(4) 4-6 Time Traveler's Guide series. Illustrated by Mark Bergin. This illustrated series provides you-are-there glimpses at life in a (fictional) town of each ancient civilization. Two-page sections each focus on a specific part or structure. The information is generalized, but the series' draw is the detailed illustrations, which use bird's-eye perspectives and cutaways to allow readers to see inside various buildings. Appended "Time-Traveler's Guide" notes provide basic information about culture. Glos., ind. Review covers these Time Traveler's Guide titles: Inca Town, Greek Town, Roman Town, and Egyptian Town.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Do You Want to Be a... series. Illustrated by Mark Bergin. Each volume focuses on how a specific class of people lived in their civilization. Two-page sections regarding one aspect of life contain a brief main text surrounded by illustrations and explanatory captions. While layouts are busy, short blurbs make the volumes browsable. "Interview" questions determine if readers "have what it takes" for each role. There are four other spring 2015 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Do You Want to Be a... titles: Do You Want to Be a Medieval Knight?, Do You Want to Be a Samurai Warrior?, Do You Want to Be an Ancient Egyptian Princess?, and Do You Want to Be an Ancient Greek Athlete?.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Do You Want to Be a... series. Illustrated by John James. Each volume focuses on how a specific class of people lived in their civilization. Two-page sections regarding one aspect of life contain a brief main text surrounded by illustrations and explanatory captions. While layouts are busy, short blurbs make the volumes browsable. "Interview" questions determine if readers "have what it takes" for each role. There are four other spring 2015 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Do You Want to Be a... titles: Do You Want to Be a Medieval Knight?, Do You Want to Be a Samurai Warrior?, Do You Want to Be an Ancient Egyptian Princess?, and Do You Want to Be an Ancient Greek Athlete?.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Children in History series. This series explores the lives of children in ancient civilizations. Each two-page section focuses on a general topic--family, activities, education, religion, etc. The writing, contained in text boxes, is superficial but accessible. Many artifact and artwork reproductions are included. Some unfortunate typos (e.g., Rome was important "around the time of 500–476 B.C.") and spelling mistakes ("Aristole") mar the volumes. Timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Children in History titles: Greeks, Vikings, Egyptians, and Romans.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Children in History series. This series explores the lives of children in ancient civilizations. Each two-page section focuses on a general topic--family, activities, education, religion, etc. The writing, contained in text boxes, is superficial but accessible. Many artifact and artwork reproductions are included. Some unfortunate typos (e.g., Rome was important "around the time of 500–476 B.C.") and spelling mistakes ("Aristole") mar the volumes. Timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Children in History titles: Greeks, Vikings, Egyptians, and Romans.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 100 Things You Should Know About series. This book presents one hundred random facts about shipwrecks. The text focuses on history, causes, consequences, and investigations into the subject. Busy pages are packed with photos, cartoonlike drawings, and more realistic illustrations in addition to "I Don't Believe It!" sidebars. Ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Bergin. This book focuses on Darwin's experience and enthusiasm as the scientific expert on the Beagle, the ship itself and life aboard her, the principal ports of the five-year voyage, and Darwin's later cataloguing and synthesis of his observations into the theory of evolution. Captioned art illustrates the chronological text, with smaller details and maps to the side. Timeline. 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 Excavating the Past series. This welcome new series highlights the work of archaeologists in deciphering the lives of people through the artifacts they left behind. Religion, the arts, daily life, and history are covered in most volumes. The formats tend to be cluttered, and each spread's "Did you know?" tag line is superfluous, but the numerous photos of artifacts are often fascinating. Reading list, timelines. Glos., ind. Review covers these Excavating the Past titles: The Indus Valley, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, The Viking World, Ancient Rome, and The Aztec Empire.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Battle Zones series. Illustrated by Mark Bergin. Crowded double-page spreads include paragraphs of information, labeled illustrations, photos, reproductions, and captions. The books give details about how wars were fought and profile major figures, but readers will have a hard time connecting the war tactics with wider ramifications. Timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Battle Zones titles: Warfare in the Ancient World and Warfare in the Middle Ages.]

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA World Issues series. This informative examination includes historical and statistical information, personal accounts, and fundamental debates about such issues as gender, race, and age. A straightforward text combines with numerous color and black-and-white photographs to create a busy design, but the volume provides a comprehensive and accessible dialogue. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Dave Antram & Mark Bergin. These two series books provide introductions to major Egyptian and Greek deities. The pages are crowded with text (some of which is printed in tiny type), text boxes, illustrations, and photographs of artifacts, all of which contribute to information about the particular god or goddess and about life for mere mortals. Report writers who persevere will glean basic facts about the subjects. Glos., ind. [Review covers these titles: Gods and Goddesses: In the Daily Life of the Ancient Egyptians and Gods and Goddesses: In the Daily Life of the Ancient Greeks.]

Reviewer: Jaynia B. Fink

(4) 4-6 Other Half of History series. From a feminist perspective, these books address conditions for women during the title eras, mostly in Europe and the United States, with a few wider observations. Topics ranging from war and revolution to Our Bodies, Ourselves are presented in double-page spreads that include brief paragraphs, photos, drawings, time lines, and other boxed information--some predictable, some rather random. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Other Half of History series. From a feminist perspective, these books address conditions for women during the title eras, mostly in Europe and the United States, with a few wider observations. Topics ranging from war and revolution to Our Bodies, Ourselves are presented in double-page spreads that include brief paragraphs, photos, drawings, time lines, and other boxed information--some predictable, some rather random. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Other Half of History series. Using a feminist perspective, these books examine the role of women in Roman and medieval societies, carefully treating subtopics such as "Health and Beauty," "Family Life," and "Women and Religion." Different fonts create rather busy graphics, but primary artwork from tapestries, paintings, and sculptures adds an authentic look to both volumes. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Other Half of History series. Using a feminist perspective, these books examine the role of women in Roman and medieval societies, carefully treating subtopics such as "Health and Beauty," "Family Life," and "Women and Religion." Different fonts create rather busy graphics, but primary artwork from tapestries, paintings, and sculptures adds an authentic look to both volumes. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Giants of Science series. These accurate biographies offer a wealth of information clearly and fluently. The authors understand the science and technology involved, and they generally succeed in explaining complex processes to an uninitiated audience. Details of the subjects' lives illuminate their work. Unfussy graphic design features period photos and drawings. A time line is included in each book. Bib., ind., glos.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) 4-6 Other Half of History series. Each book delivers approximately one hundred paragraph-length information capsules that cumulatively document an entire century. The books are organized thematically, with chapter titles that include "Education and Careers" and "Fame in a Man's World." The dozens of captioned archival paintings and illustrations scattered throughout each book reinforce the author's points. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Other Half of History series. Each book delivers approximately one hundred paragraph-length information capsules that cumulatively document an entire century. The books are organized thematically, with chapter titles that include "Education and Careers" and "Fame in a Man's World." The dozens of captioned archival paintings and illustrations scattered throughout each book reinforce the author's points. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Other Half of History series. The author repeatedly reminds readers that little documentation of the lives of women in ancient times is available, and most of what the books present is theory rather than fact. Illustrated with reproductions of art from the time and augmented with sidebars, each text looks at various aspects of life at the time: family, home, religion, arts, politics, etc. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow