From the world’s stinkiest flowers to gentle looks at the sweetest ones, these series highlight the whole gamut of what nature has to offer. Taller trees and even taller dinosaurs will captivate readers who are curious about the world around them.
 

Elementary

Ard, Catherine. Ocean Atlas. illus. by Paul Daviz. ISBN 9781538399989.
Arlon, Penelope. Dinosaur Atlas. illus. by Paul Daviz. ISBN 9781538399927.
de la Bedoyere, Camilla. Jungle Atlas. illus. by Greco Westermann. ISBN 9781538399958.
Wilsher, Jane. Space Atlas. illus. by Paul Daviz. ISBN 9781725396111.
ea vol: 32p. (My First Atlas). Rosen/Windmill. Aug. 2025. Tr $28.93.
Gr 2-4–There is much to look at and be amazed by across these titles, which feature high-interest topics like dinosaurs and jungles. Readers are offered a mix of paragraphs and shorter factoids that allow for snippets of information, and sections with deeper context to sit side-by-side on the page. Daviz and Westermann’s gorgeous, layered illustrations are dazzling without being distracting in a way fans of Steve Jenkins can appreciate. Choosing to present animals across time and habitats keeps each title fresh with new, intriguing creatures and places to discover. VERDICT Packed with interesting illustrations and facts on each page, these enticing atlases are perfect for science lovers who want to learn about large topics.

Barker, Irene. Adaptation. ISBN 9781668963210.
Berry, Alexandria. Living and Nonliving. ISBN 9781668963265.
––––. Matter. ISBN 9781668963272.
Haelle, Tara. Habitats. ISBN 9781668963234.

Hicks, Kelli. Forces. ISBN 9781668963227.
––––. Landforms. ISBN 9781668963241.
––––. Seasons. ISBN 9781668963289.
––––. Weather. ISBN 9781668963302.
Lundgren, Julie K. Light. ISBN 9781668963258.
––––. Sound. ISBN 9781668963296.
ea vol: 24p. (Science Words I Should Know). Cherry Lake. Aug. 2025. Tr $32.07.
K-Gr 2–Growing scientific literacy has never been so easy as with these vibrant titles for young readers. Each has a rooted theme that is expanded upon through key terms that are represented in a visually rich way. Photographs and illustrations serve as guides that show abstract concepts like magnetic force, and concrete ones like living animals. The text is succinct and relies on the images to express ideas, while giving brief definitions for those that are more complex. Each title ends with a pronunciation guide of highlighted words and thinking activities. VERDICT A great choice for school libraries, as they cover a wide variety of scientific topics in a visually appealing way.

Bradley, Doug. A Peek at Flowers. ISBN 9781499451955.
––––. A Peek at Fruits. ISBN 9781499451986.
––––. A Peek at Leaves. ISBN 9781499452013.
––––. A Peek at Roots. ISBN 9781499452044.
––––. A Peek at Stems. ISBN 9781499452075.
ea vol: 24p. (A Peek at Plants). Rosen/PowerKids. Aug. 2025. Tr $25.27.
K-Gr 2–How do plants grow, and what do they need? The life cycle of plants we see in the park and fruits we eat are broken down into an easy-to-understand collection of necessary parts. Key vocabulary highlights common and scientific terms to grow reading comprehension hand-in-hand with scientific literacy. An introduction with a simplified illustration shows the interconnected system of a plant structure. Real photographs of common plants are peppered throughout, demonstrating each titular concept like flowers and fruits. VERDICT An accessible primer that teaches about introductory concepts in botany.

Davis, Jane R. What Makes Rainbows Appear? ISBN 9781978543591.
––––. Why Are Days Longer in Summer? ISBN 9781978543621.
––––. Why Are Stars Only Out at Night? ISBN 9781978543652.
––––. Why Does It Rain and Snow? ISBN 9781978543683.
––––. Why Does the Sun Rise and Set? ISBN 9781978543713.
––––. Why Is Earth Round? ISBN 9781978543744.
ea vol: 24p. (Earth Science Explorers). Enslow. Aug. 2025. Tr $24.27.
K-Gr 2–The focus of this series is on the experience of living on Earth rather than the planet itself, so these titles reframe the definition of Earth Science in that way. Readers are asked about their own experiences, which are connected with visual prompts like stars or rainbows that make for quality dialogic reading. To match the aesthetic, the photographs and illustrations are stylistically added into the composition notebook with illustrated tape. VERDICT A good introduction to observation science that encourages young readers to think big about what science is while also looking at the world around them.

Garrett, Scott. We Need Fungus! ISBN 9781482472950.
––––. We Need Mud! ISBN 9781482472981.
––––. We Need Poop! ISBN 9781482473018.
––––. We Need Slime! ISBN 9781482473049.
ea vol: 32p. (Icky World). Gareth Stevens. Aug. 2025. Tr $28.27.
Gr 2-4–Leaning into the gross factor, these books are a feast for the eyes and minds of reluctant readers. This series deftly balances the educational value of things that disgust with their added values to the natural world in processes like decomposition. Activities and safety tips are provided that allow a deeper exploration of the gross and engrossing subjects. Short, amusing facts pair exceptionally well with eye-catching illustrations of the icky. VERDICT This series says a lot about seemingly simple topics in a way that will captivate readers’ attention.

Gish, Ashley. Black Bat Flower. ISBN 9798889895848.
––––. Corpse Flower. ISBN 9798889895855.
––––. Dragon Blood Tree. ISBN 9798889895862.
––––.Fanged Pitcher Plant. ISBN 9798889895879.
––––. Ghost Plant. ISBN 9798889895886.
––––. Venus Flytrap. ISBN 9798889895893.
ea vol: 24p. (Look!). Creative Company. Jul. 2025. Tr $35.70.
Gr 3-5–The smelly, carnivorous, and curious plants that inhabit the Earth will make readers scratch their heads. These titles highlight the quirky organisms and explain why they do what they do. Close-ups of the plants are shown to outline the unique features of each one and discuss how they might have evolved to their present state. These high-interest topics draw readers in and ask them to consider these unique plants’ varied life cycles and needs. VERDICT This romp in the unusual foliage of peculiar plants brings lesser-known species into focus in an amusing, yet informative, way.

Hansen, Grace. Ankylosaurs: Plated Dinosaurs. ISBN 9798384905141.
––––. Ceratopsians: Horned-Face Dinosaurs. ISBN 9798384905158.
––––. Ornithopods: Two-Footed Dinosaurs. ISBN 9798384905165.
––––. Sauropods: Giant Plant-Eating Dinosaurs. ISBN 9798384905172.
––––. Stegosaurs: Roofed Dinosaurs. ISBN 9798384905189.
––––. Theropods: Meat-Eating Dinosaurs. ISBN. 9798384905196
ea vol: 24p. (Dinosaur Groups). ABDO Kids Jumbo. Aug. 2025. Tr $34.22.
Gr 1-3–Using side-by-side comparisons between very similar dinosaurs, fans of the prehistoric can see the myriad differences and similarities between the selected species. Prehistoric biodiversity within related groups is something not often focused on for younger audiences, but it is done really well in these titles. Taking them species by species and connecting them to their evolutionary relations also ties in ideas from biology class for living species. VERDICT Dinosaurs lived all over the world during their heyday, and these titles are a great introduction to the various related and diverse species that once roamed the Earth.

Jackson, Tom. Allosaurus vs. Stegosaurus. ISBN 9798765669228.
––––. Giganotosaurus vs. Argentinosaurus. ISBN 9798765669235.
––––. Spinosaurus vs. Suchomimus. ISBN 9798765669242.
––––. T. Rex vs. Ankylosaurus. ISBN 9798765669259.
––––. Triceratops vs. Edmontosaurus. ISBN 9798765669266.
––––. Velociraptor vs. Protoceratops. ISBN 9798765669273.
ea vol: 32p. (Dino Duel). Lerner. Aug. 2025. Tr $31.99.
Gr 2-4–Readers familiar with sizing up in boxing and wrestling will love the meshing of fighter statistics and cool dinosaurs. Interaction is encouraged, as there will be a winner at the end of each book. Wrapped in this fun presentation of competitors are some really interesting facts about dinosaurs that address their biology, lifestyle, and evolutionary adaptations. This data will really make readers think about which has the upper hand as they go head-to-head. VERDICT Fans of the “Who Will Win” series will love these new information-packed entries into the world of animal-on-animal competition.

Mather, Charis. Discovering Coral Reefs. ISBN 9798895770221.
––––. Discovering Dolphins and Whales. ISBN 9798895770238.
––––. Discovering Fish. ISBN 9798895770245.
––––. Discovering Seabirds. ISBN 9798895770252.
ea vol: 24p. (See-Gulls Ocean Tours). Fusion. Aug. 2025. Tr $30.95.
Gr 1-3–Mixing the silly with the informative, seagull tour guides take audiences on a journey from the seashore to the depths of the deep blue. The illustrated See-Gulls show off real photographs that are paired with concise, informative descriptions for budding readers. There is a light, intentional touch of ecology that hits the mark on age-appropriate discussion of care and wonder toward the natural world in an era where climate change is heavy on the mind. VERDICT Managing to be both whimsical and informative, this series is a treat for readers hungry to explore the fascinating worlds the oceans have to offer.

Upper Elementary to Middle School

Bell, Samantha S. Deciduous Trees. ISBN 9781098297671.
Lim, Angela. Snakes. ISBN 9781098297695.
Mooney, Carla. Mammals. ISBN 9781098297688.
Murray, Laura K. Conifers. ISBN 9781098297664.
ea vol: 112p. (North American Field Guides Set 3). ABDO/Field Guides. Aug. 2025. Tr. $47.07.
Gr 5-8–Readers can step into the woods with confidence and knowledge with these practical field guides that explore the many deciduous fruit and nut trees, as well as the critters that live around them. As with other sets of these guides, the photographs are visually appealing and helpful for identification in the wilderness. The photographs especially shine in the snake volume, as they include images of young and adult snakes that can differ in color as they mature. VERDICT Indispensable field guides that expand on common areas of nature, making them useful for general education and safety in the wild.

The grossest and strangest nature has to offer is outlined in “Icky World” (Gareth Stevens) and “Look!” (Creative Company). “My First Atlas” (Rosen/Windmill) boasts high-interest science topics and dazzling illustrations. ABDO’s “North American Field Guides Set 3” will ensure budding middle-school naturalists can identify what they see in the wild.

FALL 2025 SERIES MADE SIMPLE REVIEWS