(3) 4-6 Rivers in American Life and Times series. Each book focuses on a major North American river and its significance in American history. Close attention is paid to small facts, but the details are never overwhelming nor do they muddy the bigger picture. The dense text is smoothly written, and short highlighted sections and color pictures and maps help to break it up. Hudson lists websites. Timeline. Bib., ind. Review covers these Rivers in American Life and Times titles: The Hudson River and The Missouri River.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 4-6 Your Government--How It Works series. Each book in this series describes what led to the founding of a government institution, what laws it has at its disposal to enforce mandates, and what it has accomplished. Illustrated with reproductions and photographs, the volumes contain explanations that can be confusing, though they do provide in-depth treatment of their subjects. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Your Government titles: The Federal Aviation Administration, The Environmental Protection Agency, The Food and Drug Administration, The Electoral College, The National Institutes of Health, and The National Transportation Safety Board.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 Your Government--How It Works series. Each book in this series describes what led to the founding of a government institution, what laws it has at its disposal to enforce mandates, and what it has accomplished. Illustrated with reproductions and photographs, the volumes contain explanations that can be confusing, though they do provide in-depth treatment of their subjects. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Your Government titles: The Federal Aviation Administration, The Environmental Protection Agency, The Food and Drug Administration, The Electoral College, The National Institutes of Health, and The National Transportation Safety Board.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) YA Crime, Justice, and Punishment series. The FBI examines the history and responsibilities of the organization, citing specific cases of the Bureau's accomplishments. The other three books contain historical background (often looking back hundreds of years) but focus on summaries of particular cases, such as the insanity defense of John Hinckley, the Great Train Robbery, and recent school shootings. Black-and-white photos illustrate the texts. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA Exploration of Africa: The Emerging Nations series. This volume documents the history of Sudan from its early subjugation by the Egyptian Pharaohs to its later European colonization, followed by chapters describing Sudan's ethnically and culturally diverse tribes. Early black-and-white photos from the Royal Geographical Society's archives, though fascinating, are only casually related to the text. A time line is included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) YA Exploration of Africa: The Emerging Nations series. Giving the history of these countries or regions under European colonial rule and what is known of tribal history prior to colonization (Egypt covers only the 1700s to the present), the books in this series delve into Africa's political and ethnic background. Archival black-and-white photos, though fascinating, form a separate narrative unconnected to the text. Maps and a time line are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Exploration of Africa titles: Angola, Egypt, West Africa.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) YA Exploration of Africa: The Emerging Nations series. Giving the history of these countries or regions under European colonial rule and what is known of tribal history prior to colonization (Egypt covers only the 1700s to the present), the books in this series delve into Africa's political and ethnic background. Archival black-and-white photos, though fascinating, form a separate narrative unconnected to the text. Maps and a time line are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Exploration of Africa titles: Angola, Egypt, West Africa.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Famous Figures of the American Frontier series. Despite some oversimplifications, the books in this series provide adequate introductions to these individuals. After acquainting readers with the subject's more colorful accomplishments, succeeding chapters present a biographical sketch. Illustrated with (often colorized) archival photos, the texts are readable and accessible. Timelines are included. There are five other fall 2001 books in this series. [Review covers these titles: Crazy Horse, Davy Crockett, Annie Oakley, Wyatt Earp, Geronimo.]

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) YA Crime, Justice, and Punishment series. Various aspects of criminality and the judicial system are covered in the six well-focused books in this series. Historical perspectives--sometimes going back hundreds of years--are presented, as are appropriate examples from contemporary trials. The prose and the accompanying black-and-white illustrations are adequate, and together they capably explore each topic in an accessible manner. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Y.A. Crime, Justice, and Punishment titles: Police and Policing, Guns, Crime, and the Second Ammendment, Defense Lawyers, Judges and Sentencing, Gangs and Crime, Probabtion and Parole. ]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Revolutionary War Leaders series. The books in this series profile such individuals as Kosciuszko, whose engineering genius enabled the American army to safely retreat from Fort Ticonderoga, and Burgoyne, who underestimated the enemy. Illustrated with black-and-white and color reproductions, the text is also broken up by sometimes irrelevant sidebars. There are five other new books in this series. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these titles: Baron von Steuben, Molly Pitcher, George Rogers Clark, Thaddeus Kosciuszko, John Burgoyne.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 Explorers of New Worlds series. Each book in this series details the journeys of a European or an American explorer. Text boxes feature original quotes, and the chapters include a geographic description of the territory explored. The superficial prose carefully explains the events and decisions but manages to dull most of the excitement. All the books include a timeline and reproduced artwork; three have poorly reproduced maps. There are four other fall 2001 books in this series. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these titles: Jolliet and Marquette, Robert Peary and the Quest for the North Pole, John C. Frémont, Sir Ernest Shackleton and the Struggle against Antarctica, Henry Hudson.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 4-6 Explorers of New Worlds series. Each book in this series details the journeys of a European or an American explorer. Text boxes feature original quotes, and the chapters include a geographic description of the territory explored. The superficial prose carefully explains the events and decisions but manages to dull most of the excitement. All the books include a timeline and reproduced artwork; three have poorly reproduced maps. There are four other fall 2001 books in this series. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these titles: Jolliet and Marquette, Robert Peary and the Quest for the North Pole, John C. Frémont, Sir Ernest Shackleton and the Struggle against Antarctica, Henry Hudson.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) YA Exploration of Africa: The Emerging Nations series. These volumes document the European colonization of Nigeria and South Africa, followed by chapters presenting what is known of the histories of indigenous tribes. Archival black-and-white photos from the Royal Geographical Society, though fascinating, offer a separate visual narrative only casually related to the text. South Africa has a glossary. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Explorers of New Worlds series. The various conquests of the Vikings and the explorations of four Europeans who voyaged to the Americas are recorded in well-designed volumes illustrated with historical reproductions and photos. While the accessible books make good basic introductions, they're probably not the best choice for research reports, as excerpts and quotations are undocumented. Time lines are included. There are five other books in this series. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Explorers of New Worlds series. The various conquests of the Vikings and the explorations of four Europeans who voyaged to the Americas are recorded in well-designed volumes illustrated with historical reproductions and photos. While the accessible books make good basic introductions, they're probably not the best choice for research reports, as excerpts and quotations are undocumented. Time lines are included. There are five other books in this series. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta