Be a Diary Detective (Be a Document Detective). Kylie Burns. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2017. 24 pp., pbk., hc., & html, $8.95 (pbk.), $22.95 (List RLB), $18.36 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-3081-1 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-3053-8 (RLB), ISBN 978 1 4271 1871-4 (html). Subject Headings: History-Research-Juvenile literature. History-Sources-Juvenile literature. History-Methodology-Juvenile literature. Biographical sources-Juvenile literature. Diaries-Juvenile literature. Letters-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4
	Be a Photograph Detective (Be a Document Detective). Linda Barghoorn. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2017. 24 pp., pbk., hc., & html, $8.95 (pbk.), $22.95 (List RLB), $18.36 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-3093-4 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-3079-8 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1873-8 (html). Subject Headings: History-Research-Juvenile literature. History-Sources-Juvenile literature. History-Methodology-Juvenile literature. Photographs-Research-Juvenile literature. Photographs as information resources-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4
	Be a Speech Detective (Be a Document Detective). Linda Barghoorn. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2017. 24 pp., pbk., hc., & html, $8.95 (pbk.), $22.95 (List RLB), $18.36 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-3094-1 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-3079-8 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1873-8 (html). Subject Headings: History-Research-Juvenile literature. History-Sources-Juvenile literature. History-Methodology-Juvenile literature. Speeches, addresses, etc.-Research-Juvenile literature. Oral history-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4
	Be an Artifact Detective (Be a Document Detective). Kylie Burns. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2017. 24 pp., pbk., hc., & html, $8.95 (pbk.), $22.95 (List RLB), $18.36 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-3080-4 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-3039-2 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1870-7 (html). Subject Headings: History- Research-Juvenile literature. History-Sources-Juvenile literature. History-Methodology-Juvenile literature. Antiquities-Juvenile literature. Material culture-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4

excerpt:

Speeches, oral histories, and interviews give us one person’s feelings and opinions about an event they were part of. People at the same event may have very different experiences. So it is always important for document detectives, like you, to study many different primary sources. (From Be a Speech Detective.)

Wow! A series that lives up to the publicity blurb.

”Be a Document Detective” is an engaging series that introduces young readers to primary sources and explores their role in historical inquiry. Accessible, well-crafted text supports readers as they learn to ask questions to identify and evaluate primary sources. Critical thinking questions encourage active learning and close analysis of primary sources materials.

     Crabtree Publishing sent the above promotional blurb with the books to be reviewed, and, for once, I couldn’t agree with them more. All four books in this new series are winners. Aimed at young students who can read for meaning, these books are very effective in informing students about the importance of examining primary sources such as diaries, photographs, artifacts, and interviews. Each of the four books, “Be a Diary Detective”, “Be a Photograph Detective”, “Be a Speech Detective” and “Be an Artifact Detective”, looks specifically at the who, what, where, when, why, and how to learn from a specific type of primary source material.

     The books follow the standard format for nonfiction text, with a table of contents at the beginning, and a simple glossary, index and additional resources list at the back of the books. The information is divided into chapters with clear titles, such as “How to be a Speech Detective” and “Learning from Letters”. The clearly written text is supported by well-chosen photographs of primary source material and photographs of young male and female students from many ethnic backgrounds examining the primary source materials.

     The books teach students how to think critically through the examples that are examined, and they provide opportunities to engage with the text.

“Can you think of other ways technology helps us keep track of our lives today?” (From Be a Diary Detective.)