(3) 4-6 Secret History series. From propaganda and intelligence to technology and sacrifice, various ways in which conflicts or wars are won, lost, or negotiated are examined in these books. Archival photographs combine with a busy but well-organized design to present an engaging perspective on these efforts. Both reluctant readers and history buffs in need of a fresh approach to events will appreciate this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Secret History titles: Conflict in the Middle East and The Iraq War.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA Changing World series. Adams provides information about economic and political changes in Russia, including contradictions between greater economic freedoms and continuing limitations against some aspects of government and the press. The format is busy, and student report writers will need to update some figures, but the clear photos and comparative charts and graphs will hold attention. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 This overview breaks history into four periods: ancient world, medieval world, exploration and empire, and modern world (1800s to the present). Each section is further divided into cramped, heavily illustrated double-page spreads that superficially discuss such topics as "Ancient Greece," "Medieval India," "The Ottoman Empire," and "The Cold War." Browsers may enjoy the detailed picto-maps that dominate the pages. Timelines. Ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Kevin Maddison. This book gives a vague synopsis of world history from 1800-2007. Each double-page spread is illustrated with a map and focuses on one area of the world (though the viewpoint is largely Eurocentric). The crowded spreads include a main paragraph of text, wordy captions, cartoon drawings, some photographs, and vertical timelines. The book is useful as a very general overview. Ind.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Bergin. This book features maps that chart worldwide exploration from 1450–1800. Each double-page spread includes a map, a paragraph of supportive text, many small illustrations and some photographs with captions that give more information, and a running timeline. The busy pages can be confusing to follow and have some typos (e.g., "Spai" for Spain). Ind.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Kevin Maddison. This heavily illustrated volume tells about people, cultures, and events from 500 to 1450 CE. Each double-page spread focuses on one area of the world using a map to illustrate important locations, events, and facts about the culture being described. While some of the spreads are fairly informative, in general the busy layout only allows for a broad overview. Ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Kingfisher Voyages series. Beginning with an introduction by Egyptologist Kent Weeks, this book then takes readers into the world of ancient Egypt through an enticing format that includes photos, sidebars, charts, maps, foldout pages, and transparent overlays. Tabbed subject dividers allow readers to skip to an area of special interest. Timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Katherine Baxter. After a short introduction, this volume features detailed maps of various ancient civilizations. Brief text and captioned cartoonlike illustrations and photographs attempt to explain the development and destruction of ancient civilizations. Some missing words and occasional ambiguity when referencing the places being discussed weaken this otherwise useful offering. Ind.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 4-6 Kingfisher Knowledge series. Three divisions ("From City to Empire," "Life in Imperial Rome," and "The End of the Empire") offer a chronological tour through ancient Rome. Each busy double-page spread features several paragraphs of information on a subtopic, such as the Roman army, along with numerous captioned photos and a few paintings. Each overly division ends with a summary and tools for further study. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Twentieth-Century History Makers series. These books profile six influential figures of the last century and their accomplishments. Little attention is paid to their personal lives, but the authors adequately detail the history of the times and their subjects' particular influences on it. Captioned black-and-white and color photos illustrate the books. There are six other spring 2003 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Twentieth-Century History Makers titles: Winston Churchill; Martin Luther King, Jr.; Sigmund Freud; Anne Frank; Albert Einstein; and Fidel Castro.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 Eyewitness Books series. This busy collection of captioned illustrations accompanying one-paragraph introductions provides an overview of the history, geography, industry, and culture of Texas in double-page spreads. The brief text does not provide sufficient information for school reports, but could supplement a more informative text and provide enjoyable browsing. Ind.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) 4-6 This British perspective on the U.S. presidency offers a basic picture of the American president. The format has child appeal with its illustrations, time lines, and list of presidential term facts for each officeholder, but the few noticeable errors mar the book's usefulness. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 Double-page spreads explain the concept of weather and climate and introduce specific weather conditions such as wind, rain, and fog. Though the brief text (which is often presented in captions) and color illustrations are blandly rendered, the book may be useful for those seeking basic information. The final page warns of the impact of pollution on the environment. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Books series. Photographs by Andy Crawford. This overview of the war is presented in double-page spreads that focus on topics such as occupation and resistance, the wartime roles of women, D-Day, the Holocaust, and the atomic bomb. The sheer amount of material presented in the slim volume results in superficial coverage--though the color photos and historic reproductions do make the book browsable. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Eyewitness Books series. A well-organized series of double-page spreads explores the Titanic tragedy from the construction of the ill-fated ship to the rediscovery of its remains on the ocean floor. Intriguing details about individual passengers abound, but what makes the book truly fascinating are the abundant color reproductions and photographs of genuine artifacts, which are described in pithy captions. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta