KAWA, Katie . We Need Bacteria . ISBN 9781499410204 . MACHAJEWSKI, Sarah . We Need Plants . ISBN 9781499410426 . NAGELHOUT, Ryan . We Need Honeybees . ISBN 9781499410396 . NIVER, Heather Moore . We Need Bats . ISBN 9781499410365 . SHEA, Therese . We Need Spiders . ISBN 9781499410440 . ea vol: 24p. (Creatures We Can't Live Without). diags. glossary. index. photos. websites. PowerKids . 2015. lib. ed. $23.60. Gr 3-5 Well organized and visually appealing, this set examines animals and other organisms that provide multiple benefits to the Earth and to humans. After opening with a brief overview, the authors present facts about each creature or plant, consistently linking them to positive impacts. A description of dangerous spiders, for instance, leads into possible medicinal uses of venom. There's a good balance between general information and specific details. Main text appears in white font against a dark box, keeping pages clear and uncluttered, with smaller "Creature Clues" insets that offer related facts. Photographs are generally effective and supplemented by one or two useful diagrams. A closing chart in most, but not all, books, neatly lays out the variety of ways each organism helps us. VERDICT The scope necessarily varies depending on the topic, but the theme of balanced ecosystems is well supported by words and images.