(4) 1-3 Hound Town Chronicles series. Illustrated by David Malan. Three-Legged, Trapped!, and Newfie tell stories of fully trained working dogs that save characters from serious danger. Indy follows a puppy through his first year, learning basic commands before his specialized guide-dog training. Each purposeful story focuses on the dog's remarkable skills and interactions with humans. Static but cheery illustrations accompany the texts and discussion questions are appended. There are four other spring 2017 books in this series. Glos. Review covers these Hound Town Chronicles titles: Three-Legged Hero: A Military Dog Story, Newfie to the Rescue!: A Lifeguard Dog Story, Trapped!: A Search-and-Rescue Dog Story, and My Indy: A Guide Dog Story.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 1-3 Hound Town Chronicles series. Illustrated by Tom Connell. Three-Legged, Trapped!, and Newfie tell stories of fully trained working dogs that save characters from serious danger. Indy follows a puppy through his first year, learning basic commands before his specialized guide-dog training. Each purposeful story focuses on the dog's remarkable skills and interactions with humans. Static but cheery illustrations accompany the texts and discussion questions are appended. There are four other spring 2017 books in this series. Glos. Review covers these Hound Town Chronicles titles: Three-Legged Hero: A Military Dog Story, Newfie to the Rescue!: A Lifeguard Dog Story, Trapped!: A Search-and-Rescue Dog Story, and My Indy: A Guide Dog Story.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 They Don't Belong: Tracking Invasive Species series. After a destructive fire ant species was introduced into Texas, the species proliferated and damaged the environment. Vivid photos show stinging, venomous ant hordes attacking people, animals, crops, and electrical equipment. A brief, accessible text is supported by lots of crisp photographs on every page; graphic photos of swarming ants and dead animals are included. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Police Search & Rescue! series. Introductions to types of law enforcement careers, these books also document real-life anecdotes of heroic officers who have risked their own lives to save others. Color photos accompany clear, reluctant-reader-friendly texts to help tell the exciting stories of on-the-job courage and quick thinking. A section on equipment used by each agency is appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Police Search & Rescue! titles: Highway Patrol Officers, Air-Sea Rescue Officers, City Cops, K-9 Cops, Sheriffs and Deputies, and State Troopers.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Police Search & Rescue! series. Introductions to types of law enforcement careers, these books also document real-life anecdotes of heroic officers who have risked their own lives to save others. Color photos accompany clear, reluctant-reader-friendly texts to help tell the exciting stories of on-the-job courage and quick thinking. A section on equipment used by each agency is appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Police Search & Rescue! titles: Highway Patrol Officers, Air-Sea Rescue Officers, City Cops, K-9 Cops, Sheriffs and Deputies, and State Troopers.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Police Search & Rescue! series. Introductions to types of law enforcement careers, these books also document real-life anecdotes of heroic officers who have risked their own lives to save others. Color photos accompany clear, reluctant-reader-friendly texts to help tell the exciting stories of on-the-job courage and quick thinking. A section on equipment used by each agency is appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Police Search & Rescue! titles: Highway Patrol Officers, Air-Sea Rescue Officers, City Cops, K-9 Cops, Sheriffs and Deputies, and State Troopers.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 American Places: From Vision to Reality series. This series highlights six of America's most famous and symbolic landmarks, touching on their history, the individuals involved in their creation, the engineering challenges faced, and the eventual construction and completion of these national icons. Sidebars and plentiful illustrations and photographs add clarity to the succinct, direct texts; historical images of construction are especially appealing. Websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following American Places: From Vision to Reality titles: The Golden Gate Bridge, The Statue of Liberty, The White House, Colonial Williamsburg, The Empire State Building, and The Hoover Dam.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 American Places: From Vision to Reality series. This series highlights six of America's most famous and symbolic landmarks, touching on their history, the individuals involved in their creation, the engineering challenges faced, and the eventual construction and completion of these national icons. Sidebars and plentiful illustrations and photographs add clarity to the succinct, direct texts; historical images of construction are especially appealing. Websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following American Places: From Vision to Reality titles: The Golden Gate Bridge, The Statue of Liberty, The White House, Colonial Williamsburg, The Empire State Building, and The Hoover Dam.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 American Places: From Vision to Reality series. This series highlights six of America's most famous and symbolic landmarks, touching on their history, the individuals involved in their creation, the engineering challenges faced, and the eventual construction and completion of these national icons. Sidebars and plentiful illustrations and photographs add clarity to the succinct, direct texts; historical images of construction are especially appealing. Websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following American Places: From Vision to Reality titles: The Golden Gate Bridge, The Statue of Liberty, The White House, Colonial Williamsburg, The Empire State Building, and The Hoover Dam.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Dog Heroes series. From protecting against home intruders to alerting owners of fire, true incidents of canine bravery on behalf of their humans are described in engaging text. The stories focus on four particular dogs, but the installment emphasizes that loyalty and bravery are not breed dependent: any dog can potentially be a capable companion and perhaps even a lifesaver. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 Fire Fight! The Bravest series. This series profiles some of the more unusual firefighting specialties, making the volumes useful additions to library collections. Each book covers recent fires or emergencies, the specialized training required to join the force, the risks, and the necessary gear. Dramatic photos of the firefighters in action (a few women are included) add to these accessible titles' appeal for second and third graders. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. This review covers these Fire Fight! The Bravest titles: City Firefighters, Hotshots, Marine Firefighters, Smokejumpers, and Aviation Firefighters.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 Fire Fight! The Bravest series. This series profiles some of the more unusual firefighting specialties, making the volumes useful additions to library collections. Each book covers recent fires or emergencies, the specialized training required to join the force, the risks, and the necessary gear. Dramatic photos of the firefighters in action (a few women are included) add to these accessible titles' appeal for second and third graders. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. This review covers these Fire Fight! The Bravest titles: City Firefighters, Hotshots, Marine Firefighters, Smokejumpers, and Aviation Firefighters.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 Fire Fight! The Bravest series. This series profiles some of the more unusual firefighting specialties, making the volumes useful additions to library collections. Each book covers recent fires or emergencies, the specialized training required to join the force, the risks, and the necessary gear. Dramatic photos of the firefighters in action (a few women are included) add to these accessible titles' appeal for second and third graders. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. This review covers these Fire Fight! The Bravest titles: City Firefighters, Hotshots, Marine Firefighters, Smokejumpers, and Aviation Firefighters.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(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

(3) K-3 Fire Fight! The Bravest series. This series profiles some of the more unusual firefighting specialties, making the volumes useful additions to library collections. Each book covers recent fires or emergencies, the specialized training required to join the force, the risks, and the necessary gear. Dramatic photos of the firefighters in action (a few women are included) add to these accessible titles' appeal for second and third graders. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. This review covers these Fire Fight! The Bravest titles: City Firefighters, Hotshots, Marine Firefighters, Smokejumpers, and Aviation Firefighters.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 4-6 Dog Heroes series. The work of "dog heroes" includes assisting military personnel (Soldiers) and first responders (Ground Zero). Talented dogs can also overcome physical challenges (Disabled) and compete in surfing competitions (Surf), both of which inspire humans to face obstacles. The volumes are accessible, with numerous photographs and personal anecdotes rounding out the texts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers this Dog Heroes title: Disabled Dogs, Ground Zero Dogs, Soldiers' Dogs, and Surf Dog Miracles.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) 4-6 Dog Heroes series. The work of "dog heroes" includes assisting military personnel (Soldiers) and first responders (Ground Zero). Talented dogs can also overcome physical challenges (Disabled) and compete in surfing competitions (Surf), both of which inspire humans to face obstacles. The volumes are accessible, with numerous photographs and personal anecdotes rounding out the texts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers this Dog Heroes title: Disabled Dogs, Ground Zero Dogs, Soldiers' Dogs, and Surf Dog Miracles.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Work of Heroes: First Responders in Action series. These books cover the training and responsibilities of animal rescue workers. The page design is uninspired, but the photos enhance the accessible texts, which include details about routine as well as extraordinary incidents, notable rescues, and firsthand accounts. A final spread covers equipment. Readers interested in working with animals will find these volumes useful resources. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Work of Heroes titles: Animal Control Officers to the Rescue and Wildlife Rehabilitators to the Rescue.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Work of Heroes: First Responders in Action series. These books cover the training and responsibilities of animal rescue workers. The page design is uninspired, but the photos enhance the accessible texts, which include details about routine as well as extraordinary incidents, notable rescues, and firsthand accounts. A final spread covers equipment. Readers interested in working with animals will find these volumes useful resources. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Work of Heroes titles: Animal Control Officers to the Rescue and Wildlife Rehabilitators to the Rescue.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 4-6 Dog Heroes series. These series entries introduce two types of "dog heroes": in Science, dogs are studied to aid beneficial scientific discoveries and innovations; Shelter discusses how unwanted dogs can go on to do remarkable things for humans after they're adopted. The volumes are accessible, with numerous photographs and interesting personal anecdotes rounding out the texts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review cover these Dog Heroes titles: Science Dogs and Shelter Dogs.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen