Books in the Science Starters series (6 titles) present basic STEM concepts that are fundamental to understanding environmental issues. The short, smoothly written sentences that make up each text communicate the basic ideas clearly and often reinforce them. Each double-page spread introduces a topic by discussing it within the main text and illustrating it in color with a usefully captioned photo as well as a diagram or another graphic presentation of a relevant subtopic. In addition to the glossary and further-reading list, the back matter includes a brief multiple-choice quiz that challenges readers to recall what they’ve read. Biodiversity encompasses topics such as the value of healthy habitats and ecosystems, the forces that threaten them, and how individuals can help preserve them. Attractive introductory books on timely topics.

An attractive and informative series that teaches young readers about climate change, energy, natural resources, biodi- versity, pollution, and waste. Written in an engaging and easy-to-understand style, the books use colorful illustrations, photos, icons, and simple language to explain the various aspects of environmental preserva- tion. Each spread covers one aspect of the main topic, using a few short paragraphs and plenty of text boxes. A quiz at the back of each book is ideal for teachers and read- ers who want to reinforce the learned mate- rial. VERDICT An attractive series with some common topics, such as climate change and pollution, but also more unique topics, such as biodiversity, that is highly worth considering.