Series Made Simple

Capitalizing on the action-packed nature of football and (men's and women's) basketball, these slim volumes focus more on splashy color graphics than on information. The overly broad series theme includes "Science" titles, which are a random assortment of energy, mechanics, technology, and math discussions; "Numbers" books, which are mostly statistics-related; and "Superstars" entries, featuring brief profiles of players. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Each slim easy reader opens with a photo glossary highlighting four sport-specific vocabulary words, accompanied by instructions: "Look for these words and pictures as you read." The following spreads are organized around these keywords, with bright stock photos and a smattering of facts. The volumes lack substance but effectively reinforce the meaning of a small number of relevant terms.

Each book offers a first-person account of a refugee child's separation from family due to hardship or war: Ali leaves Afghanistan with his grandma as his parents stay behind, while Juliane endures a painful separation from her mother in Zimbabwe before they leave the country together. Despite the odd, sometimes disjointed digital images, simple storytelling makes these texts relatable to young readers.