From little acorns-- A first look at the life cycle of a tree

Reviewed with Sam Godwin's The Drop Goes Plop0 . K-Gr. 1. Aimed at younger children than those who delight in the incomparable Magic School Bus series, these titles in the First Look--Science series offer very simplified versions of their subjects. A mother squirrel and her offspring follow an oak tree's growth; a mom and child waterbird consider the water cycle. These British imports use soothingly colored cartoon-style illustrations that add a lighthearted element. Each book includes a very brief bibliography and "Fun Facts" and "Useful Words," which are so abbreviated they will be of little use. A Web portal can be searched for sites keyed to the titles via a code number. --GraceAnne DeCandido Copyright 2004 Booklist

K-Gr 1-Simple texts complemented by dialogue-bubble commentary and bright, cartoon illustrations introduce science concepts. In the first title, when an acorn falls on a squirrel, he watches and learns how the life cycle of an oak tree begins. The book outlines the steps from seed to oak tree and ends with a diagram of the tree's life cycle. In Paint, a group of friends explore their neighborhood and play throughout a year. Their clothing and activities change according to the season. Simple facts are related such as in the summer there is plenty of fresh fruit and "in winter, the sun is low in the sky." This book concludes with a scientific explanation of why there are seasons. In Rainbow a grandfather and his granddaughter take a walk after it rains. The book provides very basic commentary on such topics as nature's colors and how colors can be mixed. Directions for making a spinning color wheel are included. While the story lines may interest children, they are slight, as is the information.-Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.