Students are inundated with status updates, tweets, instant feeds, and more. Many children and teens define themselves by whom they are virtually connected to and what they “like” on social media sites. In a world filled with information and expeditious results, one can get lost in the shuffle. The social sciences provide 21st-century learners with knowledge of communications, world religions, holidays, families, economics, and more, helping them realize where they fit in the larger world around them. The series reviewed below offer great starting points for readers to explore social issues.

Preschool-Grade 4

AXELROD-CONTRADA, Joan . Halloween and Day of the Dead Traditions Around the World. ISBN 978-1-61-473427-7. LC 2012946512. COSSON, M. J. Easter Traditions Around the World. ISBN 978-1-61-473426-0. LC 2012946511. ––––. Wishing Traditions Around the World. ISBN 978-1-61-473431-4. LC 2012946515. INGALLS, Ann. Birthday Traditions Around the World. ISBN 978-1-61-473424-6. LC 2012946509. ––––. Christmas Traditions Around the World. ISBN 978-1-61-473425-3. LC 2012946510. KESSELRING, Susan. National Day Traditions Around the World. ISBN 978-1-61-473428-4. LC 2012946513. MALASPINA, Ann. New Year Traditions Around the World. ISBN 978-1-61-473429-1. LC 2012946514. ––––. Tooth Traditions Around the World. ISBN 978-1-61-473430-7. LC 2012946516. ea vol: illus. by Elisa Chavarri. 32p. (World Traditions Series). further reading. glossary. index. maps. photos. websites. The Child’s World. 2013. PLB $27.07. Gr 3-5 -Readers are introduced to the different beliefs and holiday celebrations of people around the globe. For example, Birthday covers events such as quinceañeras and Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs. The sections are concise (usually one spread or a single page) and arranged by countries or belief traditions with text providing the history and origins, songs, and celebrations of the traditions introduced. Vivid, full-page illustrations and photographs appear throughout. Maps and occasional captions (e.g., “The lucky magpie takes Korean children’s lost teeth.”) provide additional facts. Each title contains a “Hands-On” activity and an “Up Close” section that extends the topics with crafts, stories, songs, and recipes. Though nothing spectacular, this series integrates visual information and broad facts well, making it a general purchase for most collections.

ENDERLEIN, Cheryl L. Christmas in England. illus. ISBN 978-1-62065-141-4. LC 2012026286. ––––. Christmas in Mexico. ISBN 978-1-62065-138-4. LC 2012026287. ––––. Christmas in Sweden. ISBN 978-1-62065-140-7. LC 2012026284. ––––. Christmas in the Philippines. ISBN 978-1-62065-139-1. LC 2012026462. ea vol: 24p. (First Facts: Christmas Around the World Series). further reading. glossary. index. maps. photos. websites. Capstone. 2013. PLB $24.65. Gr 2-4 –Short chapters deliver general information while text boxes define related terms and extend key ideas. Each book opens with a map and “How to Say It!” section that explains the country’s holiday greeting. The large, color stock photos seem repetitive. Every title includes a “Hands-On” craft  that contributes to readers’ understanding of the celebration. Students looking for more information can get it on the publisher’s website, which is accessible through a link provided in the back matter. Though an additional purchase, this set would be useful for comparing and contrasting different customs and supporting Christmas-around-the-world units.

FELIX, Rebecca. How’s the Weather in Fall? ISBN 978-1-61080-902-3; ISBN 978-1-61080-927-6; ISBN 978-1-61080-952-8. LC 2012030453. ––––. We Celebrate Halloween in Fall. ISBN 978-1-61080-903-0; ISBN 978-1-61080-928-3; ISBN 978-1-61080-953-5. LC 2012030455. ––––. We Celebrate Thanksgiving in Fall. ISBN 978-1-61080-904-7; ISBN 978-1-61080-929-0; ISBN 978-1-61080-954-2. LC 2012030457. ––––. We Harvest Apples in Fall. ISBN 978-1-61080-905-4; ISBN 978-1-61080-930-6; ISBN 978-1-61080-955-9. LC 2012030458. ––––. We Harvest Pumpkins in Fall. ISBN 978-1-61080-906-1; ISBN 978-1-61080-931-3; ISBN 978-1-61080-956-6. LC 2012030459. ––––. What Do Animals Do in Fall? ISBN 978-1-61080-907-8; ISBN 978-1-61080-932-0; ISBN 978-1-61080-957-3. LC 2012030460. ––––. What Do People Do in Fall? ISBN 978-1-61080-908-5; ISBN 978-1-61080-933-7; ISBN 978-1-61080-958-0. LC 2012030461. ––––. What Happens to Leaves in Fall? ISBN 978-1-61080-909-2; ISBN 978-1-61080-934-4; ISBN 978-1-61080-959-7. LC 2012030462. ea vol: 24p. (21st Century Basic Skills Library: Let’s Look at Fall Series). further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Cherry Lake. 2013. PLB $22.79; pap. $12.79; ebook $22.79. PreS-Gr–Learning about fall is fun with the strong content in this series that supports early literacy and the Common Core State Standards. The simple sentences are presented in a large font surrounded by plenty of white space. Vocabulary words (“hibernate,” “harvest,” etc.) are set apart in a bold font and defined in a glossary. The large, bright color photographs correspond well to the texts, helping emerging readers clarify the meaning of words and sentences. Each book contains a “Home and School Connection” page, which provides parents and teachers with a word list to reinforce literacy and activity suggestions. “What Do You See?” sidebars invite students to engage with the photos and texts. For example, in Halloween, readers are asked, “How many ghosts do you see?” in a photo of spooky treats–an activity that underlines the relationship between numbers and quantities and supports math literacy. A welcome addition for early-reader units.

GREGORY, Helen. Celebrations Around the World. ISBN 978-1-4765-0040-9. LC 2011023313. ––––. Harvest Season. ISBN 978-1-4765-0042-3. LC 2011023942. ––––. Places to Work. ISBN 978-1-4765-0043-0. LC 2011023871. ––––. Teamwork. ISBN 978-1-4765-0041-6. LC 2011023873. ea vol: 20p. (Wonder Readers Next Steps: Social Studies Series). glossary. index. photos. websites. Capstone. 2013. PLB $21.99. PreS-Gr 2–This engaging early-reader series has a simple text that supports fluency and comprehension. In Celebrations, a variety of world celebrations are divided by season. Season explains how to harvest select fruits, vegetables, and grains and provides clear information about the different crops gathered. In Places, the larger font and single sentence per page format is perfect for young readers learning about careers. Teamwork shows how working together makes a job go faster. Each book offers a “Note to Parents and Teachers,” “Now Try This!” activities that extend the topics, and a link that leads readers to the publisher’s selected websites. The large, color photographs, one per page, generally provide visual clues that help extend the texts.  Sometimes, however, it’s an imperfect match. For example, in Teamwork, a photo of kids in a basketball huddle does little to illustrate that “Children work together when they do chores.” Additional purchase where early readers are needed on these topics.

KEOGH, Josie. Christmas. ISBN 978-1-4488-9625-7; ISBN 978-1-4488-9864-0. LC 2012020042. ––––. Halloween. ISBN 978-1-4488-9623-3; ISBN 978-1-4488-9862-6. LC 2012020044. ––––. Hanukkah. ISBN 978-1-4488-9626-4; ISBN 978-1-4488-9865-7. LC 2012020040. ––––. St. Patrick’s Day. ISBN 978-1-4488-9628-8; ISBN 978-1-4488-9867-1. LC 2012022309. ––––. Thanksgiving. ISBN 978-1-4488-9624-0; ISBN 978-1-4488-9863-3. LC 2012020043. ––––. Valentine’s Day. ISBN 978-1-4488-9627-1; ISBN 978-1-4488-9866-4. LC 2012020632. ea vol: 24p. (PowerKids Readers: Happy Holidays! Series). glossary. index. photos. websites. Rosen/PowerKids Pr. 2013. PLB $22.60; ebook $22.60. PreS-Gr1 –The large font and many clear, cheery, color photographs featuring children and their families make this set visually appealing for beginning readers. The simple sentences and bold keywords assist students with comprehension. Substantial white space keeps the focus on the texts. “Words to Know” sections have thumbnail photos above highlighted words, but no definitions; many readers may not fully grasp their meanings. It is also unfortunate that the attractive photos do not always correspond to the text. For example, in Halloween, the sentence “Pumpkins grow on vines.” is paired with an image of a carved jack-o-lantern, and in Hanukkah, readers learn that when playing dreidel “You can win gelt,” but no chocolate coins are shown. In addition, some sentences will leave readers wanting more information. This is not a strong series for reports, but rather an additional purchase where early-readers collections have gaps in the holiday collections.

LYONS, Shelly. People in My Neighborhood. ISBN 978-1-62065-099-8; ISBN 978-1-62065-883-3. LC 2012023416. ––––. Places in My Neighborhood. ISBN 978-1-62065-100-1; ISBN 978-1-62065-885-7. LC 2012023418. ––––. Safety in My Neighborhood. ISBN 978-1-62065-102-5; ISBN 978-1-62065-887-1. LC 2012023421. ––––. Signs in My Neighborhood. ISBN 978-1-62065-098-1; ISBN 978-1-62065-889-5. LC 2012023424. ––––. Transportation in My Neighborhood. ISBN 978-1-62065-101-8; ISBN 978-1-62065-891-8. LC 20120231091. ea vol: 24p. (Pebble Plus: My Neighborhood Series). further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Capstone. 2013. PLB $24.65; pap. $6.95. PreS-Gr1 –Children are introduced to a variety of neighbors (e.g., firefighters, librarians, and doctors) and learn how they teach, help, and serve the community. Readers are asked to think about where people live, how individuals travel from place to place, how to stay safe, and how to read signs around us. Short chapters, simple sentences, bold and colorful chapter headings and ample use of white space provide key decoding tools for emerging readers. The clear, large, color photographs portray diverse community members actively engaged in day-to-day living. The images not only create grabbing covers, but they also provide visual details that enhance understanding of key concepts and extend the texts. The layout is well balanced between illustration and text, helping students in their comprehension of each topic.

Grades 5 & Up

ANNISS, Matt. Planet Under Pressure: Too Many People on Earth? ISBN 978-1-4339-8643-7; ISBN 978-1-4339-8646-8. ––––. World Economy: What’s the Future? ISBN 978-1-4339-8647-5; ISBN 978-1-4339-8650-5. GRAY, Leon. Genetic Modification: Should Humans Control Nature? ISBN 978-1-4339-8635-2; ISBN 978-1-4339-8638-3. ––––. Global Positioning System: Who’s Tracking You? ISBN 978-1-4339-8639-0; ISBN 978-1-4339-8642-0. ea vol: 48p. (Ask the Experts Series). further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Gareth Stevens. 2013. PLB $31.95; ebook $31.95. Gr 6-10 –Using a variety of quoted sources to introduce alternative points of view, this set covers controversial subjects that are of concern to today’s readers, e.g., social media, economic recession, the environment, etc. Each book contains visually appealing sidebars, captioned color photos, and bright, crisp graphics that balance and/or complement the informative, compact texts. “The Debate” text boxes present scientific and moral ideas, dilemmas, and quandaries. Final “You’re the Expert” spreads ask readers to take stands on the featured subjects using the information they’ve read to inform their decisions. Modification is the strongest of the bunch; it explores the history of genetic modification as well as the complex topics scientists, politicians, and the public must ponder, such as animal cloning and world hunger. Despite some typos, this set would be a strong addition to both library and classroom shelves.

CONWAY, Celeste. Body Image and the Media. ISBN 978-1-61783-732-6; ISBN 978-1-61480-823-7; ISBN 978-1-61783-782-1. LC 2012946378. GIMPEL, Diane Marczely. Violence in Video Games. reprods. ISBN 978-1-61783-736-4; ISBN 978-1-61480-827-5; ISBN 978-1-61783-786-9. LC 2012946380. HARRIS, Ashley Rae. Graphic Novels. illus. ISBN 978-1-61783-733-3; ISBN 978-1-61480-824-4; ISBN 978-1-61783-783-8. LC 2012946377. HERMANSSON, Casie. Parental Guidance Ratings. ISBN 978-1-61783-734-0; ISBN 978-1-61480-825-1; ISBN 978-1-61783-784-5. LC 2012946379. KOPP, Megan. Reality Television. ISBN 978-1-61783-735-7; ISBN 978-1-61480-826-8; ISBN 978-1-61783-785-2. LC 2012946368. LUSTED, Marcia Amidon. Banned Books. maps. ISBN 978-1-61783-731-9; ISBN 978-1-61480-822-0; ISBN 978-1-61783-781-4. LC 2012946384. ea vol: 48p. (Hot Topics in Media Series). charts. chron. further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. ABDO/Core Library. 2013. PLB $32.79; ebook $32.79; pap. $15.64. Gr 3-6–By providing different arguments about contemporary issues, this series, which is designed to align with the CCSS, asks readers to think critically and evaluate alternative points of view. Body Image, Television, and Books are standout entries. Body explores the effects of media on self-image, while Television examines the history and effects of reality TV shows, and Banned looks at book challenges from different angles. In all of the titles, the clean design integrates textual and visual (charts, graphs, photos, etc.) information. Text boxes contain suggestions to “Explore Online,” “Straight to the Source” primary-source excerpts, “Further Evidence” writing exercises, or interesting facts. The publisher’s “Web Links” at the end of each volume lead readers to websites that contain current articles and multimedia to round out the content explored. These trendy topics will grab casual readers and report writers alike.

DALTON, David. Sikhism: Inderjeet’s Story. ISBN 978-1-84898-617-6. WALLACE, Holly. Buddhism: Yuranan’s Story. ISBN 978-1-84898-615-2. ––––. Christianity: Herbert’s Story. ISBN 978-1-84898-614-5. ––––. Hinduism: Babu’s Story. ISBN 978-1-84898-616-9. ––––. Islam: Hamabli’s Story. ISBN 978-1-84898-612-1. ––––. Judaism: Yoni’s Story. ISBN 978-1-84898-613-8. ea vol: 32p. (Our World of Faith Series). glossary. index. maps. photos. reprods. New Forest. 2013. PLB $28.50. Gr 4-6–Child narrators, ranging from 10- to 14-years-old, provide snapshots into their cultures and faiths. Captioned photos, fact boxes, and paragraph-length sidebars deliver additional text. Short chapters emphasize the role of family, worship, festivals, holy places, and traditions. The photography captures the children and their families, showcasing places of worship, foods, practices, and geography. Illustrations and world maps provide readers with context about each religion. Unfortunately, a few volumes have formatting issues; some of the photos run into the gutter, cutting off faces or causing the figures to bleed into the seam, and a handful of images are distractingly blurry. In addition, Judaism discusses only two main branches of the religion (Orthodox and Reform), yet there are many other major modern Jewish movements. Punctuation issues mar Hinduism.

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Educators and librarians can assist students by selecting series that support the Common Core State Standards. Cherry Lake’s “21st Century Basic Skills Library: Let’s Look at Fall” offers clear sentences and strong text features. Another standout is Capstone’s “Pebble Plus: My Neighborhood,” an early-reader series that explores topics in communities and neighborhoods and supplies strong visual details that support reading comprehension. ABDO’s “Hot Topics in Media” contains pop-culture facts that will capture tween readers, and, by examining different arguments, the books challenge students to apply critical-thinking skills. Gareth Stevens’s “Ask the Experts” is geared toward middle school and early high school students and delivers unique ways to examine controversial topics that concern today’s readers. Quoted sources, strong visual data, and moral and scientific debates provide students with effective content supporting reports.