(4) 4-6 Mysterious Encounters series. Five chapters--from "Peering into the Future" to "Failed Prophecies"--discuss the history of future-telling. The Bible, Nostradamus, and modern-day sources are included, along with any basis in fact (or not). Photos, illustrations, pull-quotes, and sidebars break up the dense text. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Innovators series. Beatles breaks no new ground while focusing on the band's formation, the Beatlemania years, and the group's ever-evolving musical style, briefly touching on its lasting influence. Branson explores the British entrepreneur's "brash and bold" personality. The texts are accessible but bland. Some photographs of the subjects add interest. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Innovators titles: The Beatles and Richard Branson.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Mysterious Encounters series. These books present descriptions, histories, personal anecdotes, and, in Curses, cross-cultural variations on the title topic in four brief chapters. Stock photos and illustrations--some adequate, some cheesy, some unhelpful--break up the texts. Although a few sidebars and photo captions offer alternative explanations for strange occurrences, the texts tend to present the supernatural as fact. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Mysterious Encounters titles: Curses and Ghost Hunters.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Mysterious Encounters series. These books present descriptions, histories, personal anecdotes, and, in Curses, cross-cultural variations on the title topic in four brief chapters. Stock photos and illustrations--some adequate, some cheesy, some unhelpful--break up the texts. Although a few sidebars and photo captions offer alternative explanations for strange occurrences, the texts tend to present the supernatural as fact. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Mysterious Encounters titles: Curses and Ghost Hunters.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Mysterious Encounters series. Five chapters--from "Peering into the Future" to "Failed Prophecies"--discuss the history of future-telling. The Bible, Nostradamus, and modern-day sources are included, along with any basis in fact (or not). Photos, illustrations, pull-quotes, and sidebars break up the dense text. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Mysterious Encounters series. Atlantis gives background on the mythical undersea place. Oak Island discusses the Nova Scotia locale's supernatural pirate history. Disappearances touches on the lost colony of Roanoke, the Bermuda Triangle, UFOs, etc. Stock photos and illustrations--some adequate, some cheesy, some unhelpful--break up the texts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Mysterious Encounters titles: Atlantis, Mysterious Disappearances, and Oak Island Treasure Pit.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Innovators series. Beatles breaks no new ground while focusing on the band's formation, the Beatlemania years, and the group's ever-evolving musical style, briefly touching on its lasting influence. Branson explores the British entrepreneur's "brash and bold" personality. The texts are accessible but bland. Some photographs of the subjects add interest. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Innovators titles: The Beatles and Richard Branson.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) 4-6 Taste of Culture series. Positing that a nation's cuisine springs from its geography, history, and traditions, these volumes survey the flavors of the title countries. Availability of fresh ingredients is covered, along with celebratory foods and snacking habits. Culturally specific ingredients are described alongside accompanying recipes and photos of people enjoying uniquely Icelandic, Afghan, English, or Moroccan dishes. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Taste of Culture titles: Foods of Afghanistan, Foods of England, Foods of Iceland, and Foods of Morocco.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Taste of Culture series. Demonstrating that a nation's cuisine springs from its geography, history, and traditions, these volumes explore the title countries' backgrounds, the availability of fresh ingredients, and recipes that followed. Meals for special celebrations and snacking habits are also touched on. Culturally specific foods are described alongside some accompanying recipes and photos of people enjoying the dishes. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Taste of Culture titles: Foods of Chile, Foods of Cuba, Foods of Korea, and Foods of Peru.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Taste of Culture series. Demonstrating that a nation's cuisine springs from its geography, history, and traditions, these volumes explore the title countries' backgrounds, the availability of fresh ingredients, and recipes that followed. Meals for special celebrations and snacking habits are also touched on. Culturally specific foods are described alongside some accompanying recipes and photos of people enjoying the dishes. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Taste of Culture titles: Foods of Chile, Foods of Cuba, Foods of Korea, and Foods of Peru.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Taste of Culture series. Demonstrating that a nation's cuisine springs from its geography, history, and traditions, these volumes explore the title countries' backgrounds, the availability of fresh ingredients, and recipes that followed. Meals for special celebrations and snacking habits are also touched on. Culturally specific foods are described alongside some accompanying recipes and photos of people enjoying the dishes. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Taste of Culture titles: Foods of Chile, Foods of Cuba, Foods of Korea, and Foods of Peru.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Taste of Culture series. Positing that a nation's cuisine springs from its geography, history, and traditions, these volumes survey the flavors of the title countries. Availability of fresh ingredients is covered, along with celebratory foods and snacking habits. Culturally specific ingredients are described alongside accompanying recipes and photos of people enjoying uniquely Icelandic, Afghan, English, or Moroccan dishes. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Taste of Culture titles: Foods of Afghanistan, Foods of England, Foods of Iceland, and Foods of Morocco.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Taste of Culture series. Positing that a nation's cuisine springs from its geography, history, and traditions, these volumes survey the flavors of the title countries. Availability of fresh ingredients is covered, along with celebratory foods and snacking habits. Culturally specific ingredients are described alongside accompanying recipes and photos of people enjoying uniquely Icelandic, Afghan, English, or Moroccan dishes. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Taste of Culture titles: Foods of Afghanistan, Foods of England, Foods of Iceland, and Foods of Morocco.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Taste of Culture series. Positing that a nation's cuisine springs from its geography, history, and traditions, these volumes survey the flavors of the title countries. Availability of fresh ingredients is covered, along with celebratory foods and snacking habits. Culturally specific ingredients are described alongside accompanying recipes and photos of people enjoying uniquely Icelandic, Afghan, English, or Moroccan dishes. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Taste of Culture titles: Foods of Afghanistan, Foods of England, Foods of Iceland, and Foods of Morocco.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Monsters series. These volumes include background about the title mythological creatures, including appearances in folklore, fine arts, literature, film, and video games. Illustrations ranging from historical artifacts and paintings to movie stills and book covers add interest to the somewhat dry writing. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Monsters titles: Genies and The Furies.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Mysterious Encounters series. These books present descriptions, histories, personal anecdotes, and in some cases cross-cultural variations on the title topics in three or four digestible chapters. Stock photos and illustrations--some adequate, some cheesy, some unhelpful--break up the texts. Although a few sidebars offer alternative explanations for strange occurrences, the texts tend to present the supernatural as fact. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Mysterious Encounters titles: Time Travel, Burial Grounds, La Llorona, Stonehenge, and The Dover Demon.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) 4-6 Innovators series. This standard-issue biography describes Davis's rise to jazz greatness and his contributions to the genre; the text skims over his problems with drugs, alcohol, and depression. After briefly mentioning his early life, the volume focuses mostly on his career and how Davis transformed modern jazz. The writing is accessible but bland. Many vivid photos help liven things up. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Mysterious Encounters series. These books present descriptions, histories, personal anecdotes, and in some cases cross-cultural variations on the title topics in three or four digestible chapters. Stock photos and illustrations--some adequate, some cheesy, some unhelpful--break up the texts. Although a few sidebars offer alternative explanations for strange occurrences, the texts tend to present the supernatural as fact. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Mysterious Encounters titles: Time Travel, Burial Grounds, La Llorona, Stonehenge, and The Dover Demon.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) 4-6 Monsters series. This brief volume superficially touches on background about ogres, including appearances in fairy tales and mythology, children's literature (Shrek!, the Narnia and Spiderwick books), books for grownups (the Lord of the Rings volumes), film (mostly adaptations of the works listed above), and video games. Accompanying illustrations include paintings, movie stills, and book covers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Monsters series. These volumes include background about the title monsters, including purported sightings of swamp monsters and appearances in literature and film by the grim reaper figure. Illustrations ranging from historical artifacts to movie stills and book covers add interest to the somewhat dry writing. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Monsters titles: The Grim Reaper and Swamp Monsters.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister