Students ranging in age and grade will learn much from and find a lot to admire in the varied and fascinating titles included in these series. Younger children will develop an appreciation for the finer points of the written language, including the basic principles of phonetics and punctuation, and receive some guidance as they make their first forays into crafting their own pieces. Those in higher grades will refine their analytical and writing skills to create sophisticated essays and other writings, learn about art masterpieces and major art movements through history.

Elementary

PreS-Gr 1 –Large, bold black type makes these books easy on beginner readers’ eyes. The visuals are strong: brightly hued page borders, text set in stark relief on white against vivid background colors, and crisply reproduced, child-friendly photos depicting adorable animals and a cast of delightful multicultural kids engaged in familiar activities. Except in Cute! and Smiles, the text generally serves as captions for the images rather than as stories per se. Children won’t mind, though. They’ll meet with reading success here, as the simple, often rhyming sentences so closely correspond to the referent photos. Targeted vowel sounds are repeated often. Each title concludes with a list of words containing the specific sound and an identical “Note to Parents and Educators.” VERDICT A fine introductory series for new readers.

Gr 3-6 –These slim volumes present solid information and sound advice offered in concise, clearly written sentences printed in a large font. Written in a friendly, encouraging tone, they make for engaging reading. Cheerful, colorful cartoons and photos add to the visual appeal. Each title contains examples—usually hand lettered on lined paper, to resemble students’ work—of the specific type of writing, followed by questions to reinforce readers’ comprehension of concepts. Safety advisories appear in Blogs warning children not to share personal information. “Tips for Young Readers” includes helpful guidelines. VERDICT Lively and accessible motivators for students’ writing efforts. Good options for creative writing units.

Gr 4-6 –A conversational, friendly, encouraging tone enlivens the series, though the cheery, motivating voice makes creative writing seem perhaps too easy (“Inspiration is everywhere! New ideas are just waiting to be discovered.”). Notable features include the visuals (strong, captioned photographs and colorful, quirky illustrations); “Your Turn” exercises, which provide stimulating writing prompts; and sidebars that highlight famed authors and excerpts from their works. While useful, explanations and tips aren’t always clear or specific. Additionally, organization and focus are a little weak in some volumes, as transitions between topics don’t always seem logical. For those who struggle with writing, the wordiness of some titles may prove daunting. Glossary entries include pronunciation guides, with some pronunciation aids proving wholly unnecessary (e.g., instructions in pronouncing the words plot and blog). VERDICT Catch Your Breath is the strongest of the bunch; otherwise, this set is an additional purchase.

K-Gr 2 –Brief stories explain concepts clearly, while retro illustrations depict a recurring cast of diverse schoolmates correcting written work by adding specific punctuation marks. Each offering begins with a concise explanation of the general functions of punctuation and particular marks; specific marks are highlighted in color on covers and within stories. Each book reinforces others, since examples of different punctuation marks are used in each title. Each volume concludes with a reminder about how and when to use the marks, and examples are provided. A quibble about the commas volume: there are examples of commas separating a person being addressed from the rest of the sentence (e.g., “Take a pause, Paul”), but this rule isn’t clarified anywhere. VERDICT These very basic introductions will work best when accompanying classroom instruction.

Middle to High School

Gr 9 Up –These volumes provide detailed guidelines on examining literary works for thematic content and critiquing them. Each selection presents comprehensive overviews of familiar literary classics and films, followed by insightful analyses and critical-thinking questions. Ideas for alternative analyses will further stimulate students’ thinking (for instance, in The Antihero, an examination of Heathcliff is followed by a question about whether Cathy is a feminist antihero). Theses and their supporting arguments are highlighted and thoroughly explained. The inclusion of popular films, including those based on books by John Green, Suzanne Collins, and Veronica Roth, heightens the appeal. Color and black-and-white stills taken from films and cinematic and staged versions of the titles under discussion generously illustrate the volumes. Back-matter resources are excellent: “Analyze It” invites students to use what they have learned to analyze a book of their choosing, “Characteristics and Classics” lists salient features of the themes and famous works that include them, and bibliographies are in-depth. VERDICT Highly recommended for able, sophisticated students, and particularly valuable for advanced English and literature classes.

Gr 6-8 –These brief, well-written, and well-organized volumes are jam-packed with solid guidelines. Written in a conversational, reader-friendly tone, the series will engage serious students. Colorful sidebars are interspersed. “Learn from the Masters” provides examples and tips from renowned writers, “Write It Out” offers exercises, and “Writers on Writing” presents quotes from well-known authors on navigating the process. The series as a whole holds out the happy prospect that there’s a type of prose suited to almost every aspiring writer but that it just takes practice, an idea, and willingness to revise. VERDICT Teachers will find this series helpful as the foundation of their own lessons, in addition to assigned student reading.

Gr 8 Up –These repackaged versions of Creative’s “Movements in Art” (2009) series feature new designs, but no changes have been made to the text. The positives include sophisticated writing, solid information (though not for novices), excellent reproductions, and colorful design. Each slim volume starts off with the same identical introduction. Historical and social context is provided, and the authors describe developments leading up to the movement and how these styles influenced later artists and techniques. However, in some cases, details of the artwork get lost in gutters. Works of art aren’t always identified, and their locations are rarely cited. Too often, important pieces mentioned aren’t depicted. Occasionally, sidebars highlighting art and sites, historical figures, and important events appear on out-of-context pages. Some of the definitions in the glossary are questionable, and the short bibliography contains outdated sources. VERDICT Additional for public and school libraries; perhaps refreshers for teachers before they introduce the periods and styles in art appreciation or history units.

Gr 4-8 –Brief offerings with concise sentences clearly explain different types of writing and how students can craft personal work. This visually striking series contains many graphics and photos, bright background pages, and colorful sidebars. Each volume includes the helpful features “Text Around You,” which provides real-world examples of nonfiction writing, and “Text Tips!” Three titles also include “Text in History” sidebars, which, except for one focusing on Roald Dahl, highlight authors or incidents beyond readers’ scope. The reference to Woodrow Wilson during World War II in Persuasive Writing is a glaring error. The distinctive features of each type of writing are outlined, and students will learn how to create compositions such as autobiographies, essays, and game rules. VERDICT These quick reads will be beneficial in creative writing and journalism units.

Most of these sets have great value and appeal and offer plenty of classroom support. Aspiring authors will benefit from the series about creating various types of written works, including analytical essays—ABDO’s “Essential Literary Themes” is a standout here—autobiographies, op-ed and instructional pieces, short stories, and more. The titles for the youngest children offer much to cheer about. Child’s World’s “Long and Short Vowels” and Amicus’s “Punctuation Station” are very strong. Equally worthy is Child’s World’s succinct and motivating “Rev Up Your Writing” series, aimed at middle graders. The art series fill smaller niches.

Carol Goldman, Queens Library, NY