Kids who have torn through dinosaur books are the ideal audience for this introduction to prehistoric sea creatures, part of the Mega-Cool Megafauna series (4 titles). Photos of fossils and illustrations of aquatic megafauna (almost all labeled) fill the splashy pages of this volume, and the array of creatures is impressive: beyond the typical plesiosaur and megalodon, this book also profiles ancient sea cows, whales, fish, and turtles that dwarf their contemporary descendants. Occasionally, the layout makes the text a bit hard to follow, and readers might need some adult help with a few confusing descriptions, but the high-interest topic...

The term cities may immediately conjure up soaring skyscrapers and bustling streets, but they come in plenty of other forms as well. This book, part of the Hidden, Lost, and Discovered series (4 titles), takes readers around the world to investigate various “underground” cities, from the familiar (elegant, stone-carved Petra) to the slightly more obscure (RÉSO, the vast series of tunnels designed to keep Montreal residents out of the cold). Stunning scenic photos establish the varied settings, including Turkey and China, with following shots focused on details and inhabitants. Each section incorporates a location map, occasional vocabulary help, tidbits of...

While humor abounds as Bud sets out to find his father during the Great Depression in the Newbery Award–winner Bud, Not Buddy, there are also plenty of historical details for young readers to unpack. This selection from the Nonfiction Companions series (6 titles) helps students understand key terms, events, and influences on the setting, time period, and plot. The descriptive text begins with a short overview of the novel’s author, Christopher Paul Curtis, his inspiration for Bud, and how his hometown of Flint, Michigan, became the novel’s setting. Successive chapters focus on historical elements in the novel, from soup kitchens,...

Gr 3-8–Each title in this series introduces eight to 10 animals in terms of their potential danger to humans, other animals, and the environment. A few sentences describe the threats each animal poses, with selected statistics. A “danger meter” rates each one from low to high, and the chosen animals represent a wide spectrum. Invasive species like cane toads receive high danger ratings; mosquitoes rank higher due to the human deaths they cause. Great white sharks are ranked medium high because they “only bite five to ten people a year.” Animals that might look scary, such as turkey vultures and...

Gr 1-4–Readers are introduced to six African Americans who were pioneers in their fields. Brief overviews of their lives are provided, which include their experiences with discrimination and prejudice. For example, “Some people treated Bayard Rustin unfairly because he was gay, but this did not stop him.” However, most of the narratives are upbeat. Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s success in genealogy is highlighted; Shirley Chisholm’s efforts in Congress to improve lives are examined; Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s career as a gospel and popular musician is chronicled. The vivid illustrations feature close-ups of the subjects as well as action scenes; the illustrations...