Horn Book (Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

These leveled beginning-reader biographies are lively and filled with colorful photographs and illustrations. Energetically designed with many sidebars and graphics, each well-organized volume gives a sense of the time in which the person lived in addition to his or her life and accomplishments. Longer and at the highest reading level, Anne Frank contains an index. Timeline. Glos.

School Library Journal (Thu May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

MARSH, Laura . Koalas . ISBN 9781426314674 ; ISBN 9781426314667 . RATTINI, Kristin Baird . Seed to Plant . ISBN 9781426314711 ; ISBN 9781426314704 . ea vol: 32p. diag. maps. photos. reprods. (National Geographic Readers). National Geographic for Kids . 2014. lib. ed. $13.90. pap. $3.99. K-Gr 2 These titles are geared to those without much previous knowledge on the subjects; the information is basic but engaging. Each book includes fact bubbles and new words defined on the page, as well as in a picture glossary at the back. A page of picture puzzles highlighting details from the text makes the reading more interactive. Several jokes are printed in Koalas and Plant to Seed , making them especially fun. These two titles also include photographs that are bright and detailed, clearly illustrating the ideas in the texts. George Washington offers a mix of images of period paintings and photographs (including one of false teeth that could have been Washington's). The time line is another useful nonfiction tool for independent readers. While Koalas will likely have the most browsing appeal, all three titles will be useful for first reports and are good additions to beginning-reader collections. Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY

ALA Booklist

This entry in the National Geographic Kids series gives young children abbreviated facts about Washington and the early days of the fledgling new country he led. It sweeps briefly from his childhood, through the Revolutionary War and his service as America's first president, and finally into his retirement and death, providing children with facts for those "first reports" about Washington. Yet, interjected are pages containing facts about life during this time period and "Cool Facts about George" that tend to detract from the flow of his life. Short sentences, a large font, extensive white space, and multiple illustrations make the book accessible but uninspiring. No chronology, related books, or documentation are provided.