Discusses three series of informational books that deal with animals: "Little Woodland Books,""Life Cycles," and "Skylight Books." (FL)

The first of two concerning children's periodicals, this column describes five such magazines that present information from various disciplines in a compelling way. (FL)

Recommends four books which describe how to teach children to read and write about real-world matters. States that children who are engaged with meaningful materials that they have helped select and tasks they have helped plan require less extrinsic motivation than those who are assigned meaningless materials and tasks. (MG)

Discusses "Cobblestone," a social studies magazine, and "Penny Power," a consumer education publication, in this the second of a two-part article concerning content area periodicals for intermediate grade students. (FL)