(3) 4-6 Adventures in Space series. Organized chronologically, these slender space-flight-oriented biographies discuss their subjects' training and give step-by-step accounts of their groundbreaking missions: Armstrong as the first human on the moon and Ride as the first American woman in space. Plentiful photos, sidebars, diagrams, and details on astronauts' routines convey a you-are-there feeling, while later chapters cover the astronauts' lives back on Earth. Reading list, timeline, Glos., ind. Review covers these Adventures in Space titles: Neil Armstrong and Traveling to the Moon and Sally Ride and the Shuttle Missions.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) YA Everything Has a History series. This dense introduction to historical research covers primary sources, site visits, archival sleuthing, and interviews. The pages are packed with photos, maps, and text boxes of related information. It all supports the text but makes the presentation somewhat hard to follow and may put off some readers. Back matter includes an example of a timeline. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) YA Days of Decision series. These slim books provide solid analysis of pivotal events in world history and the decision-makers who affected them. Report writers and debaters will find useful and pertinent background information; readers are encouraged to consider questions and dilemmas faced by leaders and historians. The pages are overly busy with archival photos, captions, sidebars, maps, and other graphics. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Days of Decision titles: Gandhi and the Quit India Movement, Hitler and Kristallnacht, and Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Countries in Our World series. REVIEW MISSING

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 4-6 Countries in Our World series. These volumes provide very general introductions to their title countries. Topics include geographical, economic, environmental, cultural, and political issues, positive and negative, faced by the citizens; useful spreads look ahead to 2020. Abundant photographs (of varying relevance) and sidebars highlight important facts and people. The volumes will be quickly dated. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Countries in Our World titles: Israel in Our World, Japan in Our World, Pakistan in Our World, and South Korea in Our World.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 4-6 Environment Challenge series. This leveled-text edition examines the sources and uses of energy from a global perspective to underscore the differences in energy consumption and conservation across various regions. Langley emphasizes sustainability, including case studies of energy disasters (mine collapses, oil spills) as well as alternative energy and sustainability successes. Color photographs, diagrams, and text asides further encourage readers to examine the issues. Reading/movie list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 4-6 Environment Challenge series. The sources and uses of energy are examined from a global perspective to underscore the differences in energy consumption and conservation across various regions. Langley emphasizes sustainability, including case studies of energy disasters (mine collapses, oil spills) as well as alternative energy and sustainability successes. Color photographs, diagrams, and text asides further encourage readers to examine the issues. Reading/movie list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 Navigators series. These classroom-friendly volumes describe rainforests' and oceans' geographies, histories, and ecologies, in addition to ongoing preservation efforts. The many supporting visuals--full-bleed background pictures, various types of digital images, maps, sidebars, and call-out boxes--take up every space and angle for an eye-catching if difficult-to-follow presentation. Glos., ind. Review covers these Navigators titles: Oceans and Seas and Rainforests.

Reviewer: Tori Funkhouser

(4) YA What Do You Think? series. This book examines such topics as differences in brain size, performance on standardized tests, and sociological causes and effects as related to gender and intelligence. Though the text isn't nuanced, it effectively models balanced thinking. Numerous photographs, sidebars, and headings clutter the pages. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA What Do You Think? series. This book examines such issues as potential harm from pesticides, differences in taste between organic and nonorganic food, treatment of animals, and environmental effects. Though the text isn't nuanced, it effectively models balanced thinking useful for beginning debaters. The numerous photographs, sidebars, and headings create busy pages. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA What Do You Think? series. This book clarifies terms, quotes some research and opinions on both sides, suggests critical thinking and evaluation skills, and coaches readers in debate techniques. Though it's not nuanced or deep, the material reasonably introduces the subject of animal rights for beginning debaters. Photographs, charts, sidebars, and numerous headings clutter the pages. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA What Do You Think? series. This book defines key terms, lists economic advantages and disadvantages of immigration, considers human rights questions, and presents debate protocol as well as some further references. Though not nuanced, the text provides a useful introduction to the topic, beginning with a worldwide scope but focusing on U.S. immigration. The many photos, sidebars, charts, and numerous headings make the pages crowded. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 History in Art series. Each first chapter explains, with varying success, the relationship between art and artists. Subsequent chapters give a chronology of the main events of certain periods. Captioned, labeled images serve as examples of artistic conventions, materials, and techniques. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these History in Art titles: Ancient China, Islamic Empires, Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Native Americans, and Middle Ages.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 History in Art series. Each first chapter explains, with varying success, the relationship between art and artists. Subsequent chapters give a chronology of the main events of certain periods. Captioned, labeled images serve as examples of artistic conventions, materials, and techniques. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these History in Art titles: Ancient China, Islamic Empires, Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Native Americans, and Middle Ages.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) 4-6 Leading Lives series. With outlined but fluid texts, these books follow the lives of famous political leaders from childhood. Focus is placed on the lasting legacies of the figures, and each book includes a descriptive list of "key people," or important historical figures in each subject's life. Photographs and quotes add interest to the texts. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Leading Lives titles: Golda Meir, Che Guevara, Malcolm X, Indira Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Ho Chi Minh.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) K-3 Raintree Biographies series. Plentiful reproductions of the work of each subject contribute to the cluttered design of the dryly written profiles. Each two-page section focuses on an aspect of the artist's life, and sidebars provide quotations from the artists themselves as well as cultural and artistic context. Although superficial, these books give readers a basic understanding of these pivotal figures. Timeline, reading list. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Raintree Biographies titles: Edward Hopper, Frank Lloyd Wright, Michelangelo, Pablo Picasso, Dorothea Lange, and Maya Lin.]

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) K-3 Raintree Biographies series. Plentiful reproductions of the work of each subject contribute to the cluttered design of the dryly written profiles. Each two-page section focuses on an aspect of the artist's life, and sidebars provide quotations from the artists themselves as well as cultural and artistic context. Although superficial, these books give readers a basic understanding of these pivotal figures. Timeline, reading list. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Raintree Biographies titles: Edward Hopper, Frank Lloyd Wright, Michelangelo, Pablo Picasso, Dorothea Lange, and Maya Lin.]

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(3) 4-6 Starting with the basics ("What Is a Religion?"), this introduction describes the symbols, history, customs, and festivals of eight major religions, with the greatest coverage given to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Cartoonlike children act as guides through the simplified material, with color photographs and additional artwork illustrating each section and adding international flair. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by June Everett. Simultaneously presenting Elizabethan history and its modern-day parallel, this book describes the original Globe Theatre's construction in London in the late 1500s and its faithful reconstruction in the late twentieth century. Watercolor illustrations by Everett, the Artist of Record for the monumental, seventeen-year project, meticulously detail the Globe's revival. Color photos and reproductions are also included. Ind.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) 4-6 What's Their Story? series. Illustrated by Tony Morris. These brief biographies of three authors, two explorers, and one political activist present their subjects in clear and engaging prose. Accomplished half-page and spot watercolors on each page highlight key moments in each person's life. Time lines are appended to all but Eric (which features a source note) and Gandhi (a glossary). Ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne