PreS-Gr 2–These titles begin with a photo glossary and list of high-frequency words. The texts provide a predictable, easy-to-follow pattern. Attractive photos fill the pages. Labels identify glossary terms. The activity page at the end of each book is useful for the classroom. There are discussion questions, teacher read-alouds, and ideas for writing or art projects, as well as encouragement to reread the book. Students can create a poster about recycling or a chart about pushes and pulls to demonstrate their understanding. Make It Move depicts children from different ethnic and racial backgrounds pushing swings, tugging on ropes, or rolling...

PreS-Gr 2–Emerging readers are introduced to new vocabulary and learn how to be a good citizen. Each title begins with a photo glossary and a list of high-frequency words. Double-page photos are accompanied by a single sentence, which features one of the words from the glossary and an arrow pointing to its depiction on the page. For example, I Can Help includes a photo of a white girl with blonde hair pushing a book cart in a library. The text states, “I can help with the books,” and the word books appears again with an arrow directed to the books...

K-Gr 2–This series provides vocabulary lists, extension activities, and “After Reading Activity” suggestions that are tailored to each title. General “Before Reading” tips are the same in all of the books. Short chunks of text are supported by photos of landforms and weather. Diagrams help to illustrate concepts, such as the water cycle or tectonic plate movement. In each book, directions for a hands-on activity such as building a rain gauge are included. The “After Reading Activity” suggestions encourage children to try tasks like logging the hours of sunlight for a week or tracking the weather forecast. A photo glossary...

Gr 4-9–Learn about the fierce women who compete against the best and win. Snowboarder Chloe Kim and gymnast Simone Biles have set new standards in their sports. Elena Delle Donne and Megan Rapinoe are both amazing athletes who advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Naomi Osaka’s the first Japanese tennis player to win a Grand Slam title. Many of the athletes, including Australian surfer Stephanie Gilmore, are vocal about supporting pay equity. The biographies have just enough information for reports. Reading comprehension questions and suggested activities allow readers to think more deeply about the lives of these influential women. VERDICT If you...

Gr 1-4–This series aims to empower children to find solutions to societal problems. Each page features a short expository paragraph. The text closely examines the true stories of current, young activists. Each book begins with “Before and During Reading Activities” and vocabulary terms. This allows readers to associate the information with previous knowledge. The text concludes with tips on how readers can get involved, a glossary, an index, a “Text-Dependent Questions” section, and extension activities. The colorful photographs include children and teens who are BIPOC. ­VERDICT A fantastic series for teaching social issues, and a wonderful source of inspiration for...