Guide/Reviews Database
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Heinemann
1,755 Reviews
(3)
K-3
Shaping Materials series.
Properties of materials are explored through clear explanatory text, photos, and activities. Both books look at materials that are elastic, those that don't spring back from stretching or squashing, and brittle materials that break under those conditions. The included activities are easy to perform and use everyday items. Inviting additions to primary-grade STEM curricula. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Shaping Materials titles: Squash It! and Stretch It!.
Reviewer: Janet Dawson
(3)
K-3
Shaping Materials series.
Properties of materials are explored through clear explanatory text, photos, and activities. Both books look at materials that are elastic, those that don't spring back from stretching or squashing, and brittle materials that break under those conditions. The included activities are easy to perform and use everyday items. Inviting additions to primary-grade STEM curricula. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Shaping Materials titles: Squash It! and Stretch It!.
Reviewer: Janet Dawson
(4)
4-6
Beyond the Headlines! series.
The U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and other policy changes are already affecting the accuracy of this book, but it still provides good background on important environmental issues from an international point of view; chapters touch on climate change, cleaner energy, the oceans, and deforestation. Color photos, charts, and fact boxes make for an engaging if busy layout. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.
Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt
(4)
4-6
Beyond the Headlines! series.
This volume touches on slavery, gender inequality, child soldiers, marriage, labor, discrimination against the disabled, refugees, and education access. Heavily illustrated with color photos and charts, the book does an adequate job of quickly introducing many issues and some of the relevant United Nations agencies. A starting place to explore the many world problems related to human rights. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.
Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt
(4)
K-3
Fabulous Animals series.
Both books begin with European settlers landing in Australia and seeing "strange animals" for the first time, then trying to determine what they are. Indigenous Australian legends are also touched on. The flow of information isn't always straightforward, but eye-catching photos and accessible texts give readers a sense of these creatures and their special features. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Fabulous Animals titles: The Story of the Kangaroo and The Story of the Platypus.
Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz
(4)
K-3
Fabulous Animals series.
Both books begin with European settlers landing in Australia and seeing "strange animals" for the first time, then trying to determine what they are. Indigenous Australian legends are also touched on. The flow of information isn't always straightforward, but eye-catching photos and accessible texts give readers a sense of these creatures and their special features. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Fabulous Animals titles: The Story of the Kangaroo and The Story of the Platypus.
Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz
(3)
4-6
Writing and Staging Plays series.
The series imparts a decent variety of information and focuses on producing one's own plays rather than analyzing professional productions. Touching on writing (e.g., characterization, dialogue) and production aspects (casting, lighting), the texts address young playwrights as well as directors and other theater roles. The clean page design includes informative sidebars, photos, and case studies; improv games appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Writing and Staging Plays titles: Writing and Staging Funny Plays[cf1 and Writing and Staging Real-Life Plays.
Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant
(3)
4-6
Writing and Staging Plays series.
The series imparts a decent variety of information and focuses on producing one's own plays rather than analyzing professional productions. Touching on writing (e.g., characterization, dialogue) and production aspects (casting, lighting), the texts address young playwrights as well as directors and other theater roles. The clean page design includes informative sidebars, photos, and case studies; improv games appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Writing and Staging Plays titles: Writing and Staging Funny Plays[cf1 and Writing and Staging Real-Life Plays.
Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant
(4)
K-3
All About Science series.
These books, designed for a primary-grade audience, superficially introduce the concepts of force and magnetism. Royston uses short sentences and simple language to explain the basics of these principles, while bland stock photos and easy experiments (interspersed throughout, with results appended) adequately illustrate and exemplify them. Both books include a quiz. Reading list. Glos., ind. Reviews cover the following All About Science titles: All About Forces and All About Magnetism.
Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg
(4)
K-3
All About Science series.
These books, designed for a primary-grade audience, superficially introduce the concepts of force and magnetism. Royston uses short sentences and simple language to explain the basics of these principles, while bland stock photos and easy experiments (interspersed throughout, with results appended) adequately illustrate and exemplify them. Both books include a quiz. Reading list. Glos., ind. Reviews cover the following All About Science titles: All About Forces and All About Magnetism.
Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg
(3)
K-3
From Farm to Fork series.
These two titles introduce the basics of food production, focusing on rice's long journey to the table and, more delicately, beef's source. Friendly, bright graphics with clean, colorful photographs and clear texts engage emergent readers. A table of contents, useful headings, and back matter introduce nonfiction conventions; the books' broad coverage could pave the way for further research. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following From Farm to Fork titles: How Do Animals Give Us Food? and Where Do Grains Come From?.
Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin
(3)
K-3
From Farm to Fork series.
These two titles introduce the basics of food production, focusing on rice's long journey to the table and, more delicately, beef's source. Friendly, bright graphics with clean, colorful photographs and clear texts engage emergent readers. A table of contents, useful headings, and back matter introduce nonfiction conventions; the books' broad coverage could pave the way for further research. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following From Farm to Fork titles: How Do Animals Give Us Food? and Where Do Grains Come From?.
Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin
(4)
K-3
To the Rescue! series.
These books for K–2 readers present a cursory global view of rescue services and workers. Police touches on how forces of many countries protect their communities. Sea describes methods and equipment for responding to emergencies at sea. The texts, although simplistic, could stimulate discussion and further research. Engaging photos on colorful pages add interest. Quiz appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following To the Rescue! titles: Police to the Rescue Around the World and Rescue at Sea.
Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg
(4)
K-3
To the Rescue! series.
These books for K–2 readers present a cursory global view of rescue services and workers. Police touches on how forces of many countries protect their communities. Sea describes methods and equipment for responding to emergencies at sea. The texts, although simplistic, could stimulate discussion and further research. Engaging photos on colorful pages add interest. Quiz appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following To the Rescue! titles: Police to the Rescue Around the World and Rescue at Sea.
Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg
(4)
YA
Impact of Technology series.
Technology offers new ways of manipulating sounds and rhythms to make music. Practice time is shortened; notation and editing are simplified. This volume surveys software technologies for music production, including historical background. The pages are busy with photos and captions, diagrams, text boxes, sidebars, and "case studies." A timeline provides perspective: from Edison's 1877 phonograph to the first robot-band performance in 2014. Reading list. Glos., ind.
Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo
(4)
YA
Impact of Technology series.
This survey takes a positive look at how technology has changed sports. A new understanding of biomechanics and diagnostics has helped athletes, including those with disabilities, improve performance. The accessible text covers advances in training, nutrition, medicine, and equipment. The pages are busy with photos and captions, diagrams, text boxes, sidebars, and "case studies." Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.
Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo
(4)
K-3
Animal Body Coverings series.
These two series entries provide basic information on the purpose and uses of shells and scales, as well as care of the coverings and how they grow. The information is interesting and the texts are easy to read, although transitions are sometimes awkward. The accompanying photos are clear close-ups, but labeling is inconsistent. A simple picture-identifying quiz is appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Animal Body Coverings titles: Why Do Snails and Other Animals Have Shells? and Why Do Snakes and Other Animals Have Scales?.
Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene
(4)
K-3
What Animals Eat series.
Each volume gives the basics of a type of animal diet, including where animals with that diet live, how they obtain food, and how they eat it. Relevant close-up photographs nicely supplement the rather jumpy texts of just a few sentences per page, creating a very simple but adequate series for new readers learning to process nonfiction. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following What Animals Eat titles: Carnivores and Herbivores.
Reviewer: Shoshana Flax
(4)
K-3
What Animals Eat series.
Each volume gives the basics of a type of animal diet, including where animals with that diet live, how they obtain food, and how they eat it. Relevant close-up photographs nicely supplement the rather jumpy texts of just a few sentences per page, creating a very simple but adequate series for new readers learning to process nonfiction. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following What Animals Eat titles: Carnivores and Herbivores.
Reviewer: Shoshana Flax
(4)
4-6
Earth Debates series.
The debates in these titles center on the benefits and/or problems associated with attempts to circumvent or remedy environmental depredation. The slim volumes don't get deeply detailed; Chambers's dispassionate, generally even-handed approach is realistic about the lack of clear answers to these dilemmas. Relevant photos, graphs, sidebars, and "eyewitness" accounts supplement the narratives. Each book includes a quiz. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Earth Debates titles: Are Humans Damaging the Atmosphere? and How Effective is Recycling?.
Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin
1,755 reviews