¡Jálalo! (Listos Para Las Ciencias)

K-Gr 3--Uncommon words and ideas take the spotlight in this fascinating and innovative series, which presents categories of things and activities, and groups similar concepts, ideas, and activities together in each book. In the title about simple machines, readers learn that ramps, zippers, grocery carts, and bottle caps are all examples of simple machines. In the book about things that jump, readers learn about kangaroos, rabbits, dolphins, and spiders. Each concept gets its own mini-chapter, but text is very sparse in this series--it's limited to one sentence per page--making it a great choice for a variety of ages. Books aren't limited to one category of things or ideas, which will help readers draw associations between things they touch and use every day and things they see or experience in the natural world. More advanced learners will benefit from the activities at the end of each book, which are designed to help kids remember what they learned. VERDICT A standout second language series that inspires all kinds of creative thinking and makes a great addition to round out any collection.