Explorers:Robots

TheExplorersseriestapsintoakid’sinnatecuriositywithpopulartopicsandeasilydigestiblenuggetsofinformation.Robotsintroduceseverythingfromthesure-to-be-coveteddomesticrobot,whichcandopeskyhouseholdchores;“submersiblerobots,”unaffectedbydeep-seapressure;andtheMarsrover.Eachrobot,futuristicasitmaylook,isbeingusedtodayinonecapacityoranother(robotpetcat,anyone?).What’suniqueaboutthesetitlesistheinteractivecomponent:therearefourdifferentcolor“buttons”appearingthroughout,eachrepresentingatopic(environment,recordbreakers,andsoforth).Kidsusethesebuttonsasaguidetoleapforwardandbackwardthroughthebook,choose-your-own-adventure-style,withasummarypageattheend.ThedesignofthesetitleshasthefeelofaDKbook,althoughlessfrenetic,andtheself-guidedapproachtolearningmayworkbetterforinquisitivekidsthanreportwriters.