Read Series Made Simple, School Library Journal's guide to the latest series nonfiction

Interdisciplinary study of the complex interrelationships between geology and geography can lead even younger children to a broader, wiser, more informed view of their planet’s physical features and human cultures. Though few explore these influences in any detail, some of the volumes in this crop of new series take at least passing note of them. Several offer worthy presentations featuring specific, clearly stated facts paired with well-chosen photographs or other illustrations, enhanced by such special features as suggestions for craft or science activities. As usual, however, the indexes, glossaries, and lists of further resources are of marginal use at best, and for volumes addressed to younger audiences the 24-page format continues to supersede the traditional 32-page.

Preschool—Grade 4

BODDEN, Valerie. California. ISBN 978-1-58341-832-1. LC 2009002721. ————. Florida. ISBN 978-1-58341-833-8. LC 2009002719. ————. Illinois. ISBN 978-1-58341-834-5. LC 2009002722.| ————. New York. ISBN 978-1-58341-835-2. LC 2009002723. ————. Pennsylvania. ISBN 978-1-58341-836-9. LC 2009002725. ————. Texas. ISBN 978-1-58341-837-6. LC 2009002726. ea vol: 24p. (Let’s Explore America Series). maps. photos. reprods. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Creative Education. 2011. PLB $24.25. Gr 2-3—The visuals definitely take a front seat in these brief state profiles. On each spread big, sharply reproduced full-page or -spread photographs dominate the view, with more pictures in a border running below. The main texts, printed in blocks that float obtrusively on the large photos, offer a sugary selection of random facts, boilerplate generalities (“New York is usually warm in the summer. But winter can be cold and snowy”), or fatuous lines such as, “California has lots of fun places for everyone!” Even the sparse information given is not always accurate (“Comedian Bill Cosby was from Pennsylvania, too”), labels on the physical maps in each volume are too small to read comfortably, and, though these books are aimed at a younger audience than the publisher’s “This Land Called America” series (2008), some of the same photos appear in both series.

GIBSON, Karen Bush. Spotlight on Europe. ISBN 978-1-4296-6625-1. LC 2010037111.| ————. Spotlight on North America. ISBN 978-1-4296-6621-3. LC 2010037112. ————. Spotlight on South America. ISBN 978-1-4296-6622-0. LC 2010037113. NIZ, Xavier. Spotlight on Australia. ISBN 978-1-4296-6627-5. LC 2010037110. SCHAEFER, A.R. Spotlight on Africa. ISBN 978-1-4296-6624-4. LC 2010037093. ————. Spotlight on Antarctica. ISBN 978-1-4296-6626-8. LC 2010037094. ————. Spotlight on Asia. ISBN 978-1-4296-6623-7. LC 2010037109. ea vol: 24p. (First Facts: Spotlight on the Continents Series). maps. photos. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Capstone. 2011. PLB $23.99. Gr 1-2—Anchored by small but legible maps showing each continent’s geographical extent, national borders, landforms, and population density, these primer-level surveys systematically deliver broad but simplistic topical overviews. Texts with poorly phrased lines, such as, “Thousands of plants grow in Asia” and “Africa is the most multilingual continent in the world,” accompany large color photos that are generic views in which human figures are rarely seen—and even when visible are often in festival costume rather than typical dress. The same publisher’s 2008 “World of Colors” series makes a better choice for this audience.

GRAY, Leon. Deserts. ISBN 978-1-4488-3280-4. LC 2010023797. ————. Rivers. diags. ISBN 978-1-4488-3282-8. LC 2010023800. GREEN, Jen. Coasts. diags. ISBN 978-1-4488-3279-8. LC 2010023798. ————. Mountains. diags. ISBN 978-1-4488-3281-1. LC 2010023799. ea vol: 32p. (Geography Wise Series). chart. map. photos. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Rosen/PowerKids Pr. 2011. PLB $25.25. Gr 2-3—Despite clumsy efforts to crank up the excitement level with frequent boxed side facts headed “Unbelievable!” these imported introductions to some of our planet’s more prominent surface features effectively present broad views of what makes each one distinctive. Rivers, for instance, contains spreads on the water cycle, erosion, flood plains, deltas, dams, human transportation, and pollution, among other topics, and along with identifying major ranges, records, and ecosystems, Mountains explains how a contour map works. Each volume is well supplied with large color photos and closes with suggested activities labeled “Cross-Curricular Links.”

HENZEL, Cynthia Kennedy. Galápagos Islands. diags. reprods. ISBN 978-1-61613-563-8; ISBN 978-1-61714-875-0. LC 2010021311. ————. Great Barrier Reef. diag. ISBN 978-1-61613-564-5; ISBN 978-1-61714-876-7. LC 2010021310. ————. Great Wall of China. chart. ISBN 978-1-61613-565-2; ISBN 978-1-61714-877-4. LC 2010021309. ————. Pyramids of Egypt. chart. ISBN 978-1-61613-566-9; ISBN 978-1-61714-878-1. LC 2010021308. ————. Stonehenge. diags. illus. reprods. ISBN 978-1-61613-567-6; ISBN 978-1-61714-879-8. LC 2010021307. ————. Taj Mahal. reprods. ISBN 978-1-61613-568-3; ISBN 978-1-61714-880-4. LC 2010021306. ea vol: 32p. (Troubled Treasures: World Heritage Sites Series). maps. photos. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. ABDO. 2011. PLB $25.65; ebook $25.65. Gr 3-5—Representing just the tip of the iceberg—there are currently more than 900 official World Heritage Sites—these quick introductions convey a sense of the vast range of places that have been designated by UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre as being significant to our world and its cultures, and the almost equally huge range of challenges conservationists face in preserving them. Each book describes in general terms a site’s construction or creation, distinctive features, and history, as well as threats to its continued existence and both current and past restoration initiatives. Revealing color photos taken from different heights and angles are supplemented by maps and by graphic reconstructions of, for instance, five stages of construction at Stonehenge. Though other books about these unique artifacts and locations are common, Henzel’s distinctive approach gives this series unusual value for both assignment and general-interest reading.

OXLADE, Chris. Igneous Rocks. charts. reprods. chron. ISBN 978-1-4329-4679-1. LC 2010022201. ————. Metamorphic Rocks. chart. chron. ISBN 978-1-4329-4680-7. LC 2010022203. ————. Sedimentary Rocks. charts. chron. ISBN 978-1-4329-4681-4. LC 2010022214. SPILSBURY, Richard & Louise Spilsbury. Crystals. charts. ISBN 978-1-4329-4684-5. LC 2010022241. ————. Fossils. ISBN 978-1-4329-4682-1. LC 2010022233. ————. Minerals. charts. map. ISBN 978-1-4329-4683-8. LC 2010022235. ————. Soil. charts. maps. ISBN 978-1-4329-4685-2. LC 2010022242. ea vol: 32p. (Let’s Rock Series). diags. illus. photos. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Heinemann Library. 2011. PLB $29. Gr 4-6—Enhanced by plenty of photos, digital paintings, and diagrams, these examinations of rocks and related substances treat their topics in unusual detail. Each describes distinguishing characteristics, creation, history (the “rock cycle”), and human uses in central narratives with additional notes, suggestions for activities during walks outside, and occasional thumbnail biographies of scientists in side boxes. Each volume ends with a simple activity (“Make Your Own Sediment!”) plus a handful of multimedia resources and places to visit. Pleasant surprises include a picture of the diamond-studded skull created by Damien Hirst in Crystals, discussions of erosion and other environmental issues in Soil, and, in Fossils, mention of “living fossils,” “trace fossils” (such as those created by footprints), fossil fakes, and fossil fuels.

THOMSON, Ruth. France. ISBN 978-1-4488-3275-0. LC 2010023712. ————. India. ISBN 978-1-4488-3276-7. LC 2010023713. ————. Poland. ISBN 978-1-4488-3277-4. LC 2010023714. ————. Spain. ISBN 978-1-4488-3278-1. LC 2010023715. ea vol: 24p. (Countries Series). chart. map. photos. further reading. glossary. index. CIP. Rosen/PowerKids Pr. 2011. PLB $21.25. Gr 1-2—Written in shorter sentences than the publisher’s 2010 “Let’s Visit” series but comparable in reading level, this random gathering of country profiles offers information such as “The French eat bread with their meals” and “Cooking varies from one area of Spain to another.” Generic color photos, simplified maps, perfunctory craft activities, and sketchy recipes match the bland texts for empty intellectual calories.

Grades 5 and Up

ETHEREDGE, Laura S. Egypt. 187p. ISBN 978-1-61530-325-0; ISBN 978-1-61530-392-2. LC 2010025194. ————. Historic Palestine, Israel, and the Emerging Palestinian Autonomous Areas. 225p. ISBN 978-1-61530-315-1; ISBN 978-1-61530-395-3. LC 2010035792. ————. Iran. 172p. ISBN 978-1-61530-308-3; ISBN 978-1-61530-401-1. LC 2010018317. ————. Iraq. 193p. ISBN 978-1-61530-304-5; ISBN 978-1-61530-402-8. LC 2010016104. ————. Persian Gulf States: Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. 160p. ISBN 978-1-61530-327-4; ISBN 978-1-61530-407-3. LC 2010034558. ————. Saudi Arabia and Yemen. 157p. ISBN 978-1-61530-335-9; ISBN 978-1-61530-412-7. LC 2010026863. ————. Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. 226p. ISBN 978-1-61530-329-8; ISBN 978-1-61530-414-1. LC 2010027853. ea vol: (Middle East: Region in Transition Series). photos. reprods. bibliog. glossary. index. CIP. Britannica Educational. 2011. PLB $40; ebook $40. Gr 9 Up—Aside from new introductions and (possibly) new material in the closing bibliographical essays, these independent surveys rearrange content from Britannica Online Encyclopedia to present broad pictures of the Middle East’s varied physical and cultural landscapes, cultural highlights, and history (through early 2010, so the chapters on modern history in Egypt and Yemen are out of date). Dry of prose, drab in appearance, and illustrated with spare, muddy black-and-white photos, these make marginal if slightly updated alternatives to equivalent volumes in the Children’s Press’s “Enchantment of the World” series, but they are dispensable where the contents are available online.

RAFFERTY, John P. Biomes and Ecosystems. 216p. ISBN 978-1-61530-302-1; ISBN 978-1-61530-378-6. LC 2010015407. ————. Climate and Climate Change. 216p. ISBN 978-1-61530-303-8; ISBN 978-1-61530-388-5. LC 2010015842. ————. Conservation and Ecology. 216p. ISBN 978-1-61530-307-6; ISBN 978-1-61530-390-8. LC 2010017133. ————. Deserts and Steppes. 234p. ISBN 978-1-61530-317-5; ISBN 978-1-61530-391-5. LC 2010022143. ————. Forests and Grasslands. 238p. ISBN 978-1-61530-313-7; ISBN 978-1-61530-394-6. LC 2010019061. ————. Lakes and Wetlands. 235p. ISBN 978-1-61530-320-5; ISBN 978-1-61530-403-5. LC 2010023017. ————. Oceans and Oceanography. 266p. ISBN 978-1-61530-334-2; ISBN 978-1-61530-406-6. LC 2010032151. ————. Rivers and Streams. 282p. ISBN 978-1-61530-326-7; ISBN 978-1-61530-411-0. LC 2010025157. ea vol: (The Living Earth Series). diags. maps. photos. appendix. bibliog. glossary. index. CIP. Britannica Educational. 2011. PLB $51.70; ebook $51.70. Gr 9 Up—These volumes reprint articles and illustrations from Britannica Online Encyclopedia without ever mentioning that fact even in the fine print. The updating seems spotty; some articles haven’t been revised for 10 years or more, charts showing weather and other trends cut off at 2005, and in Climate and Climate Change, a photo of a “hybrid” car shows a 2006 model. The color photos are small and cramped-looking, the overall appearance is dense and drab, and bibliographical essays at each volume’s end are not accompanied by website listings. These will be useful additions only where access to equivalent online material is not available.

Despite a lack of major stars here, ABDO’s “Troubled Treasures: World Heritage Sites” and Heinemann’s “Let’s Rock” will make useful additions to collections serving middle-grade readers. As they are uninspired repackagings of easily available online resources, Britannica Educational’s “Middle East: Region in Transition” and its “The Living Earth” are problematic additions for upper-level students, and the eye-catching visuals in Creative Education’s “Let’s Explore America” can’t compensate for the third-rate texts. The other series provide acceptable assignment support where their particular topics are in demand.

Read Series Made Simple, School Library Journal's guide to the latest series nonfiction