(4) K-3 Picture Book Biography series. Illustrated by Dan Brown. The latest addition to this series introduces the life of the African-American agriculturist from his enslaved birth to his constant quest for education and his scientific achievements. The watercolor illustrations are accomplished, but the demands of the easy-to-read format lead Adler to simplify his portrayal; Carver's controversial accommodationist race-relations stand is mentioned only in the brief author's note. Bib.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(3) K-3 Kids will be kids, no matter where they live, claims this celebration of the universality of childhood experience. Brief sentences describing activities (playing ball, sharing time with family) are accompanied by color photographs of children from countries around the world. Text and photos share an infectious joyfulness that tempers what could have been a heavy-handed message.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(3) YA Extraordinary People series. In brief but lively essays, Alter profiles more than fifty notable women, including explorers and adventurers (Sacajawea, Bessie Coleman), artists and entertainers (Georgia O'Keeffe, Maria Tallchief), athletes (Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Shannon Miller), and social and political activists (Jeannette Rankin, Pat Schroeder). Organized chronologically and illustrated with black-and-white drawings and photographs, the book is noteworthy for its inclusion of many women of color. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(3) 4-6 In clear, direct prose, Ancona describes the history, traditions, and celebrations of the charro, or Mexican cowboy. Bright, crisply reproduced color photographs add liveliness to descriptions of the rodeo-like competition in which charros participate; the ways in which charros and charras train; and the celebration of the cowboy, known as El día del charro. Glos.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lynne Russell. Anholt's prose has far more liveliness than his protagonist Ella, a serious child who finds the sunshine within herself only after her grandmother gives her the key to her summerhouse, built as a reminder of her former island home. Russell's vivid, color-drenched pastels are equally adept at capturing character and evoking the fantasy island world of the summerhouse.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(3) 4-6 Cities Through Time series. Illustrated by Ray Webb. A simple but effective design and crisply worded prose are the highlights of this look at the social history of the capital city of China during its ancient, imperial, and modern periods. Competent but unexciting illustrations dominate the early part of the book, while color photographs are used to portray modern times. A time line is appended. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(3) 4-6 Cities Through Time series. Illustrated by Ray Webb. Not only ancient and modern times, but all the history in between is the focus of this lucidly written volume focusing on the social history of the "city of the seven hills." Historical paintings and artwork do a better job than the competent but unexciting illustrations at highlighting the home and public lives of Rome's inhabitants through the centuries. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(3) YA Illustrated by Stan Mack & Ida Marx Blue Spruce. Bode provides a valuable resource for young adults making decisions about pregnancy, as well as those researching the issue for school projects, in this completely updated book of interviews with pregnant teens, boyfriends, families, health-care workers, and counselors. A lively design, which includes cartoon strips and snippets from current newspaper and magazine articles, adds to the dynamic presentation. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(3) 4-6 Cities Through Time series. Illustrated by Ray Webb. Brook presents the political and social history of the city known as the "Pearl of Africa" in clean, engaging prose, focusing on the many different people and cultures that have called it home from ancient to modern times. Newly created illustrations are far less effective than the historical paintings that illustrate early history; color photos highlight contemporary times. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Susan Estelle Kwas. Bulla's informative and entertaining guide to the holiday of romance (first published in St. Valentine's Day) here receives fresh treatment--jazzy color-saturated illustrations with a touch of the abstract and a handsome book design. In addition to facts about the holiday's history and customs, directions for making cookies and valentines are included.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(3) YA Impact Book series. An ardent arms-control advocate, Cheney writes an earnest, detailed account of the history of nuclear proliferation, including current government policies designed to limit the spread of nuclear technology, past and present nonproliferation treaties, the problems caused by the breakup of the Soviet Union, and ideas for curbing future nuclear development. Black-and-white photographs are included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(3) 4-6 Cities Through Time series. Illustrated by Ray Webb. Historical photographs and drawings, as well as competent if unremarkable artwork, illustrate this social history of the Cuidad de México. Cory's clear prose presents information on private and public life during the major periods of the city: its ancient beginnings, the Aztec period, Spanish colonization, independence, and life in contemporary times. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Bonnie Christensen. Unconvincing as the voice of a thirteen-year-old, yet intriguing for its use of image-laden language, Crist-Evans's free verse "journal" tells of one boy's journey with his father to join the Confederate forces as they move toward a fateful encounter at Gettysburg. Black-and-white woodcuts and a stark design add to the (sometimes overly self-conscious) sophisticated tone.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Goto. As they did with Annie Oakley in their book Shooting Star, Dadey and Goto once again craft a tall tale about a real person. The book's punchy humor and over-the-top acrylic and oil illustrations give the book plenty of pizzazz, but even after reading the book's appended historical note some may find the blend of fact and fiction confusing--and unnecessary.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(4) YA Issues in Focus series. Historical background, legal issues, and differing points of view about the merits of advertising and drug testing are presented in able, and often engaging, prose. The tone of each book is evenhanded, but their authors are clearly in favor of one side (that advertising is problematic, and that current drug testing is not effective). Black-and-white photographs are included. Advertising has a glossary. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(4) 4-6 Life Times series. Focusing on rites of passage, Ganeri presents information on the customs and ceremonies common in the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths. Though the brevity of the descriptions prevents Ganeri from giving readers much context, the books are informative and easy to read; the color photos and illustrations are set in an overly busy design. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(4) 4-6 Life Times series. Focusing on rites of passage, Ganeri presents information on the customs and ceremonies common in the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths. Though the brevity of the descriptions prevents Ganeri from giving readers much context, the books are informative and easy to read; the color photos and illustrations are set in an overly busy design. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(4) 4-6 Life Times series. Focusing on rites of passage, Ganeri presents information on the customs and ceremonies common in the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths. Though the brevity of the descriptions prevents Ganeri from giving readers much context, the books are informative and easy to read; the color photos and illustrations are set in an overly busy design. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(4) 4-6 Life Times series. Focusing on rites of passage, Ganeri presents information on the customs and ceremonies common in the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths. Though the brevity of the descriptions prevents Ganeri from giving readers much context, the books are informative and easy to read; the color photos and illustrations are set in an overly busy design. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(4) YA At the end of 1999, the Panama Canal will pass from American to Panamanian control. Gold opens her informative but dry presentation with a description of the current situation, and the political aspects of its past and present ownership. Muddy black-and-white photographs and pie charts and graphs add to the book's dullness. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne