11/01/2013
PreS-Gr 2—This set offers concise historical information and an unbiased evaluation of the cultural significance of holidays. Every aspect of this series seems perfectly tailored to Common Core classrooms that strive to make nonfiction exciting. Clever chapter headings, such as "Meet a Furry Forecaster!" in Groundhog Day, draw students in. "Fast Fact!" text boxes and photo captions will grab their attention while providing additional information. Reproductions and gorgeous, glossy color photos will spark conversations. For example, one photo shows a woman holding an enormous groundhog aloft. Calendars invite numerical and spatial learning, and the arts-and-crafts projects will help readers synthesize facts. Even the tables of contents and glossaries are visually dynamic. Not a single inch of page space is wasted (e.g., page numbers are presented inside icons in the shape of the holiday's symbol, such as a groundhog, heart or dreidel). Students will appreciate and be entertained by discovering new details with each read.
