With eye-catching color schemes and a bright, bubbly layout, the Rookie Star: Fact Finder series introduces younger readers to nonfiction through bite-size factoids. Ten two-page chapters provide cursory, trivia-style information about a number of common and household objects. Chewing Gum tracks the history of the sticky treat, from its early invention to the way gum uses vary from country to country today. There's not always a lot of cohesion between chapters, but this is a fun, easy way for younger students to explore the basics of research. In addition to frequent photos, each volume includes a time line that tracks the history of each object. Ending activities and quizzes serve to help increase retention d they'll add some extra fun, too.

COHN, Jessica . 10 Fascinating Facts About Toys . ISBN 9780531228180 ; ISBN 9780531229439 . JOZEFOWICZ, Chris . 10 Fascinating Facts About Dollar Bills . ISBN 9780531228159 ; ISBN 9780531229408 . JOZEFOWICZ, Chris . 10 Fascinating Facts About Sneakers . ISBN 9780531228173 ; ISBN 9780531229422 . ea vol: 32p. (Rookie Star: Fact Finder). chron. glossary. index. photos. websites. Children's Pr. Sept. 2016. lib. ed. $23. pap. $5.95. Gr 3-5 Which famous baseball player owned the world's largest piece of bubblegum? Exactly how does a vending machine determine the value of the paper money you put into it? What classic children's toy was created from empty thread spools? These are just some of the many quirky facts students will find in this series. The topics covered offer a lot of appeal in a fun, informative format. Each fact is presented as a short chapter with accompanying sidebar information. Bright photographs accompany the text. Each volume includes a related but rather basic activity. For example, in Sneakers , kids are given instructions on a "cool way" to lace their sneakers.