Tag Archives: Series Nonfiction

MG – Crisis in Ukraine (Series NF)

Posted on by
Reply

Crisis in Ukraine. Abdo & Daughters, 2023. $24.95 ea. $99.80 set of 4. 63 p. Grades 5-8.

Britton, Tamara L. War in Ukraine. 978-1-532-19915-8.
Gieseke, Tyler. NATO.  978-1-532-19912-7.
O’Brien, Bridget. Vladimir Putin. 978-1-532-19913-4.
Wheeler, Jill C. Volodymyr Zelensky. 978-1-532-19914-1.

This reviewer evaluated the title Volodymyr Zelensky. As the current president of Ukraine while a war rages within its borders, Volodymyr Zelensky has become known throughout the world. Zelensky is the son of a computer science professor and an engineer. Growing up in Kryvyi Rih in what was then the Ukrainian Society Socialist Republic, Zelensky loved watching K.V.N., a show where contestants compete to be the funniest person. In college, he majored in law at his mother’s request, but he found he could not give up on comedy. He formed Studio Kvartal 95 and developed a show called Evening Quarter, a comedy show similar to America’s Saturday Night Live. A turning point in his acting career was on Servant of the People. The character Zelensky played was a high school history teacher turned politician. This got him more interested in government work. He decided to run for president of Ukraine, running on a platform that promised to eliminate corruption and greed. He won by a landslide. Throughout his presidency, Zelensky’s popularity decreased due to different scandals. But when Russia invaded Ukraine in February of 2022, Zelensky earned respect for refusing to leave the country while at war. His speeches and social media posts about the war have rallied a nation and inspired them to fight on.

THOUGHTS: This nonfiction is timely and relevant. The text is easy to read and includes photographs and sidebars with more information. Backmatter includes a timeline, glossary, index, and a QR code to online resources.

900s Biography and/or History

MG/YA – Dealing with Addiction (Series NF)

Posted on by
Reply

Dealing with Addiction. BrightPoint Press, 2023. 64 p. $33.05 ea. $$165.25 Set of 5. Grades 6-12.

Kaiser, Emma. Smartphone Addiction. 978-1-678-20380-7.
Llanas, Sheila Griffin. Drug and Alcohol Addiction. 978-1-678-20374-0.
Miller, Marie-Therese. Social Media Addiction. 978-1-678-20378-8.
Roberts, Kizzi. Gaming Addiction. 978-1-678-20376-9.
Voss, Elizabeth Hobbs. Vaping Addiction. 978-1-678-20382-5.

This reviewer evaluated Gaming Addiction and Smartphone Addiction. Each title in this series begins with At a Glance which provides readers with a quick, bulleted overview of the topic addressed. Statistics like “Researchers think between 1 and 10 percent of gamers become addicted” (Roberts 4) easily could be incorporated into basic student research or utilized for a lesson on summarizing research. The introduction gives readers an anecdote regarding the topic. In Gaming Addiction, Ben loses interest in activities with his friends, instead opting to beat his high score. Ben’s friends confront changes they’ve noticed in him. In Smartphone Addiction Riley realizes she needs help after hardly hearing her friends while she checks social media notifications on her phone and earning a poor grade on an English essay. Four chapters include What is ___?, The science of ___, The effects of ___, and Treating the ___ (___ = addiction the title addresses). Frequent color photos, charts, text box highlights, and bold-faced vocabulary words make this series highly accessible to secondary researchers. Each book concludes with a glossary, source notes, for further research, and an index.

THOUGHTS: Marketed as hi-lo YA nonfiction, the titles in this series are best suited to middle and high school libraries and would be a great update to addiction collections or for use with health classes.

616.85 Mental Disorders 
616.86 Substance Abuse

YA – Mental Health Crisis (Series NF)

Posted on by
Reply

Mental Health Crisis. Reference Point Press, 2023. 64 p. $33.05 ea. $132.20 Set of 4. Grades 7-12. 

Castillo, Kristina C. Anxiety and Depression on the Rise. 978-1-678-20274-3. 274-6.
Mooney, Carla. Drug Overdoses on the Rise. 978-1-678-20276-7. 276-2.
Nardo, Don. Eating Disorders on the Rise. 978-1-678-20278-1. 278-1.
Steffens, Bradley. Teen Suicide on the Rise. 978-1-678-20280-4. 280-4.

Note: This review is for the titles Eating Disorders and Teen Suicide. This series seeks to shed light on how mental health issues among teens have increased since the pandemic and relate ways to help teenagers facing these issues. Eating Disorders on the Rise first identifies ‘the big three’ eating disorders as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. It also describes less common disorders such as orthorexia (‘clean’ or ‘pure’ eating) and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. A chapter is devoted to how the social isolation of the pandemic led to increased levels of eating disorders and clarifies problems faced by men and the LGBTQ+ community. Distorted body image, trying to excel in sports, and social media pressure are factors known to harm teenagers. Treatment aids offered include hospitalization and residential care, medication, counseling, and various types of therapy, and all are respected, since eating disorders often persist for a lifetime. Teen Suicide on the Rise shines a spotlight on social media as a risk factor for teen girls, the impact of the pandemic on teen mental health, and LGBTQ+ teens at risk. A chapter is devoted to the impact of suicide on survivors (grief, regret, guilt, and suicidal tendencies) and a final chapter offers treatment options. The stories shared are compelling and the advice to all who work with youth is “talk about suicide and let young people know you care.” A new tool, the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) aka the Columbia Protocol, is under study and appears to identify needs well. Various apps are mentioned as useful for teens, such as the Virtual Hope Box, notOK, and BetterHelp.

THOUGHTS: The books in this series will help teens to understand these issues and gain help for themselves or friends when needed.

155.4 Child Psychology
362.29 Substance Abuse
616.85 Mental Disorders
362.28 Suicide

Elem. – Kitchen Trios (Series NF)

Posted on by
Reply

Borgert-Spaniol, Megan. Kitchen Trios. Super Sandcastle, 2023. 32 p. $23.00 ea. $144.00 Set of 6. Grades K-3.

Making Breakfasts with Grains, Fruit & Proteins. 978-1-532-19905-9.
Making Pastas with Noodles, Sauce & Cheese. 978-1-532-19906-6.
Making Pizzas with Crust, Sauce & Toppings. 978-1-532-19907-3.
Making Snacks that are Sweet, Salty & Crunchy. 978-1-532-19908-0.
Making Soups with Broth, Proteins & Veggies. 978-1-532-19909-7.
Making Tacos with Tortillas, Fillings & Toppings. 978-1-532-19910-3.

This title is part of the six-book “Kitchen Trio” series that challenges young chefs and their adult helpers to prepare meals using only three primary ingredients – in this reviewer’s case, noodles, sauce, and cheese. Readers are encouraged to view the kitchen as a kind of makerspace where imagination, inspiration, collaboration, and problem-solving lead to endless delicious possibilities. After learning about different kinds of noodles, exploring several kinds of sauces, and differentiating between hard, medium, and soft cheeses, several simple recipes are introduced. From fresh tomato pasta to white bean pasta, kale pesto pasta, and mac and cheese, there are possibilities for every palate. Each recipe is broken down into simple steps and includes a photograph illustration for each description. Additional kitchen prep vocabulary such as colander, cheese grater, and whisk are introduced, and colorful sidebars address kitchen safety tips, such as washing hands often and asking for an adult’s help with the stove, oven, and knives. Text features such as a Table of Contents make the book easy to navigate, and bold vocabulary words relating to ingredients and preparation instructions are defined in the Glossary. Five additional titles are included in this “Kitchen Trios” series: Making Breakfasts with Grains, Fruit, and Proteins; Making Pizzas with Crust, Sauce, and Toppings; Making Snacks that are Sweet, Salty, and Crunchy; Making Soups with Broth, Proteins, and Veggies; and Making Tacos with Tortillas, Fillings, and Toppings. 

THOUGHTS: Thanks to plenty of colorful photographs and easy-to-read chunks of text, this is an attractive title for browsing or using to prepare a meal. A note on the title page shares that the titles in this series were developed by a team of professional educators and reading specialists with phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, text comprehension, and fluency in mind. This title will also support STEM and makerspace units as well as Common Core standards. 

641.5 Cooking

Elem. – Animal Survival (Series NF)

Posted on by
Reply

Animal Survival. ABDO Publishing. 2023. $23.95 each, $143.70 for set of 6. Grades. 2-5.

Holmes, Parker. Hiding and Bluffing to Survive. 978-1-532-19851-9.
MacCarald, Clara. Getting Smelly to Survive. 978-1-532-19850-2.
—. Hunting to Survive. 978-1-532-19852-6.
—. Migrating to Survive. 978-1-532-19853-3.
Perdew, Laura. Fleeing to Survive. 978-1-532-19849-6.
—. Working Together to Survive. 978-1-532-19854-0.

There are a wide variety of animals alive on earth. Whether they are on land, fly through the air, or swim in the waters, all animals and species need to be able to survive. The Animal Survival series informs readers of the many ways animals adapt in order to survive. Although each survival skill is unique, they all play an important role in the survival of its species. This reviewer read Getting Smelly to Survive by Clara MacCarald. After reading, the reviewer can say that this book is downright stinky! Odors play an important part of life, whether it be to help animals come closer or to move away. Filled with photographs of different animals, showcasing themselves in their smelly nature, this book informs readers of a unique survival tactic some animals utilize.

THOUGHTS: Filled with delightful photographs, easy-to-read text, and web links to additional information, this book showcases a few animals that use scent to survive. A fun read for explorers with a sense of humor!

591.57 Means of Protection

Elem. – Everyday Sign Language (Series NF)

Posted on by
Reply

Davis, Bela. Everyday Sign Language, Set 2. ABDO Publishing, 2023. $21.95 each, $131.70 for set of 6. Grades PreK-2.

Sign Language & Animals. 978-1-09-826405-5.
Sign Language & Body Parts. 978-1-09-826406-2.
Sign Language & Clothing. 978-1-09-826407-9.
Sign Language & Numbers. 978-1-09-826408-6.
Sign Language & Shapes. 978-1-09-826409-3.
Sign Language & Vehicles. 978-1-09-826410-9.

Everyday Sign Language, Set 2 is a continuation of the first Every Day Sign Language set that covers the topics of colors, emotions, family, food, school activities, and the alphabet. Set 2 expands on the knowledge of how to use facial expressions and body movement to learn American Sign Language (ASL). Set 2 dives into the topics of animals, body parts, clothing, numbers, shapes, and vehicles. This reviewer read the title Sign Language & Body Parts. This book explains to young readers how to sign for different body parts. Complete with a sentence utilizing the body part, the book breaks down into simple steps how to sign the body part mentioned. A fun read for young learners on how to sign the most popular body parts.

THOUGHTS: This series is a great expansion of the first set of Sign Language Books. As a reviewer, I would recommend utilizing the first set, specifically Sign Language & The Alphabet (2022, 978-1-09-820704-5, $21.95) before using the next series. Many sign explanations require basic knowledge of the alphabet to explain how to sign something else.

419 Sign Languages

Elem./MG/YA – Space Exploration (Series NF)

Posted on by
Reply

Space Exploration. BrightPoint Press, 2023. $32.95 ea. $164.75 set of 5. 64 p. Grades 5-12.

Gagne, Tammy. Colonizing Mars. 978-1-678-20426-6.
Layton, Christine Marie. Beyond the Solar System. 978-1-678-204242.
Wolny, Phillip. Living in Space. 978-1-678-20428-0.
Toth, Henrietta. Robotics in Space. 978-1-678-20430-3.
Moon, Walt K. Rockets and Space Travel. 978-1-678-20432-7

The focus of the 5-book nonfiction series is on the cutting-edge technology that is being used in space travel currently as well as looking to the future. Each book has engaging images along with an informative text that will appeal to students. The series contains topics that range from life on other planets to robotics in space. The book concludes with a glossary, additional resources, source notes, and an index.

THOUGHTS: This series is a good addition to enhance upper elementary and middle school library collections seeking to update their space and science section. It is labeled as Hi-lo YA nonfiction, so it also would be a good addition to a high school library.

600s Science and Space  

Elem. – Inside Big Events (Series NF)

Posted on by
Reply

Kortemeier, Todd, and Josh Anderson. Inside Big Events. The Child’s World, 2023. $24.95 ea. $149.70 set of 6. 31 p. Grades 3-6. 

Inside the Daytona 500: 978-1-503-86515-0.
Inside the NBA. 978-1-503-86517-4.
Inside the Olympics. 978-1-503-86518-1.
Inside the Super Bowl. 978-1-503-86519-8.
Inside the World Cup. 978-1-503-86516-7.
Inside the World Series. 978-1-503-86520-4.

Professional sporting events are a popular topic for many students. The Child’s World has selected six major sporting events and given a basic overview of some of the star athletes, some of the biggest moments in the event, and fast facts. Full-color and historical photographs add a strong interest for all readers. There are critical-thinking questions to help readers deepen their understanding. The book concludes with a glossary, additional resources, source notes, and an index.

THOUGHTS: This series is a good addition to enhance elementary library collections seeking to refresh their sports section.

700s Sports and Recreation

Elem. – Opossums

Posted on by
Reply

Andrews, Elizabeth. Twilight Animals. ABDO Books, 2023. 24 p. $21.95 ea. $131.70 Set of 6. Grades K-2. 

Barn Owls. 978-1-098-24205-3. 
Bears. 978-1-098-24206-0.
Bobcats. 978-1-098-24207-7.
Moose. 978-1-098-24208-4.
Opossums. 978-1-098-24209-1.
Skunks. 978-1-098-24210-7.

This reviewer had the opportunity to read Opossums. Opossums are some of nature’s most unique twilight animals. As the sun sets, opossums ready themselves for an evening of eating. They eat anything from insects to vegetables, trash, roadkill, and even poisonous snakes and ticks. This title highlights additional facts about these unique nocturnal animals, including information about their physical characteristics, habitat, and behavior. Large, colorful photographs showcase opossums in their natural surroundings and highlight features such as their paws, ears, and tail. QR codes sprinkled throughout the book offer access to digital resources such as a PBS video about opossums, information about other marsupials, and activities like a word search and a maze. Backmatter includes a section titled “Making Connections” that challenges readers to make text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world connections about opossums. Additional text features include a Table of Contents, Glossary, and Index. 

THOUGHTS: This eye-catching title will draw in the youngest nonfiction fans, and the QR codes add an additional dimension to the title’s simple text. This book will work well for units featuring nocturnal animals or discussions about marsupials or omnivores. 

598-599 Aves (Birds), Mammalia (Mammals)

Elem. – Earth Cycles (Series NF)

Posted on by
Reply

Gieseke, Tyler. Earth Cycles. ABDO Publishing, 2023. $22.95 ea. $137.70 set of 6. 32 pgs. Grades 2-5.

The Carbon Cycle. 978-1-098-24219-0.
Migration Cycles. 978-1-098-24220-6.
Plant and Animal Life Cycles. 978-1-098-24221-3.
The Rock Cycle. 978-1-098-24222-0.
The Water Cycle. 978-1-098-24223-7.
Weather Cycles. 978-1-098-24224-4.

This reader had the opportunity to review The Water Cycle. There are many different cycles found on Earth related to plants, animals, even the weather. The Water Cycle attempts to break down in simple terms how the water cycle works from beginning to end. There are four chapters: an overview chapter, a chapter on evaporation, a chapter on condensation, and a chapter on precipitation. There is a glossary at the back of the book, as well as an index. There are QR codes throughout the book that lead to videos, games, or just more information about the topic. There also is an online resources section in the back of the book.

THOUGHTS: This is a great introduction to the water cycle and would make a decent read aloud, even if you only read parts of the book. This book would make a great research starter for younger grades and could be used as supplemental research material for slightly older students or learning support students.

500s Earth Science

Tags; water cycle, earth, science, series nonfiction.