(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. These leveled beginning-reader biographies are lively and filled with colorful photographs and illustrations. Energetically designed with many sidebars and graphics, each well-organized volume gives a sense of the time in which the person lived in addition to his or her life and accomplishments. Longer and at the highest reading level, Anne Frank contains an index. Timeline. Glos. Review covers these National Geographic Super Readers titles: Amelia Earhart, George Washington, Thomas Edison, and Anne Frank.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Short chapters with challenging but controlled vocabulary (Obama's text is simpler than Mandela's) track Obama's and Mandela's paths to becoming the first black presidents of their respective countries; pre-presidential civil rights work is emphasized more than presidential policy. "Words to Know" boxes and in-text transliteration support independent reading. Bright photographs, fact boxes, and pullout quotes increase accessibility. Mandela has an index. Timeline. Glos. Review covers these National Geographic Readers titles:Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. These easy-reader biographies cover major life events: birth, schooling, and adult accomplishments. Lincoln is geared toward newly independent readers; King provides more detail for confident readers. In both, simple sentences and vocabulary along with plenty of text boxes, photos, and archival images make for an energetic if busy design. King includes an index. Timeline. Glos.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. These leveled beginning-reader biographies are lively and filled with colorful photographs and illustrations. Energetically designed with many sidebars and graphics, each well-organized volume gives a sense of the time in which the person lived in addition to his or her life and accomplishments. Longer and at the highest reading level, Anne Frank contains an index. Timeline. Glos. Review covers these National Geographic Super Readers titles: Amelia Earhart, George Washington, Thomas Edison, and Anne Frank.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Explorers series. After an introduction, crowded double-page spreads explore our planet. Captioned photos and digital illustrations support the text (which appears in short paragraphs all over the pages) as it describes the sun and moon's effects on Earth; its composition, landscape, and habitats; and people’s impact on the planet. Icons intended to link common themes throughout the book can be more confusing than helpful. Ind.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) 4-6 Action Force series. This series takes a cursory look at national, state, and local units intended to protect citizens. Each book presents brief vignettes related to specific categories; for example, Police includes such topics as highway patrols, dog squads, crime scene investigators, and SWAT teams. The numerous photographs and sidebars, while eye-catching, make the pages difficult to navigate. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Action Force titles: Armed Services, Special Forces, Police Units, and Border Defense.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Great Journeys Across Earth series. Each series volume details a historically important expedition. The circumstances leading up to the journey as well as the aftermath are also discussed. Also included is information about who accompanied the explorers and the experiences they all had. Numerous sidebars, maps, and illustrations provide additional information (though the crowded pages divide attention). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Great Journeys across Earth titles: Captain Cook's Pacific Explorations, Burton and Speke's Source of the Nile Quest, Amundsen and Scott's Race to the South Pole, Hillary and Norgay's Mount Everest Adventure, Lewis and Clark's Continental Journey, Magellan's Voyage around the World, and Marco Polo's Travels on Asia's Silk Road.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Rivers of North America series. This series provides readers with an abundance of well-organized information on North American rivers. Illustrated with maps and photographs, each book begins with an overview of the river's geography and biology and then moves into an account of its role in history and culture. There are six other fall 2003 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Rivers of North America titles: The St. Lawrence River, The Rio Grande, The Snake River, The Mackenzie River, The Tennessee River, and The Ohio River.

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire