Series Made Simple

Gr 6—8—Like the "How They Made Things Work!" series above, this one tackles innovations from ancient cultures, but here they are grouped together by type rather than by area or period...

Gr 3—5—Representing just the tip of the iceberg—there are currently more than 900 official World Heritage Sites—-these quick introductions convey a sense of the vast range of places that have been designated by UNESCO's World Heritage Centre as being significant to our world and its cultures, and the almost equally huge range of challenges conservationists face in preserving them...

Gr 8 Up—Well written and well researched, each title describes the characteristics of a monster: its origins in literature or lore, its physical appearance, instances in which people believe they interacted with it, and hoaxes...

Gr 5—8—Scientific theories and laws are thoroughly defined and put into context with plenty of background and historical knowledge...

Gr 1—3—This series covers some kid favorites and the pictures pop off its glossy pages, but it has no further appeal...

Gr 4—6—While it is important for information to be presented in a way that is accessible and appealing to children, there is a danger of sensory overload if the layout of a book is too frenetic...

Gr 6—9—These well-written, objective, and informative introductions to the Bill of Rights discuss the historical reasons for each amendment, its basis in British and American common law, and the statutory and case law that shaped its implementation and development...

Gr 4—8—An introduction to the general topic is followed by 13 spreads, each answering a question such as, "Why Does the Gateway Arch Sway in the Wind?" (Amazing Built Structures) or "Why Doesn't a Microwave Oven Get Hot?" (Everyday Appliances)...

Gr 2—5—After a one-page explanation of the specific type of figurative language, these books launch into a story...