(3) K-3 Animals with Super Powers series. In these browsable high-interest books, each double-page spread depicts a different animal (e.g., hummingbird, flying snake, bighorn sheep in Gravity; cuttlefish, three-banded armadillo, bird-dropping spider in Shape) in large, glossy color photos. Lively, vocabulary-controlled text describes how its adaptations help it to escape predators. Captions and bump-out facts provide additional points of interest. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review includes these Animals with Super Powers titles: Gravity-Defying Animals and Shape-Shifting Animals.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) K-3 Animals with Super Powers series. In these browsable high-interest books, each double-page spread depicts a different animal (e.g., hummingbird, flying snake, bighorn sheep in Gravity; cuttlefish, three-banded armadillo, bird-dropping spider in Shape) in large, glossy color photos. Lively, vocabulary-controlled text describes how its adaptations help it to escape predators. Captions and bump-out facts provide additional points of interest. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review includes these Animals with Super Powers titles: Gravity-Defying Animals and Shape-Shifting Animals.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Dog Heroes series. These series entries introduce two more types of "dog heroes": dogs that accompany Air Force paratroopers on their high-altitude jumps (Skydiving) and dogs trained to help international Coast Guard forces on rescue missions (Lifeguard). The volumes are accessible, with numerous photographs and interesting personal anecdotes rounding out the texts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Dog Heroes titles: Skydiving Dogs and Lifeguard Dogs.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 4-6 Scary Places series. After brief introductions, busy double-page spreads focus on specific sites, often with anecdotal reports of ghostly encounters. Though the hectic design--featuring photographs, illustrations, and text boxes set on blurry, eerie backgrounds--strains for spooky effect, the texts themselves focus (superficially) on facts while speculating on alleged paranormal activity. A world map showing the locations is appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Scary Places titles: Eerie Inns and Haunted Prisons.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Scary Places series. This series explores high-interest topics engagingly (if superficially). In each book, double-page spreads focus on eleven haunted sites. Although the presentation emphasizes the scariness of the material, the matter-of-fact texts read more like history lessons. The design--featuring photographs, illustrations, and text boxes atop blurry, eerie backgrounds--is busy and strains for spooky effect. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Scary Places titles: Spooky Schools and Creepy Stations.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) K-3 Even More SuperSized! series. Simple text, stock photos, and maps introduce the habitat, diet, life cycle, physical characteristics, and behavior of the featured animal. Despite some cheesy section titles, the clear comparisons ("With its arms stretched out, the octopus is about as long as a minivan") and straightforward text will help readers understand more difficult concepts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Even More Supersized titles: Giant Pacific Octopus, Walking Sticks, and Giant Weta.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Scary Places series. After brief introductions, busy double-page spreads focus on specific sites, often with anecdotal reports of ghostly encounters. Though the hectic design--featuring photographs, illustrations, and text boxes set on blurry, eerie backgrounds--strains for spooky effect, the texts themselves focus (superficially) on facts while speculating on alleged paranormal activity. A world map showing the locations is appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Scary Places titles: Tragic Theaters and Abandoned Amusement Parks.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Snug as a Bug: Where Bugs Live series. These books take readers inside creepy crawlies' hives, nests, holes, etc. to introduce the six featured species. There's some unspecific language, but the short bursts of one-sentence paragraphs and well-labeled, zoomed-in color photos will attract beginning readers. A "Science Lab" activity is included. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Snug as a Bug: Where Bugs Live titles: Inside the Ants' Nest, Inside the Bees' Hive, Inside the Worm's Hole, Inside the Spider's Web, Inside the Tarantula's Burrow, and Inside the Cricket's Burrow.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Snug as a Bug: Where Bugs Live series. These books take readers inside creepy crawlies' hives, nests, holes, etc. to introduce the six featured species. There's some unspecific language, but the short bursts of one-sentence paragraphs and well-labeled, zoomed-in color photos will attract beginning readers. A "Science Lab" activity is included. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Snug as a Bug: Where Bugs Live titles: Inside the Ants' Nest, Inside the Bees' Hive, Inside the Worm's Hole, Inside the Spider's Web, Inside the Tarantula's Burrow, and Inside the Cricket's Burrow.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 4-6 Special Ops series. This magazine-like overview briefly chronicles the Al Qaeda leader's legacy of terror. The superficial narrative begins with the destruction of the Twin Towers in 2001 before moving on to the hunt for bin Laden and near hits and misses in Afghanistan. The second half of the book focuses on the Navy Seals' successful 2011 mission. Lots of photos and sidebars provide additional context. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Scary Places series. After brief introductions, two-page spreads focus on specific haunted sites; each volume contains a map highlighting the locations. Horror-loving readers will find ample material for sleepovers or campfires in the clear text, but the design--featuring photographs, illustrations, and text boxes atop blurry, eerie backgrounds--is busy and strains for spooky effect. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Scary Places titles: Haunted Caves and Dark Mansions.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 Scary Places series. After brief introductions, double-page spreads focus on specific archaeological finds or sites; each volume concludes with a map showing the locations. Though the busy design--featuring photographs, illustrations, and text boxes atop blurry, eerie backgrounds--strains misleadingly for spooky effect, the text itself is informative and focuses on facts rather than speculated paranormal activity. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Scary Places titles: Lost Cities and Mummy Lairs.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) K-3 Animals with Super Powers series. This series focuses on creatures with unexpected "super powers." Some of the powers, such as using electricity to find prey, seem more "super" than others (e.g., having a transparent appearance). All of the traits--and how animals use them to their advantage--are explained using accessible text. Some explanations are less than thorough and might leave readers wanting more information. Vibrant photographs are included. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Animals with Super Powers titles: Glow-in-the-Dark Animals, Electric Animals, See-Through Animals, and Color-Changing Animals.

Reviewer: Betsy Murray

(4) K-3 Animals with Super Powers series. This series focuses on creatures with unexpected "super powers." Some of the powers, such as using electricity to find prey, seem more "super" than others (e.g., having a transparent appearance). All of the traits--and how animals use them to their advantage--are explained using accessible text. Some explanations are less than thorough and might leave readers wanting more information. Vibrant photographs are included. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Animals with Super Powers titles: Glow-in-the-Dark Animals, Electric Animals, See-Through Animals, and Color-Changing Animals.

Reviewer: Betsy Murray

(4) K-3 Animals with Super Powers series. This series focuses on creatures with unexpected "super powers." Some of the powers, such as using electricity to find prey, seem more "super" than others (e.g., having a transparent appearance). All of the traits--and how animals use them to their advantage--are explained using accessible text. Some explanations are less than thorough and might leave readers wanting more information. Vibrant photographs are included. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Animals with Super Powers titles: Glow-in-the-Dark Animals, Electric Animals, See-Through Animals, and Color-Changing Animals.

Reviewer: Betsy Murray

(4) K-3 Animal Loudmouths series. These volumes cover standard topics including habitat, young, homes, and defense. Focus on animal sounds is not as strong as the series title would suggest (though the concluding "Sound Check" charts help by summarizing scientific findings about the meaning of the different sounds). Large labeled photos, informative fact boxes, and clean design help enliven the bland main texts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Animal Loudmouths titles: Coyote, Hippo, Howler Monkey, Humpback Whale, and Hyena.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Animal Loudmouths series. These volumes cover standard topics including habitat, young, homes, and defense. Focus on animal sounds is not as strong as the series title would suggest (though the concluding "Sound Check" charts help by summarizing scientific findings about the meaning of the different sounds). Large labeled photos, informative fact boxes, and clean design help enliven the bland main texts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Animal Loudmouths titles: Coyote, Hippo, Howler Monkey, Humpback Whale, and Hyena.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Animal Loudmouths series. These volumes cover standard topics including habitat, young, homes, and defense. Focus on animal sounds is not as strong as the series title would suggest (though the concluding "Sound Check" charts help by summarizing scientific findings about the meaning of the different sounds). Large labeled photos, informative fact boxes, and clean design help enliven the bland main texts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Animal Loudmouths titles: Coyote, Hippo, Howler Monkey, Humpback Whale, and Hyena.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Animal Loudmouths series. This volume covers standard topics including habitat, young, homes, and defense. Focus on animal sounds is not as strong as the series title would suggest (though the concluding "Sound Check" charts help by summarizing scientific findings about the meaning of songs and calls). Large labeled photos, informative fact boxes, and clean design help enhance the bland main text. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Animal Loudmouths series. These volumes cover standard topics including habitat, young, homes, and defense. Focus on animal sounds is not as strong as the series title would suggest (though the concluding "Sound Check" charts help by summarizing scientific findings about the meaning of the different sounds). Large labeled photos, informative fact boxes, and clean design help enliven the bland main texts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Animal Loudmouths titles: Coyote, Hippo, Howler Monkey, Humpback Whale, and Hyena.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi