(4) 4-6 Century Kids series. Illustrated by Alain Picard. As the century progresses, the now-grown Aldrich children have found careers that too-neatly parallel their childhood interests. The emphasis shifts to Lorraine, an African-American girl living in 1920s Chicago, Tony, who rides the rails during the Depression, and an Aldrich grandson living in Hitler's Germany. Historical figures such as Amelia Earhart appear in these colorful but emotionally limited volumes.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta