Escalators

November 1, 2014

Gr 1-3-Intended for a young school-age audience, these books do not shy away from tackling complex concepts in an easy-to-understand way. Even the youngest readers can learn the basics of aerodynamics (Airplanes) and drive gears (Escalators) without feeling overwhelmed. Uncluttered and streamlined, the clean design makes the vibrant images pop without drawing focus away from the content. Questions within the text actively engage readers to think about the science-based ideas critically, and the noteworthy "Photo Glossary" provides the audience with a visual frame of reference by connecting an image from the text to the word it's defining. A "Before and After Reading Activities" section at the beginning of each volume should prove helpful to educators as they integrate STEM titles into the curriculum. Ideal offerings.

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2014
Grades 2-4 From the How It Works series comes a book on a topic kids may have wondered about: how escalators work. The text, in a good-size typeface, explains what an escalator does and how it is based on the same design as a conveyor belt. Diagrams show the different parts of the escalator. Short sidebars offer bits of informationthe first escalator was a ride at an amusement park. The color photos take up almost the whole page, and some are more successful than others: the first picture is hard to recognize as a staircase. But this does its job, and a page of Before and After Reading Activities may be a boon for teachers. A photo glossary adds a unique element, enforcing what readers have seen in the pictures.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)