(4) 4-6 Great Idea: Engineering series. Miller does a good job of explaining the reasons why the Hoover Dam was constructed in the 1930s and the step-by-step account of the building process is clear. While the book does not mention any of the adverse effects of the dam, it's otherwise a comprehensive introduction. Diagrams, maps, and historical photos helpfully amplify the account. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(4) 4-6 Great Idea: Engineering series. Miller does a good job of explaining the reasons why the Panama Canal was constructed, from early attempts in the late 1800s to its completion in 1914. While the book does not mention any of the ecological consequences of this man-made structure, it's otherwise a comprehensive introduction. Diagrams, maps, and historical photos helpfully amplify the account. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(4) YA Rebels of Rock series. These "unauthorized rockographies" are good starting points for rock-and-roll researchers (though they should take the super-stoked narration with a grain of salt). Each volume provides detailed descriptions of the title band's members, history, and career highs and lows. Clean design, including many photographs, makes the information easy to follow; photo captions tend to repeat rather than extend the texts. Discographies are included. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Rebels of Rock titles: Black Sabbath, The Clash, The Ramones, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, and The Rolling Stones.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) YA Rebels of Rock series. These "unauthorized rockographies" take their subject matter seriously in a way that die-hard fans will appreciate but others may find distractingly overdramatic. Numerous quotes and detailed descriptions of each band's members, history, musical accomplishments, setbacks, and fan base are provided, in addition to captioned candid and publicity photos. Discographies are appended. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Rebels of Rock titles: Pink Floyd, AC/DC, and Led Zeppelin.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(3) PS Illustrated by Sue Ramá. Miller's spare rhyming text conveys impressions of subway travel: "Clomping, stomping, / shuffling feet / step to the clacking / subway beat." Ramá's merrily busy digital collages of watercolor art capture the sensations of riding on mass-transit trains. Endnotes give brief information about subway systems in different cities around the world.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. A mock This Is Your Life TV episode introduces dragonfly Dahlia, "one tough little nymph." Host and narrator Bob Beetle, mystery guests from Dahlia's past (family members, a predator), and the studio audience all contribute to the reality-show humor while providing factual details. Miller's text begs to be read aloud, and Chesworth's cartoonlike scenes buzz with anthropomorphized insects.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Manning. Following an alphabetical format, Schaefer and Miller spotlight animals with distinguished derrieres (E is for the electric fish's electric bottom, F is for the peacock's fancy rear, G is for the firefly's glowing behind, etc.) and spend a paragraph explaining the evolutionary importance of each trait. The well-composed watercolors demonstrate a sense of humor and improbable decorum.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Nifty Thrifty Crafts for Kids series. Readers are instructed on how to transform everyday household materials (paper plates, newspaper, cardboard rolls, tin cans) into window decorations, pencil holders, and mobiles in these volumes, each with directions for ten thematically related projects. The projects vary in usefulness and ease; some steps are too vague and/or unillustrated. Patterns needed for the trickier of the crafts are appended. Reading lists, websites. Ind. Review covers these Nifty Thrifty Crafts for Kids titles: Nifty Thrifty Space Crafts and Nifty Thrifty Art Crafts.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Kidhaven Science Library series. These books are adequate resources for reports and/or personal interest. Plenty of color photographs and diagrams support the accessible texts. Each book presents scientific history and theories, known facts, and exploration. One caveat: Sun's discussion of solar eclipses doesn't caution against looking directly at the event. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Kidhaven Science Library titles: The Moon and The Sun.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 4-6 Celebrate Holidays series. Captioned photographs, drawings, sidebars, and some maps combine with an accessible text to present a thorough discussion of each of the featured holidays. Each title describes clearly the origin of the holiday, then is followed by discussions of family practices, common symbols, and simple activities, making these useful resources to add to library or classroom holiday collections. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Celebrate Holidays titles: Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, Celebrate Chinese New Year, Celebrate Thanksgiving Day, Celebrate Halloween, Celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Celebrate Columbus Day, and Celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) K-3 This Is What I Want to Be series. Beginning readers seeking general information about these occupations will find enough information in the brief text and color photographs to pique interest. Each framed double-page spread features two average-quality color photos and a few lines of text. A quiz asks readers to identify objects named in the picture glossary. There are nine other new books in this series. Ind. [Review covers these This Is What I Want to Be titles: Cowboy, Librarian, Truck Driver, Veterinarian, and Zookeeper.]

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 This Is What I Want to Be series. Beginning readers seeking general information about these occupations will find enough information in the brief text and color photographs to pique interest. Each framed double-page spread features two average-quality color photos and a few lines of text. A quiz asks readers to identify objects named in the picture glossary. There are nine other new books in this series. Ind. [Review covers these This Is What I Want to Be titles: Cowboy, Librarian, Truck Driver, Veterinarian, and Zookeeper.]

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 This Is What I Want to Be series. Beginning readers seeking general information about these occupations will find enough information in the brief text and color photographs to pique interest. Each framed double-page spread features two average-quality color photos and a few lines of text. A quiz asks readers to identify objects named in the picture glossary. There are nine other new books in this series. Ind. [Review covers these This Is What I Want to Be titles: Cowboy, Librarian, Truck Driver, Veterinarian, and Zookeeper.]

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 This Is What I Want to Be series. Beginning readers seeking general information about these occupations will find enough information in the brief text and color photographs to pique interest. Each framed double-page spread features two average-quality color photos and a few lines of text. A quiz asks readers to identify objects named in the picture glossary. There are nine other new books in this series. Ind. [Review covers these This Is What I Want to Be titles: Cowboy, Librarian, Truck Driver, Veterinarian, and Zookeeper.]

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 This Is What I Want to Be series. Beginning readers seeking general information about these occupations will find enough information in the brief text and color photographs to pique interest. Each framed double-page spread features two average-quality color photos and a few lines of text. A quiz asks readers to identify objects named in the picture glossary. There are nine other new books in this series. Ind. [Review covers these This Is What I Want to Be titles: Cowboy, Librarian, Truck Driver, Veterinarian, and Zookeeper.]

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow