Series Made Simple

Gr 4—8—This well-written and thoughtfully designed series features engrossing topics, some of which have potential as curriculum tie-ins: a "Great Pyramid Mystery" spread in Ancient Mysteries, for example, discusses the history of the massive structures in Egypt and how nobody knows how they were built, and Disappearances outlines the questions surrounding the Roanoke colony...

Gr 1—3—Pithy blurbs provide an overview of each breed, complementing without overwhelming the highlight of the books: adorable photographs of cats...

K-Gr 2—Warriors are a source of fascination for children, and these titles make historical fighters accessible to students just beginning to read on their own...

Gr 4—6—The short chunks of text that pepper these volumes list notable facts about each of these popular sports...

Gr 4—8—This hi/lo series profiles current stars, giving basic information about their childhoods, how they rose to fame, and the songs for which they are famous...

Gr 2—3—Ridley has done a fairly good job of maintaining vocabulary appropriate to the topics, but these books unfortunately lack pronunciation guidance or introductory material...

Gr 4—6—This series features sports banter centered on a mathematic theme...

Gr 1—4—Solid, vividly designed overviews...

Gr 2—4—This eclectic assortment of creatures showcases typical animal life cycles...