Reviews
A noteworthy review of Weird-but-True Facts from Booklist on April 1, 2013
Pop-eyed cartoon figures, loud colors, and big, emphatic type crank up the hype for an assortment of quirky presidential abilities, characteristics, pastimes, and firsts. Though some will astonish readers of any age—Garfield, for instance, supposedly could write simultaneously in… View →
A noteworthy review of Math in Sports from Booklist on April 1, 2013
Basketball is more than putting the ball in the hoop, and much of it involves math, as this introduction points out. Coverage includes the dimensions of courts, points and percentages, graphs, time management, and more, with real game sample problems for readers to try or teachers to… View →
A noteworthy review of World Traditions from School Library Journal on April 1, 2013
Readers are introduced to the different beliefs and holiday celebrations of people around the globe. For example, Birthday covers events such as quinceaneras and Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs. The sections are concise (usually one spread or a single page) and arranged by countries or… View →
A noteworthy review of World Traditions from Booklist on April 1, 2013
In this title in the World Traditions series, we’re celebrating birthday customs around the globe. In Ghana, birthday boys and girls eat oto for breakfast, a mix of sweet potatoes and onions, along with hard-boiled eggs. Later they play a game called ampe, which involves clapping… View →
A noteworthy review of Greek Mythology from Booklist on January 1, 2013
Keeping up with the multitude of characters from Greek mythology can be a handful. Illustrated with colorful digital artwork and accompanied by a map of ancient Greece, these entries in the Greek Mythology series give children a brief, age-appropriate overview of some of… View →
A noteworthy review of Simple Economics from School Library Journal on December 1, 2012
This series follows two fictional entrepreneurs, Tomas and Mia, as they learn about money through their successful lemonade stand. The information is solid and the texts are clearly written. The books are presented as separate stories, but a complete picture is formed when they are read… View →
A noteworthy review of American Tall Tales from School Library Journal on December 1, 2012
York introduces four American folk heroes with storytelling flair, accompanied by eye-catching illustrations. The highlights of the characters’ stories are recounted in a folksy vernacular, well suited to helping readers imagine the oral tradition from which the tales came. The… View →
A noteworthy review of Simple Measurement from Booklist on December 1, 2012
Vogel addresses the topic of measuring volume with a number of kid-friendly examples. Pouring milk? Taking medicine? Filling the backyard pool? Well, then you’re participating in figuring out volume. On a typical spread, the horizontal trim size is halved with one bright photograph View →
A noteworthy review of Good Manners from School Library Journal on December 1, 2012
Bright double-page sections combine advice about politeness with large, often full-page illustrations. Ingalls emphasizes that manners are based upon respect and consideration for others, and her suggestions for developing good habits are clear and understandable. Occasional jokes and… View →
A noteworthy review of Greek Mythology from School Library Journal on December 1, 2012
Although Temple tries to summarize several myths in connection to each of the selected gods in a way that will hold the attention of readers, these complex tales are sometimes overly simplified. For example, In Hera, the author states that Heracles was brought to Olympus to live; most… View →
A noteworthy review of Step-By-Step Experiments from Library Media Connection on October 1, 2012
Elementary students will enjoy this series as it is packed with fun and easy experiments. Each volume introduces a seven step scientific method: research, question, guess, gather, experiment, review, and conclusion. Students can then engage the method through four easy-to-complete… View →
A noteworthy review of Folktales from Around the World from Children's Bookwatch on October 1, 2012
‘The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal: An Indian Folktale’ is a crafty teaching tale from India. Wise children will listen and watch and learn its teachings well. Once a tiger was locked in a bamboo cage. When he saw a Brahman, or holy man, walking by, he appealed to his… View →