©1996, ProMotion, inc.
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Nonfiction early readers have been improving along with their fictional counterparts. For instance, in Scholastic's Hello Reader Science Series, Jean Marzollo's I'm a Seed ($3.50, ages 3-6, 0590265865) is a simple, yet imaginative discussion between a marigold seed and a pumpkin seed. Judith Moffatt's striking collage illustrations add another layer of clarity to the tale.Advance a reading level and try Mighty Spiders by Fay Robinson (Scholastic, $3.50, ages 5-7, 0590262629). Once again, the text is basic, but informative and interesting. The last few pages are a mini field guide, providing the names of the many spiders illustrated in the main text by Jean Day Zallinger.
By the end of the school year, first graders ready for slightly heavier doses of information should try Volcanoes: Mountains That Blow Their Tops by Nicholas Nirgiotis (Grosset & Dunlap All-Aboard Reading, $3.95, grades 1-3, 0448411431). The details are vivid, exciting, well told, and well researched, while Michael Radencich's collages are particularly effective.
Alice Cary reads, writes, and reviews books for young readers.
©1996, ProMotion, inc.