(4) 4-6 Edge Books: War Vehicles series. These hi/lo books introduce military land, air, and water vehicles used on both sides. After an overview of the conflict, three chapters each focus on a particular terrain and its vehicles (WWII includes "Experimental Vehicles"). One small, unexciting photo of the featured machine is accompanied by a one-paragraph encyclopedia-style profile. Vocabulary words in bold are defined on the page and in a glossary. Reading list. Ind. Review covers these Edge Books: War Vehicles titles: Vehicles of World War II, Vehicles of the Civil War, and Vehicles of the Iraq War.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Graphic Library: Cartoon Nation series. Illustrated by Brian Bascle. Here's a painless introduction to U.S. government: basic facts are interspersed with anecdotes supported by cartoons (e.g., the president and his Cabinet squished all together into a cabinet; a candidate on a treadmill "running" for reelection). One only wishes all the supplemental info boxes, sidebars, and definitions didn't create such a visual racket. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Graphic Library: Cartoon Nation titles: The U.S. Congress, Political Elections, and The American Presidency.

Reviewer: Nell Beram