Science-themed, fact-filled graphic novels might not be an entirely new concept. Even so, this series covers some topics that could be unusual to the form. While dinosaurs might not be a terribly unique subject matter, certainly coral reefs are worthy of further study. Either way, there is no denying that the illustrations are as striking as the content. The titles share little in common, with different authors and illustrators for each. Coral Reefs has chapter breaks (which can prove tricky to spot) and Dinosaurs does not. Dinosaurs has a glossary, while Coral Reefs does not. This does not seem much of an issue as students should gravitate to the subjects in the series they have interest in. Even in cases in which a student is familiar with the subject covered, these will no doubt still prove refreshing and a thrill to flip through.

Gr 4–7—Engaging glimpses into big chunks of current and historical science topics. While older students might understand the text more, the subject matter of both books has wide appeal for the elementary set and fits in with both elementary and middle school science curricula. Narrated by a spunky little fish, Coral Reefs provides a tour of the life that exists around these important aquatic "cities," from jelly fish to octopuses, and explains how photosynthesis keeps the whole system up and running. Author and illustrator Wicks's experience shines through with accurate facts and appealing, colorful drawings. Dinosaurs explores various important paleontological discoveries, from William Smith (1769–1839), who made significant geological findings while building canals in England, to Mary Anning (1799–1847), who started as a seashell seller and became a renowned paleontologist. The artwork and text are attractive and interesting, and readers will learn how dinosaur bones became fossils and how their remains were eventually discovered. VERDICT Great entry-level texts that will spark readers' interest in these topics—Sarah Knutson, American Canyon Middle School, CA