Earth's Cycles

November 1, 2015

Gr 3-5-The latest additions to this ongoing series deliver the same authoritative, comprehensive, and relevant information that educators have come to expect from the publisher. The high-interest subjects support inquiry-based learning and encourage readers to think critically about science, and they do so in an engaging way that holds students' attention. Photos, illustrations, and diagrams keep children motivated, while features such as "Think Like a Scientist" and "Your Turn!" encourage learning through hands-on activities. What makes this series stand out, though, are the fascinating facts ("grizzly bears can smell a dead animal up to 20 kilometers...away!") and the fabulous photos, such as the close-up view of a butterfly's eye and rolled-up tongue. Smartly written, these innovative and imaginative volumes make learning fun. VERDICT First-rate nonfiction.

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