(4) YA USA Today Health Reports: Diseases and Disorders series. In each volume, eight chapters cover the basics of each illness or disorder: definitions, symptoms, treatment, and research. The scientific writing is serviceable; personal stories plus articles, interviews, graphics and other material from USA Today provide real-life context. Accompanying photos are generic, but the photomicrographs are clear and specific. Reading lists, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these USA Today Health Reports: Diseases and Disorders titles: Diabetes, Leukemia, and STDs.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 History Speaks: Picture Books Plus Reader's Theater series. Illustrated by Jamel Akib. This series informs readers about specific events in American history through vignettes starring made-up or real characters. The texts, though easy to follow, include unconvincing invented dialogue. Illustrations of varying quality accompany the stories. Appended "Reader's Theater" sections provide room for further research, elaboration, and performance. The series could be useful in classrooms to engage reluctant historians. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos. Review covers these History Speaks titles: Annie Shapiro and the Clothing Workers' Strike, John Greenwood's Journey to Bunker Hill, and Lizzie Newton and the San Francisco Earthquake.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biography series. The forty-fourth U.S. president, the longtime Massachusetts senator, and the supermodel-turned-entrepreneur are all given cursory biographical treatments. These books effectively describe the subjects' political or business successes and philanthropic work. However, anything negative is often oversimplified or omitted, especially in Kennedy. Banks includes a glossary and bibliography; Kennedy lists "Fun Facts" and other notable Kennedys. Obama has been updated through 2008. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these Gateway Biography titles: Barack Obama, Tyra Banks, and Ted Kennedy.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) K-3 Gateway Biography series. In this adulatory biography, readers learn about the First Lady's childhood, work ethic, courtship with the "guy with the funny name" (first date: a Spike Lee movie), and support of her husband's political career. A variety of photographs illustrate the text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) YA Decades of Twentieth-Century America series. Supported by a variety of primary sources, these histories highlight the political events that shaped each decade in addition to the social and cultural accomplishments and influences of the times. Because so much is covered, the text makes occasional generalizations. However, the presentation is clear, with many archival photographs and sidebars providing additional historical context. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Decades of Twentieth-Century America titles: America in the 1900s, America in the 1930s, America in the 1960s, and America in the 1970s.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(4) YA Twenty-first Century Medical Library series. The story of one person's experience with each disease begins each volume. Readable chapters follow, covering description, history (meningitis is suspected of causing Helen Keller's blindness and deafness), symptoms, treatment, and ongoing research. Personal stories add interest. Occasional (often generic) black-and-white photographs break up the text. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Twenty-first Century Medical Library titles: Diabetes and Meningitis.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Trailblazer Biographies series. Brill offers a balanced account of the life of a little-known African American athlete who excelled in competitive bicycling in the 1890s and early 1900s. The narrative discusses the racism Taylor faced as well as the support he received; sidebars provide additional information. Black-and-white photos enhance the biography. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(3) K-3 Pull Ahead Books series. Cranes and Concrete Mixers are sure to be popular with young construction fans. Full of detail, they explain how these large vehicles operate, using plenty of close-up photographs as well as diagrams of the vehicles' parts. Racing fans will be equally satisfied with Supercross, which introduces this indoor variant of motocross. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Pull Ahead Books titles: Concrete Mixers, Cranes, and Supercross Motorcycles.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 On My Own Holidays series. Illustrated by Qi Z. Wang. Each author provides a detailed explanation of the featured holiday or, in the case of Easter, describes how the holiday is celebrated in diverse lands, from Sweden to Ethiopia to Colombia. Some books' illustrations are less accomplished than others, but the short sentences in these thorough offerings are just right for beginning readers. Chinese and Cinco contain glossaries. Review covers these On My Own Holidays titles: Veterans Day, Easter around the World, Chinese New Year, Cinco de Mayo.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Pull Ahead Books series. These books introduce newly independent readers to the roles and duties of nurses, EMTs, and school bus drivers. Color photographs provide great behind-the-scenes glimpses, and key vocabulary words are highlighted in bold throughout and defined in a glossary. Additional facts and some history are appended. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Pull Ahead Books titles: Nurses, School Bus Drivers, and EMTs.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) 4-6 Health Alert series. A fictional case study of a person suffering from each disorder introduces typical symptoms to readers. Three subsequent chapters describe the disease's biology and progress, its history, and ways to treat and cope with it as both a patient and a support for a patient. Clear archival black-and-white and color photos and photomicrographs support and extend the text. Directory, reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Health Alert titles: Asthma, Alzheimer's Disease, Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Juvenile Diabetes, and Depression.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Health Alert series. A fictional case study of a person suffering from each disorder introduces typical symptoms to readers. Three subsequent chapters describe the disease's biology and progress, its history, and ways to treat and cope with it as both a patient and a support for a patient. Clear archival black-and-white and color photos and photomicrographs support and extend the text. Directory, reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Health Alert titles: Asthma, Alzheimer's Disease, Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Juvenile Diabetes, and Depression.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 On My Own History series. Illustrated by Craig Orback. The story of the youngest Pony Express rider, known as Bronco Charlie, is taken from his own reminiscences and Pony Express Museum records. The lively story is sure to inspire beginning readers to learn more about this chapter of American history. Oil paintings adequately represent the drama.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) K-3 Pull Ahead Books series. Useful for beginning readers studying community helpers, these books provide very basic introductions to some familiar professions. Vocabulary words are printed in bold and defined in a glossary. Supported by photos of people at work, the books also contain a brief list of historical and career facts. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Pull Ahead Books titles: Firefighters, Doctors, Police Officers, Librarians, and Teachers.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 4-6 It's My State! series. These complete and well-organized state books have appealing covers, a clear inside design, colorful quote and fact bubbles, and photos with rounded edges and informative captions. The writing is dry and somewhat impersonal, but overall the books will be useful for report writers. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these It's My State! titles: Colorado, South Dakota, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Utah.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(3) YA Twenty-first Century Medical Library series. Tourette's clinical look at the syndrome is complemented by testimonials of child sufferers. The book features black-and-white photos, including images of people experiencing "tics." STDs balances science and sociology relevant to young readers (e.g., the reasons teens are especially vulnerable to STDs) with case studies. Both of these series books offer solid information and sound advice. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Twenty-first Century Medical Library titles: Tourette Syndrome and STDs.]

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Celebrate the States series. Four states and the District of Columbia are surveyed in volumes that discuss the history, geography, and people of each area. The well-rounded portraits touch on difficult issues such as poverty and Michigan's controversial Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Each volume contains maps, fact sheets, a chronology, and tourist information. Postcard-quality color photographs accompany the texts. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) K-3 Brill offers a quick, interesting survey of folklore--including the tooth mouse and the tooth fairy--about lost teeth from ancient times to the present day. The gouache illustrations feature rich colors and some pleasing compositions, but the occasional odd exaggeration is distracting, and the writing could be smoother. Source note included.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.