Grizzly Bears (Amazing Animals Series)

The American Celebrations series is well positioned to plug holes in school units on holidays, with punchy, informative entries on the past and present histories of important days. The colorful layouts feature an ever-shifting mix of period and modern photographs, while sidebars keep things from settling too comfortably into the organizing structure, which is basically consistent throughout: introduction, history, key personalities, celebrations, symbols, and activities (typically including songs, crafts, recipes, and a quiz). With its fascinating account of the frequently renamed and repositioned holiday, Presidents’ Day is a series standout and expands the idea of “symbols” to include not just Mount Rushmore but also U.S. currency. Strong back matter is supplemented by a bounty of interactive options at the publisher’s AV2 website, accessible via a code imprinted inside each book. Grades 3-5. --Daniel Kraus