Series Made Simple

Gr 5—8—Though these books provide more information about their subjects than the other celebrity biography series on this list (there is a discussion of each star's childhood, rise to fame, and accomplishments), the information is not always conveyed clearly, and can sometimes be too casual—a discussion of pop music in Miley Cyrus, for example, statesj , "…when it's hot, it's HOT!" Also, quotes from sources such as the Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal are used and there is a bibliography, but citations are not given...

Gr 5—8—Those who choose to mix epoxy instead of watercolors and feel more comfortable in a hardware store than an art store are the target audience for this series...

K-Gr 1—Loosely interpreting "bugs" to include spiders, this series gives new readers a sense of the huge variety of shapes and colors in which insects (and arachnids) come...

Gr 5—8—Each volume in this comprehensive series includes information on hunter education and responsibility and suggests ideas such as a pre-planning checklist before the day of the event...

Gr 4—6—Enhanced by plenty of photos, digital paintings, and diagrams, these examinations of rocks and related substances treat their topics in unusual detail...

Gr 5—8—These slim volumes miss the mark for the intended audience...

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 5—8—These introductions include a lot of detailed information, making them useful as resource materials for science projects and reports...

Gr 3—9—Designed for struggling readers, this series combines accessible writing, dynamic illustrations, and high-interest topics...