April 1, 2020
K-Gr 3-One of the most common dilemmas of school and public librarians is whether to direct students to print or online resources for projects. Both formats are useful depending on the project's scope, but for students with limited online access at home or a preference for print material, an encyclopedic collection is indispensable for teachers, students, and librarians. "Smithsonian Informational Text" fills the gap with this visually exciting collection that covers interesting topics in many subject areas (geography, history, life science, social science, and more). Although this comprehensive series is divided by grade levels, these books could easily appeal to readers in the upper elementary grades. Like the publisher's other books, this series delivers on its promise of reliability and appeal for a broad range of readers. Each book includes a history of the topic at hand, different applications of each, and plenty of high-quality photographs, maps, and artistic renderings that illustrate the featured concepts. Simple and complex ideas and processes are communicated well thanks to quality translations. Comprehension questions and an outline of the scientific method are provided in each volume. VERDICT An essential, standout purchase for any collection; libraries serving homeschooled students should consider.
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