(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Cara Bean. Each of twenty familiar elements (helium, carbon, sodium, etc.) is explored in a chapter offering detailed information on its characteristics, discovery, uses, and relationships to other elements represented in the periodic table. Sidebars introduce additional general chemistry concepts, and appropriate activities allow readers to experiment. The final chapter covers a "Dirty Dozen" elements deadly to humans. Cartoonlike illustrations and a chipper narrative voice lighten the book's tone. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Systems of Government series. With a consistently objective tone, these volumes introduce five forms of government. Each system is clearly explained and accompanied by presentation of historical context, examples of the title systems, and social implications and effects. Clean design, text boxes (e.g., "voting booth" questions that engage readers), and crisp photographs support the rich text. Monarchy, Dictatorship, and Communism contain running timelines. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. This review covers these Systems of Goverment titles: Communism, Democracy, Dictatorship, Monarchy, and Theocracy.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) YA Systems of Government series. With a consistently objective tone, these volumes introduce five forms of government. Each system is clearly explained and accompanied by presentation of historical context, examples of the title systems, and social implications and effects. Clean design, text boxes (e.g., "voting booth" questions that engage readers), and crisp photographs support the rich text. Monarchy, Dictatorship, and Communism contain running timelines. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. This review covers these Systems of Goverment titles: Communism, Democracy, Dictatorship, Monarchy, and Theocracy.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) YA Systems of Government series. With a consistently objective tone, these volumes introduce five forms of government. Each system is clearly explained and accompanied by presentation of historical context, examples of the title systems, and social implications and effects. Clean design, text boxes (e.g., "voting booth" questions that engage readers), and crisp photographs support the rich text. Monarchy, Dictatorship, and Communism contain running timelines. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. This review covers these Systems of Goverment titles: Communism, Democracy, Dictatorship, Monarchy, and Theocracy.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) YA Systems of Government series. With a consistently objective tone, these volumes introduce five forms of government. Each system is clearly explained and accompanied by presentation of historical context, examples of the title systems, and social implications and effects. Clean design, text boxes (e.g., "voting booth" questions that engage readers), and crisp photographs support the rich text. Monarchy, Dictatorship, and Communism contain running timelines. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. This review covers these Systems of Goverment titles: Communism, Democracy, Dictatorship, Monarchy, and Theocracy.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) YA Systems of Government series. With a consistently objective tone, these volumes introduce five forms of government. Each system is clearly explained and accompanied by presentation of historical context, examples of the title systems, and social implications and effects. Clean design, text boxes (e.g., "voting booth" questions that engage readers), and crisp photographs support the rich text. Monarchy, Dictatorship, and Communism contain running timelines. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. This review covers these Systems of Goverment titles: Communism, Democracy, Dictatorship, Monarchy, and Theocracy.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) YA This engaging title challenges readers to follow a timeline of scientific discovery, first by learning and then by doing. From the Stone Age and the creation of tools to the present-day study of the Big Bang theory, this thorough introduction presents the whys, whos, and hows of innovation, followed by scientific experiments for hands-on learning. Budding scientists will enjoy this clever offering.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA Getting the Message series. These overviews of electronic and print media look briefly at the history and technology of each and its place in today's world. Internet deals with that medium's development, terminology, and effects; Newspapers focuses on the importance journalists and editors play in a democratic society. Photographs and sidebars extend the lackluster texts. "Over to You" boxes offer discussion topics. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Getting the Message titles: The Internet and the World Wide Web and Newspapers and Magazines.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Getting the Message series. These overviews of electronic and print media look briefly at the history and technology of each and its place in today's world. Internet deals with that medium's development, terminology, and effects; Newspapers focuses on the importance journalists and editors play in a democratic society. Photographs and sidebars extend the lackluster texts. "Over to You" boxes offer discussion topics. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Getting the Message titles: The Internet and the World Wide Web and Newspapers and Magazines.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Getting the Message series. These brief overviews of the development of advertising and political propaganda outline the roles each plays in society. The use and misuse of political messages and advertisements and how they are designed to influence voters and consumers are also discussed. Vignettes present topics related to the lackluster texts. Photographs, sidebars, and inserts extend the information. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Getting the Message titles: Advertisements and Political Messages and Propaganda.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Getting the Message series. These brief overviews of the development of advertising and political propaganda outline the roles each plays in society. The use and misuse of political messages and advertisements and how they are designed to influence voters and consumers are also discussed. Vignettes present topics related to the lackluster texts. Photographs, sidebars, and inserts extend the information. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Getting the Message titles: Advertisements and Political Messages and Propaganda.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Getting the Message series. This overview of television and radio briefly looks at their combined history and technology and the effects programming may have on audiences. Connolly examines such topics as ratings, advertising, propaganda, and reality TV. Photographs and sidebars break up the lackluster text. "Over to You" boxes offer discussion topics. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Getting the Message series. This overview of the movie and video industry includes a brief history of the medium and an explanation of how the illusion of motion is created. Connolly then discusses the process, from the script, actors, and support crews to film distribution. Photographs and sidebars break up the lackluster text. "Over to You" boxes offer discussion topics. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA History of the World series. These volumes give broad overviews of their topics. So many different peoples and cultures are covered in each book that depth of information is lacking. On most spreads, a short paragraph of main text is accompanied by color illustrations, maps, and photographs, as well as sidebars and more explanatory text, crowding the pages. There are six other fall 2009 books in this series. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these History of the World titles: The Americas and the Pacific, Ancient Egypt and Greece, Early Medieval Times, Asian Civilizations, Beyond Europe, and Mesopotamia and the Bible Lands.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 Life and Work Of series. In these marginally revised editions, two-page chapters cover each artist's life and art. The left-hand pages give brief biographical facts, with illustrations of the artists at work and their families, travels, and sources of inspiration. The right-hand pages feature reproductions of the artist's work with comments about style, subjects, or materials. There are five other spring 2006 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Life and Work of titles: Claude Monet, Henry Moore, Paul Klee, Mary Cassatt, and Michelangelo Buonarroti.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Life and Work Of series. In these marginally revised editions, two-page chapters cover each artist's life and art. The left-hand pages give brief biographical facts, with illustrations of the artists at work and their families, travels, and sources of inspiration. The right-hand pages feature reproductions of the artist's work with comments about style, subjects, or materials. There are five other spring 2006 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Life and Work of titles: Claude Monet, Henry Moore, Paul Klee, Mary Cassatt, and Michelangelo Buonarroti.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Life and Work Of series. In these marginally revised editions, two-page chapters cover each artist's life and art. The left-hand pages give brief biographical facts, with illustrations of the artists at work and their families, travels, and sources of inspiration. The right-hand pages feature reproductions of the artist's work with comments about style, subjects, or materials. There are five other spring 2006 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Life and Work of titles: Claude Monet, Henry Moore, Paul Klee, Mary Cassatt, and Michelangelo Buonarroti.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Art Revelations series. Clean, oversize white pages feature reproductions of famous works of art (e.g., from Bosch, Giotto, Rembrant) that interpret biblical themes. Sidebars of text give some historical and religious context, but the text jumps from topic to topic so readers need some prior knowledge of Bible stories. Schools and libraries with demand for art or religious history books may find these useful. Ind. Review covers these Art Revelations titles: New Testament Miracles and Old Testament Women.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) 4-6 Witness to History series. In the books in this series, double-page spreads give brief, generalized accounts of the wars' progress, followed by eyewitness accounts in a handwritten font; captioned archival photos add depth. The cafeteria-style overviews are vague and feature patronizingly bold-faced vocabulary words and bracketed definitions, but the primary documents would enrich a curriculum. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Witness to History titles: World War I and World War II.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Witness to History series. In the books in this series, double-page spreads give brief, generalized accounts of the wars' progress, followed by eyewitness accounts in a handwritten font; captioned archival photos add depth. The cafeteria-style overviews are vague and feature patronizingly bold-faced vocabulary words and bracketed definitions, but the primary documents would enrich a curriculum. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Witness to History titles: World War I and World War II.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam