(4) K-3 Zoom In on Backyard Animals series. This basic introduction to the common backyard bird offers cursory facts about appearance, habitat, food, and life cycle. Simple, choppy text for emergent readers is adequately reflected in the accompanying photos. The appended "Quick Stats" section offers oddly conceived size comparisons: "a cardinal is not quite as long as a basketball." Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Zoom In on Backyard Animals series. These basic introductions to backyard critters offer cursory facts about appearance, habitat, food, and life cycle. Simple, choppy texts for emergent readers are adequately reflected in the accompanying photos. The appended "Quick Stats" section offers oddly conceived size comparisons (e.g., "the largest grasshopper is longer than a baseball"). Glos., ind. Review covers these Zoom In on Backyard Animals titles: Bees, Earthworms, and Grasshoppers.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Spot Backyard Animals series. This slim easy reader opens with a photo glossary highlighting four frog-related vocabulary words, accompanied by instructions: "Look for these words and pictures as you read." The following spreads are organized around these keywords, with bright, close-up photos and a smattering of basic facts. The volume lacks substance but effectively reinforces the meaning of a small number of relevant terms. Also available in Spanish.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Backyard Birds series. Very simple, declarative sentences present basic information about these common birds (physical description, habitat, diet, nesting habits, etc.) and encourage aspiring birdwatchers to "look for [them] in your backyard!" Full-color, close-up action photographs of the birds are the real standouts in the otherwise slight volumes. A habitat map and two or three Common Core–related questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Pebble Plus: Backyard Birds titles: American Crows, Cardinals, Hummingbirds, and Robins.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Backyard Birds series. Very simple, declarative sentences present basic information about these common birds (physical description, habitat, diet, nesting habits, etc.) and encourage aspiring birdwatchers to "look for [them] in your backyard!" Full-color, close-up action photographs of the birds are the real standouts in the otherwise slight volumes. A habitat map and two or three Common Core–related questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Pebble Plus: Backyard Birds titles: American Crows, Cardinals, Hummingbirds, and Robins.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 1-3 Backyard Witch series. Illustrated by Deborah Marcero. In this second book, Ms. M, a diminutive, kindly witch with unexpected talents, makes her return as Jess's babysitter and serves as the catalyst for a reconciliation between Jess and her cuisine-obsessed chef mother. Culinary disasters, food jokes, and cookery-related back matter (including a grilled tofu recipe) round out the fun in this illustrated chapter book. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis

(3) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Backyard Critters series. New readers get an introduction to nonfiction with this attractive series about common backyard creepy-crawlies. The trim size is great for small hands, and every page includes a color photo and a short, clear sentence. The level-appropriate facts focus on creature essentials, including habitat, behavior, and food; a simple labeled diagram concludes each book. There are four other fall 2016 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Backyard Critters titles: Darting Dragonflies, Speedy Centipedes, Flashing Fireflies, and Slimy Snails.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Backyard Critters series. New readers get an introduction to nonfiction with this attractive series about common backyard creepy-crawlies. The trim size is great for small hands, and every page includes a color photo and a short, clear sentence. The level-appropriate facts focus on creature essentials, including habitat, behavior, and food; a simple labeled diagram concludes each book. There are four other fall 2016 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Backyard Critters titles: Darting Dragonflies, Speedy Centipedes, Flashing Fireflies, and Slimy Snails.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 In My Backyard series. These books about common backyard creatures provide basic information on offspring, appearance, habitat, diet, and predators. Although the writing feels stilted in places, the layouts are clean and inviting, with text, a small photo, and a set-off individual fact on one page and a crisp full-page photo on the facing page. A creative activity is included in each book. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these In My Backyard titles: Chipmunks, Squirrels, Mice[cf], and Moles.