(3) K-3 Jump into Science series. Illustrated by Carla Golembe. This well-written, detailed description of the honeybee is given added appeal by the colorful, full-page gouache illustrations of a girl observing bees and drawing diagrams of them. The six-week-long life of the worker bee is depicted, from the egg through a series of working stages to her final task of collecting nectar. An activity ("Dance like a Honeybee") is appended.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Jump into Science series. Illustrated by Nancy Woodman. This volume presents detailed information about how volcanoes form and why they erupt. Busy illustrations detract from the clear text, with cartoons overlaying pastel and watercolor drawings interspersed with small photographs. A world map and simple suggested activity are more helpful.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) K-3 Jump into Science series. Illustrated by Carla Golembe. This book provides a clear and detailed description of the sun, including its composition, importance to life on Earth, and place in the solar system. Simple comparisons help readers visualize the sun's actual size and distance from Earth. Bright gouache illustrations featuring two children and their cat effectively combine whimsy with clarity. A simple suggested activity is included.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(4) K-3 Jump into Science series. Illustrated by Liisa Chauncy Guida. Tomecek includes a great deal of basic information about the moon in straightforward explanations understandable to young children. He starts with observations and myths, then moves to scientific explanations for craters, moon surface conditions, and earth-moon-sun spatial relationships. The colorful cartoonlike illustrations, featuring a friendly cat and firefly, are appealing but do little to aid in scientific understanding.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 Jump into Science series. Illustrated by Bonnie Matthews. In this colorful and informative introduction to coral reefs and related flora and fauna, Earle highlights taxonomy, along with age-appropriate discussions of coral life cycles and the ecology of the reef systems. The tropic-hued ink and gouache illustrations are appealing, though busy--it's sometimes difficult to read labeled plants and animals.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 Jump into Science series. Illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa. Some of the many topics covered in this introduction to stars include why we can't see them during the day, classification, and relationships between brightness, size, and distance from earth. Tomecek's text skillfully presents appropriate information to directly address common misconceptions. However, the appealing but misleading artwork and text design undermine the carefully constructed explanations.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Jump into Science series. Illustrated by Carla Golembe. This well-written, detailed description of the honeybee is given added appeal by the colorful, full-page gouache illustrations of a girl observing and drawing diagrams of the bees. The six-week-long life of the worker bee is depicted, from the egg through a series of working stages to her final task of collecting nectar. An activity ("Dance like a Honeybee") is appended.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg