Mermaids

Gr 5-8-This is a well-referenced and ambitious collection that delivers. The books breathe new life into mythology while offering historical perspective for the fantastical stories kids know and love, such as J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" (Scholastic), Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" (Disney-Hyperion), and Christopher Paolini's "The Inheritance Cycle" (Knopf). Although the writing is simple enough for younger middle-school students, the detailed content also makes the set appropriate for older kids. Beautifully designed in colors and fonts reminiscent of Medieval and Renaissance art, these titles include just enough reproductions and photos to keep readers interested without feeling overwhelmed by text. Entertaining and informative, this is a smart series. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.