(4) 4-6 Countries of the World series. The surveys in this series follow a three-part format: an overview, a "Closer Look" section that discusses country-specific topics at length, and a section about the subjects' relations with North America. Afghanistan includes the ousting of the Taliban, but Iraq stops before the most recent war. Captions and sidebars interrupt the text, but the gorgeous color photos are perfect for browsing. Reading list. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Countries of the World titles: Iraq, Afghanistan, and Malaysia.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Welcome to My Country series. Cursory overviews provide brief tidbits of information about various aspects of these countries. Education, history, government, agriculture, economics, sports, and the arts are some of the topics covered. Though not in-depth, the books in this series do provide a starting point for report writers. Maps, color photos, and a "Quick Facts" section are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Welcome to My Country titles: Welcome to Turkey, Welcome to Saudi Arabia, and Welcome to the Philippines.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 Countries of the World series. Short encyclopedic paragraphs on topics such as history, resources, people, customs, and religion are followed by slightly longer treatments of topics pertinent to the countries, such as Turkish baths or the haj pilgrimage to Mecca. The random organization and long captions on the color photos and maps make the presentation choppy, but the information is accessible and useful. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Countries of the World titles: Saudi Arabia and Turkey.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Women Who Win series. Each book in this generally adulatory series on female sports stars traces an athlete's career from childhood to the present. The texts touch on the stars' backgrounds and struggles to overcome obstacles but focus mainly on descriptions of important competitions. Color action photos lack variety, but a statistics list and chronology in each book will please fans. Bib., ind. [Review covers these titles: Gabrielle Reece, Anna Kournikova, Marion Jones, Laila Ali, Dorothy "Dot" Richardson, Lindsay Davenport.]

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(3) 4-6 Junior Drug Awareness series. Generally informative and clear, with an obvious "just say no" message throughout, this series will provide helpful information for students seeking up-to-date facts, whether for personal reasons or for school reports. Each volume includes color photos and charts and appended lists of websites and organizations to contact. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee