"It’s a challenge to learn how to function within a larger community, especially for little ones who have only been self-aware for a few short years. Enter the Read and Discover Civics series (4 titles), which offers youngsters relatable examples of actions, values, and community helpers, while building their reading comprehension and fluency skills. Rather than defining key terms for readers, the books demonstrate their meaning with relevant examples and context clues. Rules Rule at School! explains that rules help “make sure everyone is safe and happy,” before providing common school rules paired with descriptions of why or how they are important. For example, listening when others talk “makes our classroom a respectful place.” Community helpers step into the spotlight in Very Important People, which nicely incorporates racial and gender diversity in its photo illustrations. Working Together demonstrates different ways people can improve the places where they live, such as through community gardens and art or cleanup projects. Working Together at School broaches important concepts, like fairness, responsibility, tolerance, and courage. The titles use a double-page spread for each new concept, laid out with clear, smoothly written text set in a band of color beside or underneath a large, well-chosen stock photo. An appended “Reading Reinforcement” sections offers instructors reading comprehension activities to use with their students. A simple but effective series." - Booklist
"This beginning reader series uses both common sight words and content area vocabulary to explore social studies concepts. Well-chosen, full-color photographs that align with the subject matter are featured prominently on each page. Accompanying these photographs is easy-to-read font, and pages typically have no more than three short sentences (“People in a community can all work together. They can help their neighbors”). There are a number of helpful tools for teachers and caregivers at the end, including comprehension prompts and suggestions to promote fluency. High-frequency and content vocabulary words are also listed, along with activities to reinforce these.
VERDICT These quality titles focusing on civics and economics will be most effectual as part of classroom collections." -School Library Journal
