Boxfish

Gr 4–6—Solid, well-organized writing and effective use of photographs introduce some particularly unusual sea creatures. Physical features and behaviors of each animal are covered with a nice balance between straightforward information and engaging content, such as fascinating facts about nudibranch defense methods, the three hearts of the cuttlefish. Vocabulary is fairly sophisticated; some terms are defined within the text; others only in the glossary. Photos are no bigger than a half page, but the clear images capture the variety of species and support points made in the text. Body diagrams in each book are somewhat helpful, despite the sparseness of labeled parts. Each of the five chapters includes a well-chosen prompt for readers to "go deeper" or "look again," based on what they've read or seen in the book. These, along with three to four "think about it" suggestions at the end, provide solid support for Common Core follow-up.