(3) K-3 Fact Finders: Amazing Animal Colonies series. The animals profiled in this series live in close contact with one another, in varying degrees of interdependence. After basics about species variations, anatomy, reproduction, and feeding, details about their housing structures (reefs, hives) and social interactions (bees) are discussed, along with threats to their existence and protection efforts. Engaging photographs and diagrams are provided. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Fact Finders: Amazing Animal Colonies titles: Bees and Wasps and Corals

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 4-6 Fact Finders: Why Do We Say That? series. Beginning with a general overview of its topic, each text delves into the history and currently active changes of American English. They also go into some finer points, such as the use of emojis as idioms and the evolution of "thee/thou" to "you." "Try it out!" sections encourage active engagement with functions of language. Stock photographs and some charts adorn the pages. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Fact Finders: Why Do We Say That? titles: What Is an Idiom When It's at Home? and Me, Myself, and I.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant

(3) 4-6 Fact Finders: Engineering Wonders series. A brief history of the engineering project includes the canal's inception, political ramifications, trade implications, obstacles, and workers' health issues related to malaria and yellow fever. The lock system of moving ships over Panama's mountainous terrain is explained by both text and infographics. Maps, archival photographs, and text boxes add interest to uncluttered pages. Critical thinking questions appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Stories in American History series. The updated volumes in this series spotlight key moments in U.S. history, framing the discussions with coverage of the events leading up to and following those periods. The presentation of topics is adequate; occasional drawings and photos, which vary in relevance and clarity, give the merest hint of the period in each book. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Stories in American History titles: The California Gold Rush, The Amazing Underground Railroad, The Legend of the Alamo, Surviving the Oregon Trail, and The Incredible Transcontinental Railroad.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 World Historical Atlases series. This book covers the Asian empires of Imperial China, India, and Ottoman Turkey. The abbreviated format includes a wealth of information, with many dates and personalities, but lacks depth. Well-reproduced color illustrations and maps enhance the text, which will be useful for report writers. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 World Historical Atlases series. This book describes three periods of geographic exploration: ancient and medieval, European, and post-seventeenth century. Principal explorers and their expeditions are discussed but not in much detail, due to the abbreviated format. The book will be most useful as an introduction for those who know little about the subject. Well-reproduced color photos and maps enhance the text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 World Historical Atlases series. Each of these books gives a brief history of the featured regions, including key dates, historic locales, and notable personalities. The series's principal weakness is that its scope is too broad for the abbreviated format. However, the books will prove helpful to those who know little about the subject. Sidebars, maps, and well-reproduced color art appear throughout. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these World Historical Atlases titles: The Ancient Mediterranean, The Ancient Near East, and The Medieval World.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 World Historical Atlases series. Each of these books gives a brief history of the featured regions, including key dates, historic locales, and notable personalities. The series's principal weakness is that its scope is too broad for the abbreviated format. However, the books will prove helpful to those who know little about the subject. Sidebars, maps, and well-reproduced color art appear throughout. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these World Historical Atlases titles: The Ancient Mediterranean, The Ancient Near East, and The Medieval World.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 World Historical Atlases series. Each of these books gives a brief history of the featured regions, including key dates, historic locales, and notable personalities. The series's principal weakness is that its scope is too broad for the abbreviated format. However, the books will prove helpful to those who know little about the subject. Sidebars, maps, and well-reproduced color art appear throughout. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these World Historical Atlases titles: The Ancient Mediterranean, The Ancient Near East, and The Medieval World.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Digging for the Past series. This engaging book, coauthored with a working archaeologist, examines the ancient Minoan civilization of Knossos, Crete, revealed through the excavation work of Sir Arthur Evans in the early 1900s. Plenty of photographs of artifacts, archival reproductions, and illustrations contribute to this book's usefulness in school curriculums. Maps, reading list, related sites, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) 4-6 AnimalWays series. Each of these books features a conversational tone and striking photos, making it attractive to report writers. The volumes present the history, classification, physiology, and habits of these mammals, along with discussion on social behavior, feeding habits, communication, and the animals' role in our culture. Animal kingdom chart, reading list, species checklist, websites. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these AnimalWays titles: Dolphins, Cats, and Chimpanzees.]

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) 4-6 AnimalWays series. Each of these books features a conversational tone and striking photos, making it attractive to report writers. The volumes present the history, classification, physiology, and habits of these mammals, along with discussion on social behavior, feeding habits, communication, and the animals' role in our culture. Animal kingdom chart, reading list, species checklist, websites. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these AnimalWays titles: Dolphins, Cats, and Chimpanzees.]

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) 4-6 AnimalWays series. A conversational tone and engaging photographs give this informative and detailed book appeal to dog enthusiasts and researchers alike. The classification, biology, and habits of dogs and other canids are discussed, as well as theories on the history of domestication. A chart of the animal kingdom and a species checklist are included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) 4-6 AnimalWays series. The books in this series feature an intimate, conversational tone and engaging photos, making each volume attractive for those with an interest in the species as well as for report researchers. The history, classification, physiology, and habits of each species are presented, along with discussions on social behavior, feeding habits, migration, and species' roles in our culture. A chart of the animal kingdom and a species checklist are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these AnimalWays titles: Whales, Elephants, and Tigers.]

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) YA Oxford Portraits series. The adventurous author's brief life is thoroughly, if somewhat blandly, recounted in a volume illustrated with black-and-white photos and reproductions. Although the book contains some excerpts of London's writing, and a chapter is devoted to his literary legacy, readers may be disappointed that his best-known works, such as The Call of the Wild and White Fang, are not discussed in greater depth. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Blastoff! series. The books in this series provide somewhat dry descriptions of what is presently known (and calculated) about these planets and the sun. The photographs, illustrations, and diagrams are well chosen and captioned. The few errors are more unfortunate choices of wording rather than misstatements of fact. A list of related websites is appended. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Blastoff! titles: The Sun, Pluto, Uranus, Mercury, and Venus.]

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(4) 4-6 Blastoff! series. The books in this series provide somewhat dry descriptions of what is presently known (and calculated) about these planets and the sun. The photographs, illustrations, and diagrams are well chosen and captioned. The few errors are more unfortunate choices of wording rather than misstatements of fact. A list of related websites is appended. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Blastoff! titles: The Sun, Pluto, Uranus, Mercury, and Venus.]

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(3) 4-6 North American Historical Atlases series. Brief overviews of westward expansion, the resulting conflicts with Native Americans, the Civil War and its aftermath, and the effects of new technologies (telegraph, railroads) are presented in these books. Copiously illustrated with maps, period reproductions, and sidebars, the texts are good jumping-off points for report writers. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these North American Historical Atlases titles: The Civil War, The Civil War and Reconstruction, Growth in America, The Indian Wars, and Texas and the Far West.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) 4-6 North American Historical Atlases series. Brief overviews of westward expansion, the resulting conflicts with Native Americans, the Civil War and its aftermath, and the effects of new technologies (telegraph, railroads) are presented in these books. Copiously illustrated with maps, period reproductions, and sidebars, the texts are good jumping-off points for report writers. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these North American Historical Atlases titles: The Civil War, The Civil War and Reconstruction, Growth in America, The Indian Wars, and Texas and the Far West.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) 4-6 North American Historical Atlases series. Brief overviews of westward expansion, the resulting conflicts with Native Americans, the Civil War and its aftermath, and the effects of new technologies (telegraph, railroads) are presented in these books. Copiously illustrated with maps, period reproductions, and sidebars, the texts are good jumping-off points for report writers. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these North American Historical Atlases titles: The Civil War, The Civil War and Reconstruction, Growth in America, The Indian Wars, and Texas and the Far West.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman