Read All about Soccer

Young readers will love diving into a variety of topics with these fact-filled additions to the Read All about It series. Each book begins with a brief introduction followed by chapters comprised of a series of facts, each paired with a bright, well-chosen photo. The structure makes the books engaging and easy to browse, although sometimes more cohesion would have been helpful. In Bugs, Respicio takes advantage of the rapid-fire format to introduce a wide variety of dazzling insects. Dance has a few missteps, with a picture that looks like tango described as a waltz and the Adumu described generically as being performed "in Africa" (whereas other kinds of dance are ascribed to particular countries), but Mitchinson does showcase a variety of dance styles from around the world in an appealing way. In Horses, Ali captures key features of the creatures' bodies and life cycles, as well as their interaction with humans. Soccer successfully conveys the global reach of the sport as well as key points in its history, and the text is buoyed by exciting action shots. A brief glossary and index finish off each book. This series truly offers something for everyone to read about.--Miriam Aronin "Booklist"