This book details various environmental threats to rivers with a short description (usually about a paragraph on one page) of each one. Basic river ecology is covered in the first chapter and it’s stressed that humans depend on rivers as much as other animals. Key words are printed in red and are defined in text boxes on the same or next page. The book touches on a number of complex issues (ex: climate change, chemical runoff, etc.) and explains the basics in concise, simple language without skimping on meaning.  The final chapter offers solutions and hope, which helps keep the book from being so depressing that environmental problems are made too scary for children to face.

The back contains a glossary, index, three Common Core discussion questions, a short reference list of related books, and a link to a publisher-sponsored internet search engine.

This book describes the biology and life cycles of scorpions. It contains lots of detailed information and quality photographs. Some of the technical terms may be intimidating for younger or less confident readers, but there is a glossary in the back for key words, and other terms (such as specialized words for body parts, etc.) are defined within the text itself.

In addition to the glossary, the back contains an index, a world range map for where scorpions live, and a short reference list for related books and a link to the Scholastic webpage for more information on scorpions.

This second edition contains a set of fully updated Big Kid Boxes designed to incorporate the latest scientific discoveries about Mars (First edition was 2006).  This fun story of Max, space dog, helping his young friend Tori on the first human mission to mars, is sure to delight kids who enjoy dogs, space, and science stories. Max Goes to Mars is part of the Big Kid Science series, and includes Max Goes to the Moon, Max Goes to Juniper, Max Goes to the Space Station, and The Wizard Who Saved the World.

This is a very nicely illustrated picture book on the life of Frank Sinatra, starting with his youth in Hoboken, New Jersey. The story chronicles Frankie’s love of singing: at school, at work, everywhere. The story continues with Frankie’s move to New York City to study voice, his first appearance in concert, and his records being played on the radio. Moving on into his film career, singing and dancing on the big screen, and moving on to his international tours, Las Vegas tours, and awards, the reader gets a rosy view of Frank Sinatra, focusing on his talent and hard work, and omitting any mention of organized crime, womanizing, drinking, smoking, or any other vices.

The book includes an Author’s Note and Bibliography.

This is a beautifully illustrated picture book about a child who loses a beloved stuffed animal, and how his grandfather helps him cope with the loss by using his imagination.

In the form of a third person narrative, this book tells the story of monarch migration from the continental United States to central Mexico.  Engaging text leads the reader through the forces that send the butterfly south, the perils of the journey, arrival at her Mexican destination and culminates with the return to the north to lay the next generation of Monarchs.  The book ends with a quick summary of the Monarch’s life cycle.  Illustrations are full of rich color, perspective, and motion and add to the migration story.

Book includes fun facts, CCSS connections, glossary, additional resources, and index.

Part of the “Did You Know?” series, this is truly a fun book of facts about food.  Most pages begin with question providing an engaging and entertaining communication of food facts.  The book has a stream of consciousness feel as the seemingly random facts about food connect from one page to the next following the whim of the author: invention of the dishwasher to invention of the toaster to sandwich to chips then potatoes.  Colorful images of cartoon animals growing, making or consuming food support the text.  Readers will not walk away with any great increase in knowledge, but the book will entertain and intrigue budding scientists.