The illustrations certainly are striking (if sometimes a bit puzzling, as to their links to the stories).  If you’ve got a large folktale collection and want a variety of editions for comparison’s sake, this one could be a nice addition.  If however you are limited in how many fable volumes you can have, I think I would recommend looking elsewhere.  This volume does contain some of the classics, such as The Tortoise and Hare and The Lion and the Mouse, but several of the selections are a bit obscure.  One of the defining characteristics of a fable is that they typically include a moral or a lesson they are trying to impart, but several of these left me wondering just what the point was supposed to be.

Dinosaurs are always a hit, and the illustrations in this one are certainly eye-catching, but what makes this one a real gem is that it tells the story of how those illustrations came to be — how our knowledge of dinosaurs has grown over time as new evidence is discovered, and how scientific illustrators piece together available evidence, and extrapolate from it to create the images we see of these long-ago creatures which no one ever has actually seen.  I think it’s important for students to learn that scientific understanding (heck, most understanding for that matter) is not static, but is based in evidence, and changes as new evidence comes to light.

A beautifully-illustrated non-fiction book!  It is packed with information, describing in detail different kinds of volcanic eruptions: creative and destructive.  The layout makes it suitable for a wide range of students, because it allows for a more surface introduction of the material if one reads only the larger print, but most pages also offer  smaller-print paragraphs providing more in-depth information for older or more interested readers.  I learned a few new things myself.

On the one hand, the whole gross gimmick has been so trendy lately that it’s getting a bit old, but on the other hand, it does hold a certain appeal to its target audience, and it’s certainly applicable as a window to look at history.  I like the way this book focuses on the everyday experiences of people long ago, serving to paint a picture of the times which students need to develop if they are going to have the necessary context for reading/pondering history or historical fiction.  It’s interesting enough that I don’t want to give it a Not Recommended rating, but I don’t feel like I can quite recommend it, on account of some doubtful bits of information:  I find it hard to accept without question its assertion that “There are no such insects on the other side of the Atlantic” when referring to mosquitoes, given that malaria in Europe is documented back to at least the middle ages; though corsets may have been worn by both sexes, and primarily for purposes of encouraging good posture, as this book declares, you can’t tell me that some of those women weren’t also concerned with keeping their jiggly parts from jiggling; and if the whole focus of your book is the ick factor, and you’ve got pages dedicated to dealing with bodily wastes, without a single mention of women’s menstrual hygiene issues, you’re being omitting some pretty significant ick.

Okay, so I am definitely not the target audience for this book, but I know I have several boys who will think it’s great, and even as a non-interested reader, I can appreciate that it was well-organized, and offers a broad look at its sport.  It begins by describing the history of how Mixed Martial Arts got started (a chapter I even found interesting), and then goes on to describe the moves, famous participants, and famous fights, before concluding with speculation about the future of the sport.  I liked that it included information about women fighters and was honest about the dangers inherent in the sport, but I worry that it’s likely to become fairly quickly dated, as more famous people/matches eclipse the famous people/matches of the past — but then, that’s a danger with all books of this sort.

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.