(4) YA In chatty, teen-friendly prose, Donovan introduces the art of thrifting, emphasizing an open mind, creativity, and patience. While some advice isn't all that enlightening--to plan a thrifting party "find a time when everyone's available"--shopaholics and fashionistas will find many practical tips as well as interesting upcycling activities. Plenty of photos and fabric-pattern graphics illustrate the volume. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 4-6 Inside Elections series. This series examines political issues that are pertinent to an informed citizenry participating in a democracy. Each book covers some phase of the voting process and provides adequate information for a basic understanding of the selected topic. Inserts present pros and cons of viewpoints held by opposition groups. The dense texts are illustrated with small photographs and charts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Inside Elections titles: Media, Special Interests, Voters, and Political Parties.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Inside Elections series. This series examines political issues that are pertinent to an informed citizenry participating in a democracy. Each book covers some phase of the voting process and provides adequate information for a basic understanding of the selected topic. Inserts present pros and cons of viewpoints held by opposition groups. The dense texts are illustrated with small photographs and charts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Inside Elections titles: Media, Special Interests, Voters, and Political Parties.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Entertainment's Top 10 series. Each book features five annotated top-ten lists that rank aspects of pop music, TV, films, and theater. Accompanied by colorful photos, each entry includes a brief paragraph with some contextual information. The arbitrarily compiled books conclude by encouraging readers to research and create their own top-ten lists, suggesting alternative topics. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Entertainment's Top 10 titles: Movies and TV Top Tens and Music and Theater Top Tens.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Entertainment's Top 10 series. Five annotated top-ten lists (e.g., "Olympic Gold Medalists"; "Fastest Swimmers"; "Fastest Female Runners") give a broad, unfocused glimpse at some sports greats. Accompanied by colorful photos, each entry includes a brief paragraph with some context and relevant statistics. The book concludes by encouraging readers to research and create their own top-ten lists, suggesting alternative topics. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Entertainment's Top 10 series. Five annotated top-ten lists (e.g., "Highest-Earning Video Game Companies"; "Best-Selling Green Cars") give a broad, unfocused glimpse at technology's general influence. Accompanied by colorful photos, each entry includes a brief paragraph with some context and relevant statistics. The book concludes by encouraging readers to research and create their own top-ten lists, suggesting alternative topics. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Entertainment's Top 10 series. Each book features five annotated top-ten lists that rank aspects of pop music, TV, films, and theater. Accompanied by colorful photos, each entry includes a brief paragraph with some contextual information. The arbitrarily compiled books conclude by encouraging readers to research and create their own top-ten lists, suggesting alternative topics. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Entertainment's Top 10 titles: Movies and TV Top Tens and Music and Theater Top Tens.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) K-3 Show Your Character series. This series uses a question-answer format to relay the importance of appropriate behavior. Although didactic in approach, rules of fairness, honesty, etc. are presented directly, and teachers and counselors may find the material useful in individual and group settings. Cluttered spreads include photographs, inserts, and graphics. Each book includes an activity (e.g., a "stand up to bullying pledge"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Show Your Character titles: Does My Voice Count?, How Can I Deal with Bullying?, When Is It My Turn?, Am I a Good Friend?, Can People Count on Me?, and How Can I Help?.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Show Your Character series. This series uses a question-answer format to relay the importance of appropriate behavior. Although didactic in approach, rules of fairness, honesty, etc. are presented directly, and teachers and counselors may find the material useful in individual and group settings. Cluttered spreads include photographs, inserts, and graphics. Each book includes an activity (e.g., a "stand up to bullying pledge"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Show Your Character titles: Does My Voice Count?, How Can I Deal with Bullying?, When Is It My Turn?, Am I a Good Friend?, Can People Count on Me?, and How Can I Help?.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Show Your Character series. This series uses a question-answer format to relay the importance of appropriate behavior. Although didactic in approach, rules of fairness, honesty, etc. are presented directly, and teachers and counselors may find the material useful in individual and group settings. Cluttered spreads include photographs, inserts, and graphics. Each book includes an activity (e.g., a "stand up to bullying pledge"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Show Your Character titles: Does My Voice Count?, How Can I Deal with Bullying?, When Is It My Turn?, Am I a Good Friend?, Can People Count on Me?, and How Can I Help?.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Pop Culture Bios: Action Movie Stars series. Color photographs presented in a scrapbook-like format combine with accessible texts to present chronological biographies of six actors. Early roots, professional challenges and successes, and the breakout popularity from their roles in book-based movie blockbusters provide little new information, but young fans will pore over the well-captioned pictures and abundant trivia facts. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Pop Culture Bio titles: Zoe Kravitz, Jennifer Lawrence, Taylor Lautner, Booboo Stewart, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 ShockZone--Villains series. This series presents brief biographical vignettes of some of the world's most notorious villains. The chatty, informal writing style is entertaining, but the gruesome anecdotes and graphic illustrations aren't for the faint-hearted. The authors' selections are largely lesser-known villainous figures (Hitler, Pol Pot, and Henry VIII are not included). Period art, archival photographs, and text boxes fill the pages. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these ShockZone--Villains titles: Merciless Monarchs and Ruthless Royalty, Pirates, Scoundrels, and Scallywags, Lethal Leaders and Military Madmen, Assassins, Traitors, and Spies, Gangsters, Bootleggers, and Bandits, and Outlaws, Gunslingers, and Thieves.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 ShockZone--Deadly and Dangerous series. Each busy double-page spread focuses on a topic: Battles accentuates the human toll on both sides during war, while Danger deals with natural threats (volcanoes, tigers) and unexplained phenomena (the Bermuda Triangle). Color photos and illustrations, captions, text boxes, headers, and attitude-fueled texts compete for readers' attention in these browsable books. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Shock Zone Deadly and Dangerous titles: Deadly Bloody Battles and Dead Danger Zones.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA USA Today Teen Wise Guides: Time, Money, and Relationships series. Photographs, sidebars, and articles from USA Today combine with a conversational text to present a sound discussion of the featured subjects. Each title provides an appropriate amount of information on issues that are relevant to adolescents navigating the complexities of family, friends, first jobs, and money management. The corny posed photos are unfortunate. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these USA Today Teen Wise Guides: Time, Money, and Relationships titles: Conflict Resolution Smarts, Budgeting Smarts, Job Smarts, Scheduling Smarts, Relationship Smarts, and Shopping Smarts.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA USA Today Teen Wise Guides: Time, Money, and Relationships series. Photographs, sidebars, and articles from USA Today combine with a conversational text to present a sound discussion of the featured subjects. Each title provides an appropriate amount of information on issues that are relevant to adolescents navigating the complexities of family, friends, first jobs, and money management. The corny posed photos are unfortunate. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these USA Today Teen Wise Guides: Time, Money, and Relationships titles: Conflict Resolution Smarts, Budgeting Smarts, Job Smarts, Scheduling Smarts, Relationship Smarts, and Shopping Smarts.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA USA Today Teen Wise Guides: Time, Money, and Relationships series. Photographs, sidebars, and articles from USA Today combine with a conversational text to present a sound discussion of the featured subjects. Each title provides an appropriate amount of information on issues that are relevant to adolescents navigating the complexities of family, friends, first jobs, and money management. The corny posed photos are unfortunate. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these USA Today Teen Wise Guides: Time, Money, and Relationships titles: Conflict Resolution Smarts, Budgeting Smarts, Job Smarts, Scheduling Smarts, Relationship Smarts, and Shopping Smarts.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA USA Today Teen Wise Guides: Lifestyle Choices series. This solid discussion of the positive results of volunteering to follow a passion or to explore new interests gives advice on researching opportunities, starting independent projects, becoming an activist, and determining which is a good match for a particular teen. USA Today "Snapshots" and articles add real-life context, but the tiny type is hard to read. The stock photos are generic. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) YA USA Today Teen Wise Guides: Lifestyle Choices series. These volumes provide solid discussions on timely teen issues surrounding positive lifestyle choices. Brief introductions set the stage for upbeat, conversational chapters covering the ins and outs of recognizing threats and taking safety measures plus appropriate-to-the-situation communication skills. Articles (in tiny type) from USA Today add real-life context. Staged color photos are generic. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these USA Today Teen Wise Guides: Lifestyle Choices titles: Communication Smarts and Safety Smarts.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 It's Just an Expression series. Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 It's Just an Expression series. Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith