(4) 4-6 Ace It! Information Literacy series. These books provide a step-by-step approach to tackling the usual range of reports and writing projects for elementary school students. Outlines, diagrams, and concrete suggestions, with photos of students engaged in research and writing processes, are included. Though no one will pick these volumes up for fun, they do show how assignments can be accomplished efficiently. Information overlaps book to book. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Ace It! Information Literacy titles: Ace Your Oral or Multimedia Presentation, Ace Your Internet Research, Ace Your Research Paper, Master the Library and Media Center, Ace Your Creative Writing Project, and Ace Your Writing Assignment.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Ace It! Information Literacy series. These books provide a step-by-step approach to tackling the usual range of reports and writing projects for elementary school students. Outlines, diagrams, and concrete suggestions, with photos of students engaged in research and writing processes, are included. Though no one will pick these volumes up for fun, they do show how assignments can be accomplished efficiently. Information overlaps book to book. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Ace It! Information Literacy titles: Ace Your Oral or Multimedia Presentation, Ace Your Internet Research, Ace Your Research Paper, Master the Library and Media Center, Ace Your Creative Writing Project, and Ace Your Writing Assignment.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Ace It! Information Literacy series. These books provide a step-by-step approach to tackling the usual range of reports and writing projects for elementary school students. Outlines, diagrams, and concrete suggestions, with photos of students engaged in research and writing processes, are included. Though no one will pick these volumes up for fun, they do show how assignments can be accomplished efficiently. Information overlaps book to book. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Ace It! Information Literacy titles: Ace Your Oral or Multimedia Presentation, Ace Your Internet Research, Ace Your Research Paper, Master the Library and Media Center, Ace Your Creative Writing Project, and Ace Your Writing Assignment.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 Top Pets for Kids with American Humane series. Covering basic needs, temperament, and physical traits of different types of animals, each book offers a detailed introduction to the diet, health, handling, and grooming of popular pets. The invitingly designed chapters feature an accessible text and colorful, varied photographs. The books emphasize proper health care and the responsibilities of pet ownership. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Top Pets for Kids with American Humane titles: Top 10 Dogs for Kids, Top 10 Reptiles and Amphibians for Kids, Top 10 Small Mammals for Kids, Top 10 Birds for Kids, Top 10 Cats for Kids, and Top Ten Fish for Kids.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 Top Pets for Kids with American Humane series. Covering basic needs, temperament, and physical traits of different types of animals, each book offers a detailed introduction to the diet, health, handling, and grooming of popular pets. The invitingly designed chapters feature an accessible text and colorful, varied photographs. The books emphasize proper health care and the responsibilities of pet ownership. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Top Pets for Kids with American Humane titles: Top 10 Dogs for Kids, Top 10 Reptiles and Amphibians for Kids, Top 10 Small Mammals for Kids, Top 10 Birds for Kids, Top 10 Cats for Kids, and Top Ten Fish for Kids.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 Top Pets for Kids with American Humane series. Covering basic needs, temperament, and physical traits of different types of animals, each book offers a detailed introduction to the diet, health, handling, and grooming of popular pets. The invitingly designed chapters feature an accessible text and colorful, varied photographs. The books emphasize proper health care and the responsibilities of pet ownership. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Top Pets for Kids with American Humane titles: Top 10 Dogs for Kids, Top 10 Reptiles and Amphibians for Kids, Top 10 Small Mammals for Kids, Top 10 Birds for Kids, Top 10 Cats for Kids, and Top Ten Fish for Kids.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) 4-6 This book provides explanation and background on uses of copyrighted material and helps readers build a foundation for proper citation in research papers. Recent high-profile examples of plagiarism and copyright violations are highlighted, as are the topics of illegal music downloading, fair use, and "recycled" or borrowed term papers. Some photographs and sidebars break up the thorough (if a bit dry) text. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Careers series. This series explores six government agencies involved in protecting the American public. Each book begins by recounting a specific act of terrorism or the precautions that prevented one. The purposes, responsibilities, and operations of the agency and its employees are then discussed. Career opportunities and pay scales are also explained. Photographs, inserts, and sidebars help enliven the dense text. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Careers titles: Border Patrol Agent, Special Agent, Search and Rescue Specialist, Operations Officer, Secret Service Agent, and Air Marshal.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Careers series. This series explores six government agencies involved in protecting the American public. Each book begins by recounting a specific act of terrorism or the precautions that prevented one. The purposes, responsibilities, and operations of the agency and its employees are then discussed. Career opportunities and pay scales are also explained. Photographs, inserts, and sidebars help enliven the dense text. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Careers titles: Border Patrol Agent, Special Agent, Search and Rescue Specialist, Operations Officer, Secret Service Agent, and Air Marshal.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 It's My State! series. The accessible books in this series provide young readers with information they need for school reports, as well as to satisfy their curiosity. Each comprehensive book features sections on the state symbols (flag, bird, flower, etc.), history, people, government, and resources. Bright photographs complement the readable text. A recipe, craft project, and state song are included. Reading list, websites. Ind. [Review covers these It's My State! titles: New Mexico, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Florida, and Washington.]

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

(4) 4-6 In American History series. Each of the books in this series attempts to delineate the numerous causes and significant events that helped form a specific era in American history. These three books feature black-and-white photos and illustrations of uneven quality, boxed quotes from source documents, and timelines. Bib., ind. [Review covers these In American History titles: Jamestown, John Smith, and Pocahontas in American History; The Harlem Renaissance in American History; The Dust Bowl and the Depression in American History.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 4-6 In World History series. Based on substantial sources, the books in this series offer balanced appraisals of their subjects' contributions, as well as the controversies that their activities engendered (Cook's careful eighteenth-century explorations of the Pacific; de Soto's aggressive search for gold in North America; and Columbus's explorations, also gold-driven, for Spain). Each book contains dark black-and-white period prints and a timeline. Bib., ind. [Review covers these titles: Captain Cook Explores the Pacific in World History, Hernando de Soto and the Spanish Search for Gold in World History, Christopher Columbus and the Age of Exploration in World History.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 In World History series. Based on substantial sources, the books in this series offer balanced appraisals of their subjects' contributions, as well as the controversies that their activities engendered (Cook's careful eighteenth-century explorations of the Pacific; de Soto's aggressive search for gold in North America; and Columbus's explorations, also gold-driven, for Spain). Each book contains dark black-and-white period prints and a timeline. Bib., ind. [Review covers these titles: Captain Cook Explores the Pacific in World History, Hernando de Soto and the Spanish Search for Gold in World History, Christopher Columbus and the Age of Exploration in World History.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Historical American Biographies series. These competently written biographies cover a wide range of subjects who lived between the American Revolution and World War II. The texts are supplemented by black-and-white photographs and reproductions, as well as information boxes that provide colorful background information or place events within historical context. The final pages of each volume discuss the legacy of each subject. Time lines are included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) YA Historical American Biographies series. These competently written biographies cover a wide range of subjects who lived between the American Revolution and World War II. The texts are supplemented by black-and-white photographs and reproductions, as well as information boxes that provide colorful background information or place events within historical context. The final pages of each volume discuss the legacy of each subject. Time lines are included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 In American History series. Beginning with a summary of events leading up to the conflic, Gettysburg then provides a day-by-day account of the battle. The blandly written Pony Express describes what led to this mail delivery system and explains its legacy. Worth's rather unfocused survey discusses nineteenth-century expansion and its consequences. The books include excerpts from source documents and archival photos and reproductions, which are unexpectional in the Gaines and Worth volumes. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) YA U.S. Military Branches and Careers series. Following a nearly identical format, each book in this series introduces a branch of the military, relates its history, examines the different career paths available to its members, and discusses the roles of women and minorities. Accompanied by average-quality black-and-white photos, the volumes will be helpful to those considering a career in military service. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these U.S. Military Branches and Careers titles: The Marine Corps in Action, The Coast Guard in Action, The Navy in Action, The Army in Action.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 In World History series. Encapsulating Nelson Mandela's contributions to racial justice in South Africa and explaining the conditions that motivated his activism, including twenty-seven years in prison, Gaines's narrative moves quickly but clearly. The balanced account is carefully footnoted and enriched with black-and-white photos, maps, a time line, and excerpts from source documents. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA U.S. Military Branches and Careers series. Following a nearly identical format, each book in this series introduces a branch of the military, relates its history, examines the different career paths available to its members, and discusses the roles of women and minorities. Accompanied by average-quality black-and-white photos, the volumes will be helpful to those considering a career in military service. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these U.S. Military Branches and Careers titles: The Marine Corps in Action, The Coast Guard in Action, The Navy in Action, The Army in Action.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta