(4) YA Modern Middle East Nations and Their Strategic Place in the World series. These surveys, intended for report writers, try to be up to the minute in terms of political events but must be supplemented by current sources. They provide adequate background material on geography, history, people (including minority groups), and foreign relations. The photos are clear, but the stylized borders on some pages are distracting. There are seventeen other fall 2003 books in this series. Chronology, reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Modern Middle East Nations and Their Strategic Place in the World titles: Israel, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Yemen, and Iraq.]

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(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