These titles introduce young readers to important women in the fields of technology and science. Each contains an overview of the early life and how her math and science interests influenced the subject’s future career. All had to overcome sexim and in some cases, such as Katherine Johnson’s, the added burden of racism, as they made their way through college and careers in traditionally male fields. The scope is limited, but pertinent points are presented, and the text and illustrations appropriately introduce young readers to these influential women. VERDICT These well-done introductions to important female scientists should appeal to young...

Readers who love nature and big machines will find much to enjoy in this series. Amphibious Vehicles includes passenger vehicles that use engines on land and propellers or water jet propulsion in the water, like WWII-era Duck vehicles and amphitanks as well as passenger cars that aren’t in mass production. Practical and fun uses are outlined in ATVs. Dirt bikes can be ridden on all kinds of terrain and have different types of engines with varying levels of power. Fun facts, like how Jeep owners can download an app that gives them achievement badges, will excite young readers. When appropriate,...

A variety of common professions are explored in this series, which could appeal to readers up to the age of eight. Builders, firefighters, veterinarians, and more are depicted as essential community helpers, with simple sentences about how each worker contributes to the greater good. Some of the text appears inside a drawing of a mobile phone screen, which may resonate with readers who use tablets or phones to access information at home. A blend of charming illustrations and full-color photographs, all of which affirm diversity, are appropriately spaced between text. The definition of “community helper” is provided at the beginning...

Each title begins with a table of contents followed by a picture glossary with a photo from the book and a word from the text. The glossary engages readers and is repeated at the end of the text with the words defined and used in sentences. Comprehension and critical thinking questions and an index round out the back matter. Children of different skin tones populate each title. The background for each page is a color photograph related to the symbol, and one to two simple sentences are superimposed on it. A computer-generated car graphic appears intermittently throughout the series, perhaps...

With attention-grabbing introductions and striking photographs, this series gives readers plenty of information to understand both sides of major debates. Covering facts, court cases, laws, opinions, important milestones, and larger political contexts, the books make the impact of these issue clear. While primarily focused on the United States, each volume does offer a look at more global views. The ­layout and design of these books really make them stand out, with formats that vary from page to page. Information is presented in a variety of ways—detailed captions, graphs, maps, charts, statistics, illustrations—and traditional blocks of text rarely run more than...