Reviews
Booklist Review of What Is Fake News?
This resource, part of the Questions Explored series (5 titles), explores the rise of the phenomenon known as “fake news” and offers readers tools to navigate the murky waters of misinformation. An “At a Glance” bulleted list gives readers a quick overview of the book’s main points… View →
SLJ Review of XTreme Moments in Sports
Iconic moments in baseball, soccer, gymnastics, and more are explored in this new Hi-Lo series from Abdo. Each book takes a sport, provides a brief description of its origins, and delves into eight important events from its history. There is a good balance between historic and more… View →
Booklist Review of The Native American Experience
This timely entry in the Who We Are series (4 titles) reflects on how the historical and contemporary lives of Native Americans have shaped and continue to shape American culture. An opening “By the Numbers” section offers graphics with quick facts on total population, largest… View →
SLJ Review of Who We Are
This series shatters stereotypes about minority groups in America. The writers trace the historical roots of each community to their contemporary unique group identity. But no community is treated as homogenous. Readers will learn about the many Native American tribes and the different… 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, em- phasizing 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 →
Curious about Mythical Creatures - School Library Journal
Kids are uber-curious about mythical creatures and have numerous questions about them. This series asks and answers some of those queries in a conversational, occasionally tongue-in-cheek but never condescending tone. Even when the text states there’s no proof the creatures are real, it… View →
Mini Makers - School Library Journal
Making and crafting miniature items using new or upcycled materials is what this series brings. Each title opens with a table of contents that mostly lists where to find each activity. The back matter includes where to find more information, followed by an “About the Author” section. Key View →
SLJ Review of Intro to Chemistry: Need to Know
Dive into the world of chemistry with the latest installment of the ‘Need to Know’ series from Bearport. Accessibility is at the forefront of these books, with text written at a second-grade reading level using a dyslexia- friendly font. Titles explore different chem- istry concepts,… View →
Booklist Review of Betty the Toolmaker!: Supersmart Crow
In 2002, two scientists devised a study testing whether crows could make tools. Placing a treat in a tiny bucket, the researchers lowered it into a tube. A flexible wire lay nearby. Using it, crows Betty and Abel tried to spear the food, without success. Given access to a straight wire… View →
SLJ Review of Happy Holidays!
As with other Blastoff books, this series is bright and visually attractive. A sight word list appears at the beginning to prepare readers. Every spread has a balance of concise text and large-scale images (many with labels). Photos show a diverse range of children and adults celebrating View →
SLJ Review of Animal Masterminds
A life-saving pig and an escaping octopus are among the highly intelligent animals introduced through a graphic novel format. Each book focuses on a single animal. Some use their brains to rescue humans from danger, while others, like tool-making crows, show their intelligence in a… View →
Booklist Review of Jack and the Beanstalk: Tale vs. Truth
The traditional story of “Jack and the Beanstalk” is intermittently, but purposefully, interrupted in this entry in the Tale vs. Truth series (6 titles). Conversational sidebars encourage young readers to consider scientific facts behind Jack’s outlandish adventure. When an enormous… View →