In 1858, the Hadrosaurus foulkii unearthed in New Jersey gained worldwide fame for being the most complete dinosaur skeleton ever found (at the time) and the first to be mounted (standing) for display. This volume in the North American Dinosaurs series (6 titles) pulls readers in with a narrative account of William Parker Foulke’s discovery of the duck-billed dino skeleton. Readers get a feel for how scientists piece together information and continually revise their opinions in response to new discoveries, such as with hadrosaur’s skull shape. Photos of dinosaur fossils and museum displays, digital renderings, and infographics illustrate this introductory...

With short, direct sentences and real-world examples, the volumes in the Daring and Dangerous series introduce reluctant or struggling readers to the high-interest topics of treacherous jobs and activities. Auto Racers focuses on the high number of accidents—and frequent fatalities—that befall race-car drivers; the many names included in the short text may cause some reader confusion. Sky Jumpers examines the people who jump out of planes, both professionally (Navy SEALS, smoke jumpers) or recreationally (BASE jumpers, skydivers). A variety of extreme weather events are on display in Storm Chasers, which shows how the tools people use to follow and document storms has changed over the...

This volume in the National Laboratories: Scientists in National Parks series (6 titles) digs deep into the historical and scientific significance of Carlsbad Caverns, found in the Chihuahuan Desert. Discovered first in 1898, the long, deep caverns have provided geologists, paleontologists, and microbiologists opportunities to study and discover new information about the Southwest. Boldly photo-illustrated with maps, period images, and pictures of scientists at work, the large-trim chapters take readers through the findings of the various scientists, underscoring the importance of each. The real selling points here are the variety of scientific fields showcased and the hands-on components; suggested comprehension...

Elementary-schoolers get a lively introduction to the scientific system of classification in this very visual installment in the Animals Have Classes Too! series (6 titles). After a brief description of classification, the text moves on to the star of the show: arthropods. Lots of full-color, high-resolution close-up photos of arthropods, all of which are labeled, spotlight the varied examples of life in this phylum, which includes insects, spiders, crustaceans, and millipedes. Because the book uses arthropods as a (very effective) example to focus more on how the classification system works, kids looking for in-depth info on the creatures could be...

Part of a new series, this picture book introduces Katie, a young girl who has Down syndrome. Readers follow Katie at home, at the grocery store, and at school, where she learns to write a new word. The book deftly explores Down syndrome, explaining that “Katie has a disability” that makes it “hard for her to learn new things,” while focusing on her accomplishments and the things that make her special. Oriented toward emerging readers, the book contains simple sentences with no more than 10 words per page. The upbeat tone and child-friendly language allow the target audience to gain...