behind the scenes of famous brands. Each title begins with an in-depth look into the origins of the brand, complete with a map and timeline of how the brand developed throughout the years. Readers View →
South Sound Book Review Council Review of War Histories: The Vienam War
The Vietnam War by Alex Monroe is part of a Torque set of War Histories. This set is geared towards third grade through seventh grade, with full color pictures and a reading level of third grade. Each book is 24 pages and starts with a table of contents a short description of the war.… View →
South Sound Book Review Council Review of War Histories: The American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War by Kate Moening is part of a Torque set of War Histories. This set is geared towards third grade through seventh grade, with full color pictures and a reading level of third grade. Each book is 24 pages and starts with a table of contents a short… View →
South Sound Book Review Council Review of World War II
World War II by Alex Monroe is part of a Torque set of War Histories. This set is geared towards third grade through seventh grade, with full color pictures and a reading level of third grade. Each book is 24 pages and starts with a table of contents a short description of the war. This… View →
South Sound Book Review Council Review of Animal Battles: Saltwater Crocodile vs. Great Hammerhead Shark
Saltwater Crocodile vs. Great Hammerhead Shark by Nathan Sommer is part of a 40 book Torque set of Animal Battles. This set is geared towards third grade through seventh grade, with full color pictures and a reading level of third grade. Perfect for your reluctant readers. Each book is… View →
South Sound Book Review Council Review of Animal Battles: Red Fox vs. Fisher
Red Fox vs. Fisher by Nathan Sommer is part of a 40 book Bellwether Torque set of Animal Battles. This set is geared towards third grade through seventh grade, with full color pictures and a reading level of third grade. Perfect for your reluctant readers. Each book is 24 pages and… View →
Educator Review of Beginning to End
In this series, the reader learns the steps of producing something from the beginning to the end. These non-fiction books are important for readers to better understand how things we have in everyday life are created through processes (i.e. glass, apple juice, electricity, and crayons).… View →
Educator Review of Animals in My Yard
This series explores a variety of animals that students might find in their own backyard. Perfect for emerging readers, each book cover draws students in with a bright cover highlighting a large, clear picture of the animal of focus. The animals explored in this series include… View →
PSLA Review of Ancient Marine Life
Discover extinct animal life with the series Ancient Marine Life! Take a deep dive into the past with this series. The reviewer read the title Megalodon. Megalodon – the massive ancient shark, so massive it is the largest to ever live! Read about its body parts, life, and extinction.… View →
Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary rocks may not be as flashy as gemstones, but that doesn’t mean they’re not fascinating. After all, there would be no Grand Canyon and very few fossils without them! A quick explanation of what these rocks are—“bits of mud, sand, minerals, and sediments”—also encompasses how… View →
The Betty and Barney Hill Alien Abduction
The graphic-novel format of the Paranormal Mysteries series (6 titles) makes an already high-interest topic extremely accessible. This readable volume tracks the strange experience of Betty and Barney Hill, who claimed to have been abducted by aliens while driving near Lincoln, New… View →
The Circulatory System
With a tight focus on the heart, blood, and blood vessels, this level-3 reader helps “early fluent” readers understand these essential elements of the human body. Pettiford concisely identifies the circulatory system, explains how it works, and discusses why it is important. The book is… View →
The Camera
Cameras have come a long way from their bulky daguerreotype and cardboard Brownie days, and this entry in the Inventions That Changed the World series (6 titles) provides a snapshot of the cameras history, development, and function in society. The historical overview begins with early… View →
Zaha Hadid: Architect
Zaha Hadid’s beaded collar and feathery shawl stand in glorious contrast to traditional architect’s accessories (hard hat, blueprints) on the cover of this selection from the Women Leading the Way series (6 titles). Iranian-born Hadid became known as the “Queen of the Curve” for her… 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 →