This fall, new early reader series feature exciting and colorful titles for students to enjoy and learn from. Just as the trees turn eye-popping colors, new readers will be turning pages and testing their emergent powers by reading about animals, community helpers and workers, and, very pertinent to the season, dazzling colors everywhere all around!

Elementary

Barnes, Rachael. Blue. ISBN 9798893044362.
––––. Brown. ISBN 9798893044379.
––––. Green. ISBN 9798893044386.
––––. Orange. ISBN 9798893044393.
Sabelko, Rebecca. Pink. ISBN 9798893044409.
––––. Purple. ISBN 9798893044416.
––––. Red. ISBN 9798893044423.
––––. Yellow. ISBN 9798893044430.
ea vol: 24p. (Colors in Our World). Bellwether/Blastoff! Aug. 2025. Tr $29.95.
K-Gr 2–This series supports observational skills and promotes understanding that the world is alive with beautiful colors. Each volume opens with an alphabetical list of included sight words. The text is minimal, with two brief sentences per page, and plenty of photographs demonstrating brilliantly-hued wonders. Students practice reading common phonemes, including long- and short-vowel sounds, compound words, and consonant blends. Some readers may not have experience with all of the items covered in each book (for example, pink-sand beaches and pink dolphins), so reading about them will be an eye-opening introduction to the natural world. The covers feature brightly colored animals, birds, plants, and other natural marvels. Where humans are depicted, they’re portrayed as racially diverse. A final question in each volume asks readers to ponder this question to help sharpen their visual-discrimination and literacy skills: “Where do you see __ (color name) in nature?” VERDICT This excellent series introduces children to simple, dazzling science concepts and helps youngsters develop and build reading confidence. Highly recommended for schools and early learning areas in public libraries.

Boothroyd, Jennifer. How a Fire Station Works. ISBN 9798892329804.
––––. How a Grocery Store Works. ISBN 9798892329811.
––––. How a Library Works. ISBN 9798892329828.
––––. How a Movie Theater Works. ISBN 9798892329835.
––––. How a Post Office Works. ISBN 9798892329842.
––––. How a Restaurant Works. ISBN 9798892329859.
ea vol: 24p. (Behind the Scenes). Bearport/Bearcub. Aug. 2025. Tr $29.95.
Gr 1-3–In addition to giving readers a “behind-the-scenes” glimpse into familiar community locations, this series provides meaningful insight into the world of work and engenders respect for workers of all kinds. Each title opens with “Teaching Tips,” suggesting activities for before, during, and after reading. A pronunciation guide appears in a cheerful yellow box. There are two-to-four brief sentences per page. Students will learn what the venues look like, what patrons can expect, what happens there and what equipment visitors will see, and what workers do. The colorful cover images and internal illustrations depict workers who are racially, ethnically, and age diverse. How a Movie Theater Works depicts a young man with Down syndrome. Back matter includes a glossary with labeled photos, an index, a bibliography, and links to learn more online. VERDICT This appealing series is highly recommended for schools and public collections.

Connors, Kathleen. Blue Is All Around Me! ISBN 9781482469547.
––––. Green Is All Around Me! ISBN 9781482469578.
––––. Orange Is All Around Me! ISBN 9781482469608.
––––. Purple Is All Around Me! ISBN 9781482469639.
––––. Red Is All Around Me! ISBN 9781482469660.
––––. Yellow Is All Around Me! ISBN 9781482469691.
ea vol: 24p. (Colors in My World). Gareth Stevens. Aug. 2025. Tr $24.27.
K-Gr 2–In this series, which supports color-recognition skills and sharpens visual discrimination, easy reading is facilitated by brief sentences, predictable sentence structures, repeated text-picture patterns, and common phonemes. Items bearing the target color, (clothing, food items, signage, toys,) appear with text set against pages saturated with that same color. A diverse cast of children are depicted in the illustrations, and the covers feature objects and typefaces that are bold and inviting. A lively quiz at the end of each volume challenges readers to look at four pictures and choose two featuring the titular color. VERDICT This is a very fine concept series and an easy entrée to first reading experiences. Recommended for schools and early learning sections in public libraries.

Emminizer, Theresa. Angelfish. ISBN 9781499451412.
––––. Green Sea Turtles. ISBN 9781499451443.
––––. Jellyfish. ISBN 9781499451474.
––––. Narwhals. ISBN 9781499451504.
––––. Sea Stars. ISBN 9781499451566.
––––. Seahorses. ISBN 9781499451535.
ea vol: 24p. (Superstars of the Sea). Rosen/PowerKids. Aug. 2025. Tr $25.27.
PreS-Gr 1–Simple language and predictable sentence structures ease young learners’ way into the world of sea life. Each volume in this series offers rudimentary information about the creatures in question: where they live, what they look and feel like, their body parts, and more. Where applicable, a note is made regarding family groups. Some titles are more informative than others, but there is plenty of practice reading short- and long-vowel sounds and compound words. The highlight of the series is its exceptional design, which includes bright, close-up photographs of the fish. There’s plenty for children to be dazzled by in these photos, as they explore extraordinary color variations, patterns, and textures among the creatures—the angelfish, seahorses, and sea stars are especially compelling. VERDICT Recommend purchase for schools and early learning areas in public libraries.

Gleisner, Jenna Lee. Climb. ISBN 9798892138079.
––––. Crawl. ISBN 9798892138109.
––––. Dive. ISBN 9798892138253.
––––. Fly. ISBN 9798892138130.
––––. Jump. ISBN 9798892138161.
––––. Run. ISBN 9798892138192.
––––. Slide. ISBN 9798892138222.
––––. Swim. ISBN 9798892138284.
ea vol: 16p. (Animals on the Move). Jump!/Tadpole. Aug. 2025. Tr $28.99.
PreS-Gr 1–Readers will enjoy comparing their locomotive skills with those of a variety of animals in this attractive series. Simple texts and brief, predictably constructed sentences promote comfortable reading, even for beginners. Some titles are slightly more expansive, adding basic information about the speed at which certain creatures move, compared to others that move similarly. Each title opens with context and reading support materials for readers and their adults. A pictorial glossary is included, although some animals in the volumes don’t appear in this glossary. Where applicable, body parts enabling animals to get from place to place are labeled in full-page, high-quality photos, making for fine vocabulary development. All animals are portrayed in natural settings and behave realistically. VERDICT Recommended for schools and public collections for its readable, informative text, covering a broad range of animals and excellent photos.

Gottlieb, Beth. I Like to Build! ISBN 9781482469721.
––––. I Like to Craft! ISBN 9781482469752.
––––. I Like to Draw! ISBN 9781482469783.
––––. I Like to Paint! ISBN 9781482469813.
––––. I Like to Play Music! ISBN 9781482469844.
––––. I Like to Tell Stories! ISBN 9781482469875.
ea vol: 24p. (Create with Me!). Gareth Stevens. Aug. 2025. Tr $24.27.
K-Gr 2–This series will spark children’s creativity as they read about similarly aged youngsters flexing their own artistic/creative muscles. With only a few sentences per page, a large typeface, and lots of white space, these simple texts invite students to read on their own. Each volume concludes with a positive affirmation about the activity, accompanied by a photo of a smiling, satisfied artist/creator. Covers and title pages feature a diverse group of children engaging in different art forms. This series, which covers a wide range of creative pursuits, introduces a collection craft and/or building materials and tools/implements. VERDICT Recommended for schools and early learning sections in public libraries.

Grack, Rachel. Bee Hives. ISBN 9798893045109.
––––. Flamingo Flocks. ISBN 9798893045116.
––––. Hyena Clans. ISBN 9798893045123.
––––. Lion Prides. ISBN 9798893045130.
––––. Orca Pods. ISBN 9798893045147.
––––. Wolf Packs. ISBN9798893045154.
ea vol: 24p. (Animal Groups). Bellwether/Blastoff! Aug. 2025. Tr $29.95.
Gr 1-3–Animal lovers will appreciate these engaging, well-organized books about how group dynamics provide safety, instruction, and comfort. Short, informative sentences offer young learners a clear understanding of what the titular animals look like, how and what they eat, how they communicate, mate, hunt, raise their young, and more. New vocabulary is boldfaced in black type and defined in the glossary. This series is notable for its eye-catching covers that feature close-ups of the animals in their natural settings. Within each volume, each animal’s range is displayed on a world map, and charts offer additional visual elements. Labels on the dynamic interior photos point out details mentioned in the texts. Occasionally, zoomed-in insets in illustrations focus readers’ attention on small details. VERDICT Highly recommended for schools and public libraries. Excellent early-science introductions for young learners with eye-catching visuals.

Grée, Alain. Numbers. ISBN 9781787081802.
––––. The Farm. ISBN 9781787081819.
ea vol: illus. by Alain Grée. 48p. (Early Learning with Alain Grée). GMC/Button. Sept. 2025. pap. $14.99.
Gr 1-3–These British publications engage students with a lively interactive approach. In both volumes, children peruse cartoony illustrations to answer questions posed in the texts. In Numbers, readers can flex their math muscles while honing visual-discrimination skills, as they’re often challenged to count or compare and contrast picture details. This title covers counting, counting by twos, shapes, and comparisons. Multiplication and division are touched on, although readers in the target age group may not have learned those processes yet. The text includes British terms and spellings; (lorry, colour, Mummy, tin, and chips), which might be a stumbling block for American readers. The Farm, which explains a working farm’s operations and where some foods and clothing items come from, is a little more accessible to emerging American readers. Artwork in both titles is cheery and colorful, populated by diverse humans. VERDICT The Farm is recommended for purchase in schools and early learning collections in public libraries, as it’s better suited to American audiences. Numbers covers some topics many children may not have learned yet, and its numerous examples of regional vocabulary may confound youngsters.

Klepeis, Alicia Z. Burj Khalifa. ISBN 9798893044928.
––––. Eiffel Tower. ISBN 9798893044935.
––––. Empire State Building. ISBN 9798893044942.
––––. Sagrada Familia. ISBN 9798893044959.
––––. Sydney Opera House. ISBN 9798893044966.
––––. Taj Mahal. ISBN 9798893044973.
ea vol: 24p. (World Famous Buildings). Bellwether/Blastoff! Aug. 2025. Tr $29.95.
Gr 1-3–Towering structures receive short, choppy descriptions. Readers learn much about each edifice including its location on a world map, its history, its function, what the interior looks like, its dimensions, and more. A few photos afford glimpses of what can be observed from amazingly high-up vantage points. Some photos feature labels, arrows, and insets focusing on specific details. Black-and-white photos are included where historical background information is provided. Back matter includes a glossary without pronunciation guides, a bibliography, and index, and a web address to find out more. VERDICT Recommended for limited purchase. Punning aside, much of the information here may soar over students’ heads.

Langdo, Bryan. Iceland. ISBN 9798893044591.
––––. New Zealand. ISBN 9798893044621.
Pettiford, Rebecca. Austria. ISBN 9798893044560.
––––. Honduras. ISBN 9798893044577.
––––. Hungary. ISBN 9798893044584.
––––. Lebanon. ISBN 9798893044607.
––––. Malaysia. ISBN 9798893044614.
––––. Taiwan. ISBN 9798893044638.
ea vol: 24p. (Countries of the World). Bellwether/Blastoff! Aug. 2025. Tr $29.95.
Gr 1-3–This series introduces several non-Western nations. Basic facts about the countries are presented, making these titles useful for simple reports. Topography, weather, animals and wildlife, everyday life, sports and recreation, ethnicity, religion, main language, popular foods, and celebrations are all covered. Readers will learn how to say and pronounce “Hello” in each country’s native language. The opening spread in each volume explains exactly where the country is located; this information is further clarified, in color, on a world map. All books are visually appealing and include attractive scenic photos, giving readers a fine sense of place and daily life. Occasionally, renowned topographical features, like the Danube River in Hungary, are highlighted, with dimensions provided. The final pages in each volume feature a fact sheet with the country’s flag, size, population, national holiday, main language, capital city, a picture of a notable resident, major religions, and renowned landmarks. VERDICT A robust early reader introduction to world nations. Recommended for schools and public libraries.

McDonald, Amy. Big and Small. ISBN 9798893044300.
––––. Fast and Slow. ISBN 9798893044317.
––––. Light and Dark. ISBN 9798893044331.
––––. Loud and Quiet. ISBN 9798893044348.
––––. Wet and Dry. ISBN 9798893044355.
Rathburn, Betsy. Hot and Cold. ISBN 9798893044324.
ea vol: 24p. (Fun with Opposites). Bellwether/Blastoff! Aug. 2025. Tr $29.95.
PreS-Gr 1–This is a surprisingly sophisticated series in that opposing pairs are explained in terms of what they represent. For example, loud/quiet refers to volume, and wet/dry refers to moisture. The big/small volume relates to an early math principle, making it especially noteworthy. Topics are clarified, defined, and nicely explained in terms young readers can understand. The contrasts are well portrayed in photos beside helpful explanatory texts so readers can easily see differences. Numerous examples are presented throughout, and children are asked to consider personal experiences, (“What’s your favorite food? Is it hot or cold?”). Vocabulary relies on short- and long-vowel sounds, and vowel blends. Handsome book design includes colorful covers and high-quality interior color photos. Racial and ethnic diversity is portrayed throughout. Each volume concludes with a sum-up of material covered. VERDICT A fine introduction to basic concepts. Recommended for schools and public libraries.

Proudfit, Benjamin. I Have a Boxer. ISBN 9781482469905.
––––. I Have a Bulldog. ISBN 9781482469936.
––––. I Have a Great Dane. ISBN 9781482469967.
––––. I Have a Labrador. ISBN 9781482469998.
––––. I Have a Poodle. ISBN 9781482470024.
––––. I Have a Pug. ISBN 9781482470055.
ea vol: 24p. (That’s My Dog!). Gareth Stevens. Aug. 2025. Tr $24.27.
K-Gr 2–Dog lovers will feel like they’ve hit the jackpot with this sweet, easy series narrated in first person by the owners of the titular pooches who speak directly to readers. Each comfortably paced narrative is “spoken” in warm, brief sentences. Large type and plenty of white space aid with reading comfort. Each narrative is informative, describing the pet’s name, breed, physical characteristics, personalities, level of playfulness, care requirements, routines, and so on. The dog parent is shown engaging with their pup, usually in the final spread; other children are often depicted, but there is not a lot of diversity to be found. Excellent full-color cover and interior photos depict the animals in various positions and stances. VERDICT This beginner series will certainly fuel readers’ desires to welcome dogs into their homes. Recommended for schools and public libraries.

Ruby, Rex. Blizzards. ISBN 9798892329866.
––––. Earthquakes. ISBN 9798892329873.
––––. Floods. ISBN 9781482470055.
––––. Hurricanes. ISBN 9798892329897.
––––. Tornadoes. ISBN 9798892329903.
––––. Tsunamis. ISBN 9798892329910.
ea vol: 24p. (Disaster Warning!). Bearport/Bearcub. Aug. 2025. Tr $29.95.
Gr 1-3–Short sentences make the text accessible and arouse suspense in this gripping series. In each volume, the disaster’s name and an aid to its pronunciation appear in a yellow box over a photo of the disaster. Onomatopoeic words enhance dramatic effects, for example, “Swoosh!” represents blustery winds. Each weather condition is defined succinctly and accurately and includes an explanation as to why it’s considered a “disaster.” Dramatic cover and interior photos allow readers to interpret different conditions and their effects. The ways in which neighbors and workers collaborate on clean-up efforts during and afterward is highlighted. Clear, reassuring instructions are given about how to prepare for extreme weather conditions. Information about staying safe is also provided. VERDICT This early science/social studies series is recommended for schools and public libraries.

Ruby, Rex. A Butterfly Grows. ISBN 9798892329927.
––––. A Chicken Grows. ISBN 9798892329934.
––––. A Dog Grows. ISBN 9798892329941.
––––. A Dragonfly Grows. ISBN 9798892329958.
––––. A Frog Grows. ISBN 9798892329965.
––––. A Turtle Grows. ISBN 9798892329972.
ea vol: 24p. (Ready, Set, Grow: Animals). Bearport/Bearcub. Aug. 2025. Tr $29.95.
Gr 1-3–Emerging readers will develop skills as they dig into these fascinating accounts of how animals grow. Featuring familiar creatures that young children might find in their home or out and about, these titles promote empathy and respect for animals. Readers will be fascinated to discover the kinship among some of these animals; for example, many are born from eggs, though they’re from unrelated species. Some new, sophisticated words appear in yellow boxes, along with pronunciation and accentuation guides. Strong design elements include remarkable close-ups, endearing cover and interior photos depicting the creatures’ stages of growth and development. The clearly labeled images clarify the text, giving a full picture of how animals change over time. Kids will be fascinated, though they may find some photos unnerving. VERDICT Highly recommended for schools and public libraries.

Schuh, Mari. Chipmunks. ISBN 9798893044263.
––––. Coyotes. ISBN 9798893044270.
––––. Crows. ISBN 9798893044287.
––––. Ducks. ISBN 9798893044294.
ea vol: 24p. (City Critters). Bellwether/Blastoff! Aug. 2025. Tr $29.95.
K-Gr 2–Even students who aren’t urban dwellers will be drawn to this series, a fine introduction to basic animal science. For early readers, these volumes offer a surprising amount of information about their subjects, though things are kept simple to accommodate skill-building. Each creature is described in detail, with information about how the animals have adapted to city life including where they find food, where they nest or sleep, and what their relationships are with humans. Colorful covers show the appealing title creatures posed against city backdrops. Some interior photos include labels with arrows pointing to certain body parts named in the text, and diagrams show particular breeds of the animals commonly found in urban areas, the foods they consume, and where they nest and make their homes. VERDICT Recommended for schools and public libraries.

Children will be excited to learn how communal dynamics benefit certain species in Bellwether/Blastoff!’s “Animal Groups.” Very young readers will compare their own locomotive prowess to that of the various creatures discussed in “Animals on the Move” (Jump!/Tadpole). “Behind-the-Scenes” (Bearport/Bearcub) provides insights into familiar community locations. “Colors in Our World” (Bellwether/Blastoff!) is an outstanding exploration of the breathtaking colors on view in nature, and readers will learn how animals grow, develop, and change in “Ready Set Grow: Animals” (Bearport/Bearcub).

FALL 2025 SERIES MADE SIMPLE REVIEWS