(3) 4-6 This handsome coffee table–style volume organizes its narrative of the solar system from Earth outward, following the path taken by space probe missions over the past fifty years. An introduction briefly describes celestial observation from ancient times through today. Chapters present impressively crisp images of planets and other bodies and descriptions of how and when the pictures were taken. Websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) YA Criminal Investigations series. Drug Crime discusses various aspects of drug trafficking, with a focus on how authorities work to stop the flow. Crime Scene uses case studies to illustrate crime-solving methods. Both books are detailed and compelling, though sometimes more graphic than necessary. Photographs and sidebars appear throughout in an uninspired design. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Criminal Investigations: Drug Crime and Crime Scene Investigation.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 4-6 U.S. Armed Forces series. Young people considering military service will find these formulaic but thorough volumes helpful. Each includes a historical overview, explains rules for enlistment and advancement, discusses training procedures, and describes what life is like for an active member of that service branch. The books feature color photos and reproductions. There are four other fall 2004 books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these U.S. Armed Forces titles: The U.S. Army, U.S. Naval Special Warfare Forces, U.S. Air Force Special Operations, and The U.S. Navy.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Presidential Leaders series. Six presidents--from Warren Harding, whom historians rate one of the worst, to Theodore Roosevelt, whose popularity resulted in a stuffed animal being named for him--are profiled in these laudatory biographies. Report writers will find the basic facts here but will need to look elsewhere for more comprehensive coverage. Black-and-white period photos and reproductions break up the dull texts. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Presidential Leaders titles: William H. Taft, Andrew Johnson, Warren G. Harding, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) YA Presidential Leaders series. These generally informative biographies of six American presidents are marred by some misleading information and jarring transitions. Black-and-white captioned photographs of the subjects and sidebars on relevant people and events extend the text. Report writers will find the basic facts here but will need to look elsewhere for more comprehensive coverage. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Presidential Leaders titles: John Adams, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) YA Presidential Leaders series. These generally informative biographies of six American presidents are marred by some misleading information and jarring transitions. Black-and-white captioned photographs of the subjects and sidebars on relevant people and events extend the text. Report writers will find the basic facts here but will need to look elsewhere for more comprehensive coverage. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Presidential Leaders titles: John Adams, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) YA A & E Biography series. A competently written biography presents a balanced portrait of the controversial civil rights leader, from his troubled youth to his assassination in Harlem, New York. Occasional information boxes profile some of his contemporaries, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Muhammad Ali, and Louis Farrakhan. The accompanying black-and-white photos are average in quality. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA A & E Biography series. Spanning two millennia, this unlikely trio of female notables is featured in volumes that adequately cover their lives in uninspired prose. The texts occasionally detour to include brief information boxes containing background material. The books are illustrated with serviceable photos--in both black and white and color--and reproductions. Cleopatra includes a time line; Estefan has a discography. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta