November 1, 2013
K-Gr 3-In this uneven set, there are no more than 11 sentences per page, which are placed opposite full-page photographs and graphics. Glossary words are highlighted in blue and defined in the back matter. For their usability and time liness, Research, Parts of a Book, and Online are the standouts. Research tells students that, "Research is about asking questions. What do you want to know?" This volume would be a great resource for a classroom unit. Parts of a Book introduces students to nonfiction book elements, from the table of contents to the index. Online covers Internet passwords, cyberbullying, and more. The rest of the titles can be repetitive and sometimes bland. The images, by and large, are clear and colorful and correspond to the texts. Educators should buy individual volumes as needed.
Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2014
These books provide useful introductory information for lessons in using the library, its resources, and the basics of research. Each spread includes an upbeat photograph or instructional close-up and one or two corresponding paragraphs, aimed at emerging readers, on the facing page. This well-designed series will be helpful with groups but also works for independent exploration. Glos., ind.
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