Being strong in visual appeal, physically constructed to last approximately as long as the pyramids of Egypt, and focused on high interest topics—though all too often offering only bland generalizations about those topics or, conversely, indigestible barrages of facts without proper contexts—many of the titles below are more likely to rivet random browsers than engage serious students with an established interest in STEM subjects. Some of the series, though, are standout exceptions that support the Common Core K–5 Informational Reading Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards with systematic presentations of material, illustrations that effectively enhance the reader’s understanding, interactive features like hands-on projects or review quizzes, substantial leads to further sources of information, and unusual approaches or insights.

Preschool to Grade 4

K-Gr 2 –Offered as successors to the 1999 series of the same name (though not all of the volumes correspond), these pictorial surveys pair sharply reproduced photos of heavy-duty working vehicles with simply phrased commentary on the selected machine’s common main components and functions printed in large type. The chapter heads are framed as questions, such as “What are tractors?” and “How are trains used?” The final chapter in each volume explains how that type of vehicle is “important,” “useful” or some other positive quality--not that young fans of these mechanical behemoths will need any justification to pore over these big, bright images.

Gr 1-3 –These hands-on guides urge young children to grab a ruler, a thermometer, some empty bottles, and other such useful items—and get measuring! Along with instructions for several safe, simple projects and activities, each volume introduces relevant units of measure in different systems such as Fahrenheit and Celsius. Calendar offers two ways of writing dates as well as practice in creating schedules, while Clock presents exercises using both digital and face clocks. Both Measuring Length and Measuring Volume confusingly insert parenthetical metric equivalents after U.S. Customary units but don’t get around to explaining the metric system until three quarters of the way through. Still, the bright, colorful design and overall enthusiasm make these appealing choices.

Gr 2-4 –These very quick looks at many of the tasks that robots have already or may soon take over from humans are likely to leave even emergent readers unsatisfied. Nearly every spread features an often vague “Robot Fact” (“Scientists are working on new robots that will plant and fertilize crops.”) and a simply phrased description or claim accompanying a large color photo. Unusual terms are helpfully defined in the adjacent margins and in an appended glossary. Though robots like Star Trek’s Data and The Jetsons’s Rosie are clearly designated as imaginary, no systematic distinctions are made between currently functioning robots and those that are experimental or even theoretical. Furthermore, many of the images are blurry or not shown from informative angles—and some of those in Humanoid Robots are downright creepy looking.

Gr 2-4 –Though neatly designed and kitted out with big, bright color photos, these simplistic introductions to solid shapes are likely to sow more confusion than enlightenment. Along with factual errors (no, grave goods were not discovered inside the thoroughly looted Egyptian pyramids, and beach umbrellas are seldom if ever “shaped like a pyramid”), these definitions fail to mention that objects in nature only approximate ideal shapes. As a result, for “How many types of fruit that are spheres can you count in this picture?” the truly accurate answer, using the given definition, would be “none.” Also, the author notes that cubes are a type of prism only in Prisms, not Cubes. Furthermore, the illustrations don’t always measure up—graphic representations of a prism and a pyramid are drawn in a bewildering, semi-transparent way, and the activities in the back matter are often less than thrilling (Pyramids features an invitation to glue pennies to a pyramid shaped piece of Styrofoam).

Gr 1-4 –Spreads crowded with galleries of painted vehicles lit with artificial evenness and a mix of renowned and generic pilots or drivers give these historical surveys a mildly antiquated look. Simply phrased overviews, identifying captions, and, in some cases, top speeds or other statistics are printed in relatively large type and often look shoehorned onto the pages. Four spreads in each volume feature split page flaps that conceal changes of vehicle or view or, sometimes, cutaway glimpses of interiors or oversize engines. Reinforcing the retro air of this series, each volume, with the exception of Super Trucks, includes a time line, which ends at 2008 or earlier. Though the split pages are largely just a gimmick, younger fans of everything fast and noisy may be diverted by these overviews.

Gr 1-3 –Like 2008’s “Professional Tools” series, this continuation features galleries of adults in various skilled occupations and the gear they use. Here, the focus shifts from scientists to police and rescue workers, including forensic lab technicians, rescue dogs, and a SWAT team. All are shown at work and in roughly balanced mixes of men and women. Most of the full-page photos focus on equipment and vehicles, often with labels added and one-line “Fast Facts” at the top. The main captions run to short but pleasantly specific descriptive statements (“Jason’s heart has stopped. Alexa tries to revive him with a defibrillator”). Matching games and sets of quiz questions at the end provide reinforcement as well as tests of comprehension. Is it ever too early to start thinking about career choices?

Gr 3-5 –Making excellent use of emphatic titling and well-designed infographics, these browser’s treasures offer abbreviated but eye-catching numerical profiles of the four service branches, including information on how many people are currently serving in each to the sizes, top speeds, and weaponry of selected ships and other conveyances. The data is unsourced, but gathered in consultation with military historians and claimed valid as of 2013. Readers will also enjoy introductions to historical high and low spots, such as Pearl Harbor and recent Marine Corps Disaster Relief missions in Haiti and Pakistan—not to mention, they’ll learn how many push-ups are required for graduation from Navy and Navy SEAL training, the average Army pay in 1949 vs. 2013, and, just for fun, sets of random facts about each branch. Color and period photos throughout add appropriately martial visual notes.

K-Gr 2 –As a natural expansion for single-volume visits to construction sites, this series has plenty to offer younger enthusiasts. Each book combines bright, full-page color photos of heavy-duty machines in a variety of sizes and designs with one or two very simply phrased descriptive notes on the facing pages. For the most part, the machines are somewhat cleaner than they would likely be in real life, but all are shown on site and at work. Except for Cement Mixers, each title ends with a discussion starting question. Some sentences (“The stick and boom connect the bucket to the tractor”) would be more informative combined with arrows or labels, and there is but one woman among the workers in the pictures. Still, despite these minor flaws, these books merit, and should see, immediate and substantial use.

Grades 5 & Up

Gr 5-8 –Readers after more horsepower than the plethora of one-volume motorcycle galleries can deliver will really be revved up by these high-octane tributes to most of the more famous makes. Focusing mainly on racing and sport models, but bestowing at least nods to working and street machines, authors vary their approaches, mixing history with specs and records for some makes and zeroing in on particular models for others. The prose is souped up (“The M109R grumbles nicely on the low end, but rev up over 4,000 rpm and the [Suzuki] Boulevard really hits its stride.”); the photos, acceptable if not spectacular in quality, are a mix of action and display shots with occasional closeups or details. Each volume ends with a chart of specs and generous quantities of print and web resources.

Gr 4-6 –Though the “head to head” approach and high-energy page design in these browsing items give them plenty of superficial flash, readers will quickly get bogged down in Crum’s dry recitations of dates and model designations. Moreover, the color photos of cars past and present are equally dull—being mostly display shots from auto shows with scarcely any peeks beneath the hoods or into the passenger compartments. Following a side-by-side fact chart that is likely to be the only feature here that sparks much interest (base price of the first Mustang convertible? $2,557), each volume closes with a jejune “You Decide!” challenge.

For a level of detail that easily overmatches other titles on this ever-hot topic, “Motorcycles: A Guide to the World’s Best Bikes” merits particular attention, as does “More Professional Tools” for its spot on audience appropriate presentation. “Military by the Numbers” takes an unusual slant that will tempt casual browsers to linger over the texts as well as the pictures. Both “Big Machines at Work” and “Construction Site” offer plenty of tasty eye candy as well as information that will enhance the delight that many emergent readers take in this high-interest subject. “Measuring Mania” is worth consideration for its enthusiastic, hands-on approach. The rest of these offerings may be less useful for instructional purposes but have plenty of kid appeal; even reluctant or disinterested readers will be hard put to resist taking closer looks at them.