Large font and simple text tell who firefighters are and what they do.  These men and women put out fires, help others, and visit schools and talk about fire safety.  Special clothing protects them from heat and smoke, tools help get water to the fire.  Different trucks also have specific uses: carry water, pump water, extend ladders.  When on duty, many firefighters live at the fire station so they will be ready to respond to emergencies.  Each spread has a large photograph to accompany the text.  Glossary, index, additional reading and an internet site included.

This is a well-written resource for those wanting to know about Iceland.  Iceland is a large, volcanic island in the North Atlantic Ocean that has a history dating back to the 800s when Irish monks first settled.  Norway followed and began one of the world’s oldest governments, the Althing, or Icelandic parliament.  Most of the island is glaciers, volcanic lava rock, and natural hot springs.  Because of earthquakes and eruptions, the island is constantly changing and different regions can be remarkably varied.  Weather conditions and life can be harsh, yet beautiful and breath-taking.  Wildlife and plants need to be able to adapt to bitter cold and short growing seasons.  History from the early Viking days to modern life in the 21st century is related in ample detail.  A pronunciation key is provided to help read the Icelandic language.  Fact boxes with illustrations complement many pages.  This book is filled with amazing little details in a variety of topics.  The many photographs are captioned and well paired with he text.  Information is comprehensive.  A timeline compares Icelandic history to world history from ca 2500 BCE to 2011.  Four pages of fast facts include the normal longest, highest, government information as well as economy, common phrases, and prominent people.  Recommendations for further reading, music, and an internet site are provided along with an extensive index.

Vermont, the Green Mountain State, is one in a series of books presenting facts about the states.  A map of the state’s position with the United States, a brief history, landmarks, wildlife, industries and natural resources, as well as places and things to do are included.  “Fun Facts” and “Did You Know?” sections can be found on many pages.  Photographs and insets are colorful and highlight the text.  The layout is pleasing.  The last pages include quick facts about Vermont along with the glossary, index, and book and internet resources.  Sufficient information is presented to introduce readers to basic facts about the state.  Good general resource for state reports.

Best friends Fish and Snail live in a book.  Each day, Fish journeys to a new book and returns home with a story to tell Snail.  Then one day Fish returns all excited to show Snail the fun and adventure of a pirate ship and treasure discovered in another book.  Timid little snail likes the quiet and safety of their own book where they can pretend to be kittens.  They argue and Fish angrily leaves.  Snail is sad and hesitant after Fish is gone.  Gathering courage and taking a leap, Snail tumbles down into the new book.  Surprised, Fish congratulates Snail’s bravery for leaving the security of their old book.  Snail is tentative but willing to try a big adventure in small steps, as a kitten pirate, as long as they can be together.  The gender of Fish and Snail is never revealed, leaving it to the reader.  The message of all the wonders found in books cannot be missed.  Beautifully illustrated in watercolor and pencil, this book is sure to attract readers.

Eye-catching photos, detailed captions, and well-written text make this book on flowering plants exceptional.  Scientific terms are defined within the paragraphs and are continually used throughout the pages.  The reader quickly becomes knowledgeable about commonalities of flowering plants.  Each spread is its own chapter, focusing on one aspect of a plant’s life.  There is a good balance of text and illustrations.  Diagrams are well labeled.  The glossary and index are comprehensive and a list of books for further reading are also included in the back.  A Facthound internet site provides related information.

Who can resist the cute puppy faces gazing out of this book?  But is owning a dog the best choice for you and your family?  This book is jam-packed with all sorts of facts and specifics a potential owner should know.  Beginning with how to make the decision to get a dog and finding a breeder, bringing a puppy home, and making a knowledgeable commitment to owning a pet, this book provides comprehensive information on an extensive variety of essentials one should know.  Every page has several titled paragraphs about a specific topics, photos, and sidebars of information.  Best practices, advice, and checklists are sprinkled among the chapters telling how to feed, care for, play with, and train your pet.  Complete index, excellent internet sites, and books for further reading are at the back.  Extensive and well-organized, this book will be an awesome addition to any library, public or personal.

Here is a new way to think about arts and crafts – use ice!  These projects can be done outdoors when the temperature is below freezing, or anytime by using the freezer.  Most items needed can be found in the home or are inexpensive to purchase.  Each of the 8 projects includes clear, simple directions, photographs that illustrate the procedure, and a list of items needed.  Many projects include fun facts and tips.  The layout is pleasing and colorful.  Obviously, the projects will last longer in cold temperature, but many could be used as temporary extraordinary decorations in many settings.  Small glossary included.

The topic of UFOs is indeed a mystery for those who believe and those who do not.  Short chapters tell of reports by people who have seen some and, at this point, not satisfactorily explained events.  The font is large and the photos and artwork of the occasions are thought provoking.  Words to know are defined on the page as well as in the glossary, which also has the phonetic pronunciation.  Some pages contain additional facts in “!” boxes.  The book becomes confusing on the last pages of chapter 4.  Some of the statements are misleading when presented as true or false statements.  One statement under False reads, “Many things are mistaken for UFOs.  Mistaken objects include sunlight reflection off ice crystals, birds’ wings, mirages, and marsh gas.”  This statement bewilders me.   Without the last chapter, this book is  informative for those wanting to read about observations of unexplained flying objects.