(4) 4-6 Action Force: World War II series. This series presents a broad overview of the military forces of the Allied and Axis powers in WWII. Tasks and duties of personnel, types of weapons and machines, battles encountered, and military tactics are briefly discussed. The short main texts are lackluster, but military buffs will be drawn to the numerous archival photographs, maps, and sidebars of facts and stats. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Action Force: World War II titles: Air Force, Army, Navy, and Special Operations.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Action Force: World War II series. This series presents a broad overview of the military forces of the Allied and Axis powers in WWII. Tasks and duties of personnel, types of weapons and machines, battles encountered, and military tactics are briefly discussed. The short main texts are lackluster, but military buffs will be drawn to the numerous archival photographs, maps, and sidebars of facts and stats. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Action Force: World War II titles: Air Force, Army, Navy, and Special Operations.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Action Force: World War II series. This series presents a broad overview of the military forces of the Allied and Axis powers in WWII. Tasks and duties of personnel, types of weapons and machines, battles encountered, and military tactics are briefly discussed. The short main texts are lackluster, but military buffs will be drawn to the numerous archival photographs, maps, and sidebars of facts and stats. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Action Force: World War II titles: Air Force, Army, Navy, and Special Operations.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Action Force: World War II series. This series presents a broad overview of the military forces of the Allied and Axis powers in WWII. Tasks and duties of personnel, types of weapons and machines, battles encountered, and military tactics are briefly discussed. The short main texts are lackluster, but military buffs will be drawn to the numerous archival photographs, maps, and sidebars of facts and stats. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Action Force: World War II titles: Air Force, Army, Navy, and Special Operations.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Geography Quest series. Illustrated by Tatio Viana. This series sends readers on Choose Your Own–style adventures (navigate the sea to find sunken treasure in Danger; conduct a search-and-rescue mission on a snowy mountain in Peril), in which they advance by correctly answering geography questions. Comics-like illustrations and a non-linear progression make for an exciting and unconventional lesson on geographical terminology. A "Taking It Further" section is appended. Glos. Review covers these Geography Quest titles: Deep-Sea Danger and Mountain Peak Peril.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Geography Quest series. Illustrated by David Shephard. This series sends readers on Choose Your Own–style adventures (navigate the sea to find sunken treasure in Danger; conduct a search-and-rescue mission on a snowy mountain in Peril), in which they advance by correctly answering geography questions. Comics-like illustrations and a non-linear progression make for an exciting and unconventional lesson on geographical terminology. A "Taking It Further" section is appended. Glos. Review covers these Geography Quest titles: Deep-Sea Danger and Mountain Peak Peril.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Secret History series. From propaganda and intelligence to technology and courageous sacrifice, various ways in which conflicts are won or negotiated are examined in these books. Archival photographs combine with a busy but well-organized design to present an engaging perspective on these wartime efforts. Both reluctant readers and history buffs in need of a fresh approach to events will appreciate this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Secret History titles: The Cold War, World War I, World War II, and The War on Terror.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 101 series. These volumes present one hundred and one numbered facts that are loosely grouped by topic (human body systems, "embarrassing" functions in Body; eating and exercise in Shape). On busy pages, informational paragraphs, quizzes, anecdotes about famous people, case studies, photographs, etc., all vie for attention. Body ends with "Top Ten Tips." Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these 101 titles: 101 Ways to Get in Shape and 101 Things You Didn't Know About Your Body.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) YA Why Science Matters series. The science behind the title topics--global warming, water conservation, and endangered species--shares space with at-home experiments, case studies for discussion of science and ethics, and sidebars that feature everyday applications of the science. Though the subjects aren't covered in depth, students looking for broad overviews will be satisfied. Many photographs and diagrams are included. Protecting and Predicting contain timelines. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Why Science Matters titles: Protecting Threatened Species, Managing Water, and Predicting the Effects of Climate Change.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) YA Life Skills series. These profusely illustrated how-to manuals feature lots of charts, checklists, photographs, and quizzes. Additional tips and Do's and Don'ts appear throughout each book in text boxes. There's useful information in each busily designed volume. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Life Skills titles: Be a Great Babysitter! and Travel Tips.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) 4-6 Criaturas increíbles series. This series covers groups of animals, from mollusks to mammals, birds, and insects. The text, including sidebars with unusual facts, will maintain readers' interest while fully covering the basics: diet, physical characteristics, reproduction, etc. Close-up photographs of animal eyes on each cover reflect the attention-grabbing nature of Townsend's approach. The well-executed Spanish translation of the leveled text is smooth and precise. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Criaturas increíbles titles: Anfibios increíbles, Arácnidos increíbles, Aves increíbles, Insectos increíbles, Mamíferos increíbles, Moluscos increíbles, Peces increíbles, and Reptiles increíbles.

Reviewer: Pamela Mishkin

(3) 4-6 Criaturas increíbles series. This series covers groups of animals, from mollusks to mammals, birds, and insects. The text, including sidebars with unusual facts, will maintain readers' interest while fully covering the basics: diet, physical characteristics, reproduction, etc. Close-up photographs of animal eyes on each cover reflect the attention-grabbing nature of Townsend's approach. The well-executed Spanish translation of the leveled text is smooth and precise. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Criaturas increíbles titles: Anfibios increíbles, Arácnidos increíbles, Aves increíbles, Insectos increíbles, Mamíferos increíbles, Moluscos increíbles, Peces increíbles, and Reptiles increíbles.

Reviewer: Pamela Mishkin

(3) 4-6 Criaturas increíbles series. This series covers groups of animals, from mollusks to mammals, birds, and insects. The text, including sidebars with unusual facts, will maintain readers' interest while fully covering the basics: diet, physical characteristics, reproduction, etc. Close-up photographs of animal eyes on each cover reflect the attention-grabbing nature of Townsend's approach. The well-executed Spanish translation of the leveled text is smooth and precise. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Criaturas increíbles titles: Anfibios increíbles, Arácnidos increíbles, Aves increíbles, Insectos increíbles, Mamíferos increíbles, Moluscos increíbles, Peces increíbles, and Reptiles increíbles.

Reviewer: Pamela Mishkin

(3) 4-6 Criaturas increíbles series. This series covers groups of animals, from mollusks to mammals, birds, and insects. The text, including sidebars with unusual facts, will maintain readers' interest while fully covering the basics: diet, physical characteristics, reproduction, etc. Close-up photographs of animal eyes on each cover reflect the attention-grabbing nature of Townsend's approach. The well-executed Spanish translation of the leveled text is smooth and precise. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Criaturas increíbles titles: Anfibios increíbles, Arácnidos increíbles, Aves increíbles, Insectos increíbles, Mamíferos increíbles, Moluscos increíbles, Peces increíbles, and Reptiles increíbles.

Reviewer: Pamela Mishkin

(3) 4-6 Criaturas increíbles series. This series covers groups of animals, from mollusks to mammals, birds, and insects. The text, including sidebars with unusual facts, will maintain readers' interest while fully covering the basics: diet, physical characteristics, reproduction, etc. Close-up photographs of animal eyes on each cover reflect the attention-grabbing nature of Townsend's approach. The well-executed Spanish translation of the leveled text is smooth and precise. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Criaturas increíbles titles: Anfibios increíbles, Arácnidos increíbles, Aves increíbles, Insectos increíbles, Mamíferos increíbles, Moluscos increíbles, Peces increíbles, and Reptiles increíbles.

Reviewer: Pamela Mishkin

(3) 4-6 Criaturas increíbles series. This series covers groups of animals, from mollusks to mammals, birds, and insects. The text, including sidebars with unusual facts, will maintain readers' interest while fully covering the basics: diet, physical characteristics, reproduction, etc. Close-up photographs of animal eyes on each cover reflect the attention-grabbing nature of Townsend's approach. The well-executed Spanish translation of the leveled text is smooth and precise. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Criaturas increíbles titles: Anfibios increíbles, Arácnidos increíbles, Aves increíbles, Insectos increíbles, Mamíferos increíbles, Moluscos increíbles, Peces increíbles, and Reptiles increíbles.

Reviewer: Pamela Mishkin

(3) 4-6 Criaturas increíbles series. This series covers groups of animals, from mollusks to mammals, birds, and insects. The text, including sidebars with unusual facts, will maintain readers' interest while fully covering the basics: diet, physical characteristics, reproduction, etc. Close-up photographs of animal eyes on each cover reflect the attention-grabbing nature of Townsend's approach. The well-executed Spanish translation of the leveled text is smooth and precise. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Criaturas increíbles titles: Anfibios increíbles, Arácnidos increíbles, Aves increíbles, Insectos increíbles, Mamíferos increíbles, Moluscos increíbles, Peces increíbles, and Reptiles increíbles.

Reviewer: Pamela Mishkin

(3) 4-6 Criaturas increíbles series. This series covers groups of animals, from mollusks to mammals, birds, and insects. The text, including sidebars with unusual facts, will maintain readers' interest while fully covering the basics: diet, physical characteristics, reproduction, etc. Close-up photographs of animal eyes on each cover reflect the attention-grabbing nature of Townsend's approach. The well-executed Spanish translation of the leveled text is smooth and precise. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Criaturas increíbles titles: Anfibios increíbles, Arácnidos increíbles, Aves increíbles, Insectos increíbles, Mamíferos increíbles, Moluscos increíbles, Peces increíbles, and Reptiles increíbles.

Reviewer: Pamela Mishkin

(4) 4-6 When Disaster Struck series. This volume begins with a brief description of the 2004 tsunami that struck Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India. The text then presents a chronological narrative to provide a comprehensive discussion of the events leading to the tragedy, the human loss, the environmental impact, and the need for improved warning systems. Maps, photographs, sidebars, diagrams, and personal accounts are included on the busy pages. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 When Disaster Struck series. This volume begins with a brief account of the ship's 1989 grounding. The text then continues with a chronological description of the events leading to the oil spill off Alaska's rocky coast, the cleanup, and its ecological impact, to provide a comprehensive analysis of one of the worst environmental disasters in history. Maps, photographs, sidebars, and primary sources on busy pages are included. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale