(4) 4-6 Discover Ancient Civilizations series. For upper-elementary-school students, these introductions to ancient civilizations cover origins, government, religion, contributions to culture worldwide, as well as other related topics. The accessible and easy-to-read texts are supported by plenty of well-chosen and -captioned color photos and reproductions. Some sections attempt to span centuries, making those parts seem rushed. Maps, reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Discover Ancient Civilizations titles: Discover Ancient China, Discover Ancient Egypt, Discover Ancient Persia, Discover Ancient Mesopotamia, Discover Ancient Rome, and Discover Ancient Greece.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 African-American Collective Biographies series. These volumes profile eminent African American figures from various cultural fields. Each icon has his or her own chapter offering basic biographical information, archival photographs (some appear doctored), career highlights, and a timeline. This series is suitable for introductions but not in-depth research. Readers may be distracted by a hodgepodge of graphics and borders. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these African-American Collective Biographies titles: Awesome African-American Rock and Soul Musicians, Incredible African-American Jazz Musicians, Inspring African-American Civil Rights Leaders, Celebrated African-American Novelists, Extraordinary African-American Poets, and Amazing African-American Actors.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) 4-6 African-American Collective Biographies series. These volumes profile eminent African American figures from various cultural fields. Each icon has his or her own chapter offering basic biographical information, archival photographs (some appear doctored), career highlights, and a timeline. This series is suitable for introductions but not in-depth research. Readers may be distracted by a hodgepodge of graphics and borders. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these African-American Collective Biographies titles: Awesome African-American Rock and Soul Musicians, Incredible African-American Jazz Musicians, Inspring African-American Civil Rights Leaders, Celebrated African-American Novelists, Extraordinary African-American Poets, and Amazing African-American Actors.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(3) YA Great Explorers of the World series. Examining the lives of well-known explorers, these biographies go beyond to offer information about the times in which the men lived; events leading up to and surrounding their travels; and the impact of their explorations on the world. The volumes are well illustrated with photos, archival art, and maps. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Great Explorers of the World titles: Leif Eriksson, Captain Cook, Cortés, Vasco Da Gama, Lewis and Clark, and Pizarro.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) YA Green Issues in Focus series. These volumes on environmental topics include both subject-specific information and suggestions for teens about how to be mindful on an individual level. Issues such as resource conservation and pollution control are examined from scientific and historical perspectives; possible solutions are also discussed. The texts, accompanied by stock photos and sidebars, are somewhat hindered by uninspired layouts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Green Issues in Focus titles: Conserving and Protecting Water, Solving the Air Pollution Problem, Green and Clean Energy, Unloved and Endangered Animals, and Food for a Greener Planet.

Reviewer: Pearl Higgins

(4) YA Green Issues in Focus series. These volumes on environmental topics include both subject-specific information and suggestions for teens about how to be mindful on an individual level. Issues such as resource conservation and pollution control are examined from scientific and historical perspectives; possible solutions are also discussed. The texts, accompanied by stock photos and sidebars, are somewhat hindered by uninspired layouts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Green Issues in Focus titles: Conserving and Protecting Water, Solving the Air Pollution Problem, Green and Clean Energy, Unloved and Endangered Animals, and Food for a Greener Planet.

Reviewer: Pearl Higgins

(4) YA Issues in Focus Today series. This volume's five chapters cover basic facts about teens' sexual behavior, birth control options (any myths), pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and sex education in schools. The information is accessible, but the textbooklike design and unconvincing stock photos are regrettable. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) YA Great Explorers of the World series. Going above and beyond biographical information about its subject, each book offers readers a glimpse of the historical times, events leading up to and surrounding the men's travels, and the impact of their explorations on the world. The volumes are well illustrated with photos, archival art, and maps. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Great Explorers of the World titles: Columbus, Marco Polo, and Henry Hudson.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) YA America's National Parks series. Readers interested in touring national parks will find these books useful. Information about the history of each park is provided plus ways to get there, sights to see, etc. Report writers may consider the publisher's enhanced website a welcome shortcut to doing their own Internet research. Contemporary and archival photographs and web screen shots accompany the texts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these America's National Parks titles: Denali National Park and Preserve, Yosemite National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) YA Great Explorers of the World series. Going above and beyond biographical information about its subject, each book offers readers a glimpse of the historical times, events leading up to and surrounding the men's travels, and the impact of their explorations on the world. The volumes are well illustrated with photos, archival art, and maps. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Great Explorers of the World titles: Columbus, Marco Polo, and Henry Hudson.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) YA Inventors Who Changed the World series. Crowded with photographs, diagrams, drawings, and artifacts, this biography covers not only Gutenberg's life and career but also the times in which he lived and the history of printing. The writing, though wordy, is easy to understand and explains the printing press in detail. Some readers will appreciate the publisher's enhanced website when it comes time to do their school reports. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Inventors Who Changed the World series. This series provides a basic overview of each subject's life and career, including successes as well as mistakes and controversies. The series' design features generally well-reproduced archival photos, stock images of varying usefulness, and distracting, cluttered screen shots. Some less-motivated readers will appreciate the publisher's enhanced website. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Inventors Who Changed the World titles: Alexander Graham Bell, Louis Pasteur, Marconi and Tesla, and Philo T. Farnsworth.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Inventors Who Changed the World series. This series provides a basic overview of each subject's life and career, including successes as well as mistakes and controversies. The series' design features generally well-reproduced archival photos, stock images of varying usefulness, and distracting, cluttered screen shots. Some less-motivated readers will appreciate the publisher's enhanced website. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Inventors Who Changed the World titles: Alexander Graham Bell, Louis Pasteur, Marconi and Tesla, and Philo T. Farnsworth.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Decades of the 20th Century in Color series. These books provide superficial overviews of four decades in U.S. history, looking briefly at fashion, culture, entertainment, politics, social issues, and scientific advances. The books lack depth but will give readers a general understanding of each period. These revised editions feature color photos, which are sometimes crowded onto the pages. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these Decades of the 20th Century titles: The 1900s from Teddy Roosevelt to Flying Machines, The 1910s from World War I to Ragtime Music, The 1930s from the Great Depression to The Wizard of Oz, and The 1920s from Prohibition to Charles Lindbergh.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Decades of the 20th Century in Color series. These books provide superficial overviews of four decades in U.S. history, looking briefly at fashion, culture, entertainment, politics, social issues, and scientific advances. The books lack depth but will give readers a general understanding of each period. These revised editions feature color photos, which are sometimes crowded onto the pages. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these Decades of the 20th Century titles: The 1900s from Teddy Roosevelt to Flying Machines, The 1910s from World War I to Ragtime Music, The 1930s from the Great Depression to The Wizard of Oz, and The 1920s from Prohibition to Charles Lindbergh.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Regions of the USA series. These books offer general overviews of a particular region, including history, land, animals, cities, travel, and work. Photographs and illustrations on each page add to the appeal, but with sidebars on every page, the spreads are crowded. While students may need to seek more information for advanced research, these titles are adequate for basic reports. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Regions of the USA titles: The Mid-Atlantic, The Midwest, The Pacific States, The Southeast, The West, New England, and The Southwest.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 Decades of the 20th Century in Color series. These books provide superficial overviews of four decades in U.S. history, looking briefly at fashion, culture, entertainment, politics, social issues, and scientific advances. The books lack depth but will give readers a general understanding of each period. These revised editions feature color photos, which are sometimes crowded onto the pages. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these Decades of the 20th Century titles: The 1900s from Teddy Roosevelt to Flying Machines, The 1910s from World War I to Ragtime Music, The 1930s from the Great Depression to The Wizard of Oz, and The 1920s from Prohibition to Charles Lindbergh.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Decades of the 20th Century in Color series. These books provide superficial overviews of four decades in U.S. history, looking briefly at fashion, culture, entertainment, politics, social issues, and scientific advances. The books lack depth but will give readers a general understanding of each period. These revised editions feature color photos, which are sometimes crowded onto the pages. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these Decades of the 20th Century titles: The 1900s from Teddy Roosevelt to Flying Machines, The 1910s from World War I to Ragtime Music, The 1930s from the Great Depression to The Wizard of Oz, and The 1920s from Prohibition to Charles Lindbergh.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 I Like Biographies! series. Each book briefly describes the subject's childhood and historical significance. Tubman includes a simple explanation of slavery that provides an appropriate context for the abolitionist's accomplishments. Informative captions accompany full-page color and black-and-white photos, some of which are poorly chosen. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these I Like Biographies! titles: Read about Harriet Tubman and Read about Neil Armstrong.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) K-3 I Like Biographies! series. Each book briefly describes the subject's childhood and historical significance. Tubman includes a simple explanation of slavery that provides an appropriate context for the abolitionist's accomplishments. Informative captions accompany full-page color and black-and-white photos, some of which are poorly chosen. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these I Like Biographies! titles: Read about Harriet Tubman and Read about Neil Armstrong.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr