(4) K-3 First Facts: From Farm to Table series. A stilted but easy-to-read text briefly traces the commercial process of making ice cream from milking cows to purchasing the finished product in a store. Relevant color photos are well placed, and "Fun Fact" sidebars mostly live up to their name. A recipe for making ice cream in bags is appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Connie ANn Kirk

(4) K-3 Let Freedom Ring: Colonial America series. Illustrated with color art and a few photographs, these four slim volumes offer brief overviews of important periods and events in U.S. history. The short, sometimes choppy sentences make for dull reading, but the information will be helpful for report writing. Occasional sidebars provide a few additional details. Directory, reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Let Freedom Ring: Colonial America titles: The Salem Witch Trials, The Plymouth Colony, The Slave Trade in Early America, and The Jamestown Colony.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) K-3 America's First Peoples series. Each of these books focuses on a traditional activity characteristic of a Native American group. Included are bits of history, folklore, and culture, plus hands-on activities, such as recipes. The easy-to-read format is enhanced with colorful illustrations, but the books are too brief to provide more than a cursory look at each group. Directory, reading list. Glos., ind. [Review covers these America's First People titles: The Navajo, The Shoshone, The Choctaw, and The Inuit.]

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Let Freedom Ring series. With occasionally stilted language, each of the flattering biographies in this series briefly chronicles the early life and later accomplishments of colonial figures. Features include maps, time lines, Internet sites, and historical places related to the subject. Archival paintings, without bibliographic citations, and photos of period clothing and household items serve as illustrations. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Let Freedom Ring titles: Thomas Jefferson, Betsy Ross, Benedict Arnold, Benjamin Franklin, Phillis Wheatley, George Washington.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) YA Great Outdoors series. Flat prose designed for low-level readers introduces each activity, describing the equipment needed, explaining techniques, and providing tips on safety and conservation. Illustrated with dark photos that are sometimes poorly focused, each book in this series includes a recipe (e.g., venison meatballs, gorp), diagrams, and list of animal and plant species. The information is helpful, but the books aren't all that engaging. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Great Outdoors titles: Deer Hunting, Duck Hunting, Fly Fishing, Freshwater Fishing, Camping, Hiking.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA Great Outdoors series. Flat prose designed for low-level readers introduces each activity, describing the equipment needed, explaining techniques, and providing tips on safety and conservation. Illustrated with dark photos that are sometimes poorly focused, each book in this series includes a recipe (e.g., venison meatballs, gorp), diagrams, and list of animal and plant species. The information is helpful, but the books aren't all that engaging. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Great Outdoors titles: Deer Hunting, Duck Hunting, Fly Fishing, Freshwater Fishing, Camping, Hiking.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta