(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Cool Makerspace Gadgets & Gizmos series. This short volume introduces makerspaces and coding, providing instructions for six projects that use either Scratch or Makey Makeys. Photographs accompany clear, reproducible instructions, and brightly colored backgrounds and lively fonts create an engaging aesthetic. With emphasis on how over why, the book encourages interest in tinkering. Includes tips for "Makerspace Maintenance." Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) YA A thorough, clear introduction to the concepts of fandom and fanworks, aimed primarily at those new to the subculture. DiPiazza uses plenty of examples from--and quotes from members of--a variety of fandoms, and she doesn't shy away from discussing controversies such as the misogynistic harassment of Gamergate. Black-and-green graphics and relevant photos break up the text. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sara Palacios. This addition to the Girls Who Code book franchise introduces younger kids to coding fundamentals in an unusual setting: the beach. Young vacationer Pearl enlists robot Pascal to help build a sandcastle with basic concepts of sequences, loops, and if-then-else. The child-friendly text couples well with the simple, sunny art, rendered digitally in combination with gouache and acrylic paintings. A final guide reinforces the programming lessons.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) 4-6 News Literacy series. In these brief, textbook-like overviews of media literacy, coverage is largely anodyne. Still, the topics have become increasingly important, and this series offers a good jumping-off point for upper-elementary students to think critically about what they read and see in the news, advertisements, and on social media. Each text includes well-considered assignments for further research, thought, and discussion. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these News Literacy titles: Advertising Overload, The Fake News Phenomenon, How Journalists Work, Uncovering Bias in the News, Why News Matters, and Your Personalized Internet.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 4-6 News Literacy series. In these brief, textbook-like overviews of media literacy, coverage is largely anodyne. Still, the topics have become increasingly important, and this series offers a good jumping-off point for upper-elementary students to think critically about what they read and see in the news, advertisements, and on social media. Each text includes well-considered assignments for further research, thought, and discussion. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these News Literacy titles: Advertising Overload, The Fake News Phenomenon, How Journalists Work, Uncovering Bias in the News, Why News Matters, and Your Personalized Internet.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 4-6 News Literacy series. In these brief, textbook-like overviews of media literacy, coverage is largely anodyne. Still, the topics have become increasingly important, and this series offers a good jumping-off point for upper-elementary students to think critically about what they read and see in the news, advertisements, and on social media. Each text includes well-considered assignments for further research, thought, and discussion. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these News Literacy titles: Advertising Overload, The Fake News Phenomenon, How Journalists Work, Uncovering Bias in the News, Why News Matters, and Your Personalized Internet.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 4-6 News Literacy series. In these brief, textbook-like overviews of media literacy, coverage is largely anodyne. Still, the topics have become increasingly important, and this series offers a good jumping-off point for upper-elementary students to think critically about what they read and see in the news, advertisements, and on social media. Each text includes well-considered assignments for further research, thought, and discussion. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these News Literacy titles: Advertising Overload, The Fake News Phenomenon, How Journalists Work, Uncovering Bias in the News, Why News Matters, and Your Personalized Internet.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 4-6 News Literacy series. In these brief, textbook-like overviews of media literacy, coverage is largely anodyne. Still, the topics have become increasingly important, and this series offers a good jumping-off point for upper-elementary students to think critically about what they read and see in the news, advertisements, and on social media. Each text includes well-considered assignments for further research, thought, and discussion. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these News Literacy titles: Advertising Overload, The Fake News Phenomenon, How Journalists Work, Uncovering Bias in the News, Why News Matters, and Your Personalized Internet.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 4-6 News Literacy series. In these brief, textbook-like overviews of media literacy, coverage is largely anodyne. Still, the topics have become increasingly important, and this series offers a good jumping-off point for upper-elementary students to think critically about what they read and see in the news, advertisements, and on social media. Each text includes well-considered assignments for further research, thought, and discussion. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these News Literacy titles: Advertising Overload, The Fake News Phenomenon, How Journalists Work, Uncovering Bias in the News, Why News Matters, and Your Personalized Internet.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 First Facts: All About Media series. These volumes provide very basic (sometimes confusing or incomplete) information about various print- and digital media and research methods. Source gives examples (e.g., books, internet, primary sources) while the meatier Opinions helps readers become critical consumers ("Ask questions to figure out the media maker's purpose"). Helpful sidebars appear throughout, and stock photos show kids working in the library and elsewhere. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Facts: All About Media titles: Fact, Fiction, and Opinions and What's Your Source?

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 First Facts: All About Media series. These volumes provide very basic (sometimes confusing or incomplete) information about various print- and digital media and research methods. Source gives examples (e.g., books, internet, primary sources) while the meatier Opinions helps readers become critical consumers ("Ask questions to figure out the media maker's purpose"). Helpful sidebars appear throughout, and stock photos show kids working in the library and elsewhere. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Facts: All About Media titles: Fact, Fiction, and Opinions and What's Your Source?

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: Digital Makers series. Part of a high-interest series about digital presence, these volumes broadly outline the steps to getting started with online creation. Each text focuses primarily on generalities and style over technical detail and provides several real-world examples and resources. Cheerful, patterned graphics and bright photographs complement the appealing subject matter. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Digital Makers titles: Create Your Own Blog and Design and Build Your Own Website.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: Digital Makers series. Part of a high-interest series about digital presence, these volumes broadly outline the steps to getting started with online creation. Each text focuses primarily on generalities and style over technical detail and provides several real-world examples and resources. Cheerful, patterned graphics and bright photographs complement the appealing subject matter. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Digital Makers titles: Create Your Own Blog and Design and Build Your Own Website.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) 4-6 Savvy: Girlology series. A series of infographics creates a snapshot of current social-media use, leveraging its prevalence among tweens to discuss pitfalls such as hacking, cyberbullying, and phone addiction. A final discussion of positive uses provides a counterbalance to the overall cautionary tone. The tables, graphs, timelines, trivia bits, and photographs of a diverse set of tween girls create a visually engaging, magazine-style volume.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) YA This enthusiastic history of Google starts with Larry Page and Sergey Brin as Stanford doctoral candidates then clearly and comprehensively traces the company's growth and diversification. Emphasizing Google's motto, "Don't be evil," the conversational text celebrates the company's revolutionary products, business model, and work culture. This book is timely, given Google's pervasiveness. Photographs, archival screenshots, and sidebar anecdotes are scattered throughout. Bib.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) 4-6 Translated by Kate Willsky. Illustrated by Guillaume Plantevin. Over six thematic sections, this enlightening French import suitable for kids and adults explains the differences between some commonly confused things (crocodile and alligator, bacteria and virus, clementine and mandarin, etc.). The text is peppy ("What's round, orange, and tangy on the inside? Clementines--and mandarins!"), and each contrasted pair is given a double-page spread illustrated with decorous vignettes set against Pantone-like color screens. Ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Project Code series. Illustrated by Glen McBeth. These books include hands-on tutorials, available for download, to develop basic Scratch coding skills needed to create stories, animation, games, and music. Readers learn about underlying concepts such as binary instructions, loops, and repeats, and are encouraged to go beyond directives for deeper understanding. Accessible descriptions, short sections, and an appealing graphic layout recommend this series for self-guided learning. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Project Code titles: Create an Animation with Scratch, Create Computer Games with Scratch, Create Music with Scratch, and Create Your Own Story with Scratch.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) 4-6 Project Code series. Illustrated by Glen McBeth. These books include hands-on tutorials, available for download, to develop basic Scratch coding skills needed to create stories, animation, games, and music. Readers learn about underlying concepts such as binary instructions, loops, and repeats, and are encouraged to go beyond directives for deeper understanding. Accessible descriptions, short sections, and an appealing graphic layout recommend this series for self-guided learning. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Project Code titles: Create an Animation with Scratch, Create Computer Games with Scratch, Create Music with Scratch, and Create Your Own Story with Scratch.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) 4-6 Project Code series. Illustrated by Glen McBeth. These books include hands-on tutorials, available for download, to develop basic Scratch coding skills needed to create stories, animation, games, and music. Readers learn about underlying concepts such as binary instructions, loops, and repeats, and are encouraged to go beyond directives for deeper understanding. Accessible descriptions, short sections, and an appealing graphic layout recommend this series for self-guided learning. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Project Code titles: Create an Animation with Scratch, Create Computer Games with Scratch, Create Music with Scratch, and Create Your Own Story with Scratch.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) 4-6 Project Code series. Illustrated by Glen McBeth. These books include hands-on tutorials, available for download, to develop basic Scratch coding skills needed to create stories, animation, games, and music. Readers learn about underlying concepts such as binary instructions, loops, and repeats, and are encouraged to go beyond directives for deeper understanding. Accessible descriptions, short sections, and an appealing graphic layout recommend this series for self-guided learning. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Project Code titles: Create an Animation with Scratch, Create Computer Games with Scratch, Create Music with Scratch, and Create Your Own Story with Scratch.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin