(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Women in Sports series. These books offer brief introductions to female leaders in professional basketball (Parker), golf (Wie), and soccer (Wambach). A timeline footer carries readers through the pages as large color photographs illustrate the athletes in action. While the brief, large-font texts are designed with early readers in mind, fans will find them skimpy in content. Common Core critical thinking questions appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Pebble Plus: Women in Sports titles: Candace Parker, Michelle Wie, and Abby Wambach.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) K-3 What's Beneath series. Illustrated by Andrés Lozano. A direct-address text with short sentences and not-too-challenging vocabulary takes readers on an underground tour to introduce civil-engineering technologies, from underground power cables and subways to church crypts and skyscraper foundations. Oriented sideways, the uncluttered spreads include helpful illustrations, diagrams, insets, cross-sections, and "Did You Know?" sidebars. "Common Core Critical Thinking" questions are appended. Reading list. Glos.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Creepy Crawlers series. This series focuses on physical appearance, habitat, eating habits, and life cycle. Each book presents its limited information in easy-to-read text with hints of sensationalism ("Bam! Tarantulas use their legs to grab bugs"), while large, glossy color photographs of varying quality, some with well-placed labels, capture the drama. Vocabulary is suited to beginning readers; content is best for insect enthusiasts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Creepy Crawlers titles: Cockroaches, Scorpions, and Tarantulas.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters