(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley. Quirk employs a breezy, conversational tone to explore four of the famous feuds of early American history, beginning with King George III and George Washington. Sections start with illustrative epigraphs from both participants; dates are frequently provided as chapter heads to orient readers in history. Piquant quotes and revealing anecdotes bring this briskly paced, humorously illustrated historical survey to life. Websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2017

(4) YA Blood of Gods and Royals series. Prince Regent Alexander and his enemies regroup and search for allies after their first battle in Legacy of Kings. But converging outside forces threaten to blindside both. Lack of clarity in the eight alternating points of view muddles the timeline. Herman lays the groundwork for this historical fantasy's next installment, deepening not only the political intrigue but also the magic and her characters' emotional toil.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(3) YA Blood of Gods and Royals series. In an alternate ancient Greece, several teens--Alexander the Great, a young sorceress named Kat, Alexander's Persian fiancée, and others--find themselves drawn into a political and magical conflict destined to change the world. The richly imagined setting, intense political intrigue, and large cast of characters make this series-starting historical fantasy a solid choice for Game of Thrones fans.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(4) 4-6 Hero Journals series. Two great military leaders from the ancient world are profiled. Thorough first-person narratives detail their early lives through their rise and fall as generals. The scrapbook layout of maps, illustrations, and photos further supports the journal premise, but the scriptlike font makes reading difficult. A journaling prompt is appended. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Hero Journals titles: Alexander the Great and Hannibal of Carthage.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 1-3 Magic Tree House series. Merlin charges Jack and Annie to find four qualities that define greatness in a person. For the first, the subject of this book, they use the magic tree house to visit twelve-year-old Alexander the Great in ancient Macedonia. When arrogant Alexander wants an untamable horse, the children teach him humility. Though formulaic, this breezy chapter book imparts interesting historical information.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Gary Hovland. When Uncle Henri, tasked with designing a fancy chandelier for a Paris salon, falls short on ideas, his great-nephew Louis Alexandre, who narrates the book, becomes his collaborator. Set in the early 1800s, this imagined history of one of the Getty Museum's treasures will lose kids with its length, although the comical period décor will catch their eyes.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Demi provides basic information about the life of Alexander the Great, from his boyhood and adolescent learning (Aristotle was his tutor), through his exploits as a leader and warrior, to his death surrounded by soldiers; some mythology (e.g., the oracle at Delphi: "You are invincible!") is also incorporated. The text is accompanied by vivid, lavish illustrations in Demi's recognizable style.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA Essential Lives series. Filled with interesting sidebars, photographs (Castro, Obama) or illustrations (Alexander), and maps, each of these biographies traces the life of its subject, including early successes and failures. The texts are bland but accessible; a clean design makes the books user-friendly, and appended resources make them helpful for school reports. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Lives titles: Alexander the Great, Fidel Castro, and Barack Obama.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) YA World Leaders series. This volume details the short yet eventful life of Alexander of Macedonia. The text is interspersed with quotes from his ancient biographers, adding historical weight to the narrative. Numerous reproductions, illustrations, and sidebars provide additional details about Alexander's life and times. There are occasional minor typos, and the illustrations are a mixed bag (some of the maps look very cluttered). Timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) YA Pivotal Moments in History series. Each volume details an important turning point in ancient history. Sure to satisfy history buffs, the books not only relate facts about the specific topics but also delve into the events leading up to those points as well as exploring their effects throughout history. Numerous sidebars, illustrations, maps, and art reproductions provide additional information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Pivotal Moments in History titles: The Conquests of Alexander the Great, Marco Polo's Journey to China, The Signing of the Magna Carta, and The Fall of the Roman Empire.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA Bucephalas, the finest horse in the stable, narrates this tale of Alexander the Great and his rise to power. His equine perspectives and interpretations of events and relationships are insightful but grow repetitive before the book ends. The deep bond shared by Bucephalas, Alexander, and a mysterious girl groom forms the heart of this historical tale touched with fantasy. Bib.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Terry Naughton. This irreverent portrait of Alexander will draw in young readers with its humor, accessibility, and insight (although it occasionally tries too hard to be hip and comes out sounding dated). The caricatured illustrations by animator Naughton accentuate the humor of the narrative. Timelines, maps, paintings, archival photographs, and other visuals help give historical context. Extensive source notes are included. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Biography from Ancient Civilizations series. After introducing each of these important figures in ancient civilization with a story or legend, the authors then provide upper-elementary or middle-school students with a lively picture of the known life of the individual based on records from their times. Sidebars and archival art (without credit to artist or source) extend the information, but the dull design is uninviting. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Biography from Ancient Civilizations titles: The Life and Times of Alexander the Great, The Life and Times of Homer, The Life and Times of Archimedes, and The Life and Times of Socrates.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 4-6 World Historical Atlases series. Each of these books gives a brief history of the featured regions, including key dates, historic locales, and notable personalities. The series's principal weakness is that its scope is too broad for the abbreviated format. However, the books will prove helpful to those who know little about the subject. Sidebars, maps, and well-reproduced color art appear throughout. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these World Historical Atlases titles: The Ancient Mediterranean, The Ancient Near East, and The Medieval World.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 This brief though adequate biography of Alexander the Great relates his accomplishments in an oversize picture book format. Lengthy text focuses on the problems Alexander had keeping his soldiers happy, as he continually adopted the customs of those he conquered and as he had no intention of returning to Greece. The painterly illustrations in this Greek import don't always relate to the text.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) K-3 Historical Biographies series. Although the information is at times confusingly presented, these brief, formulaic biographies of important rulers of ancient Greece, Egypt, Mali, and China provide good starting-off points for report writers. The books are liberally illustrated with maps and well-reproduced color images of art and artifacts of the subjects' eras. Reading list, pronunciation guide, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Historical Biographies titles: Alexander the Great, Hatshepsut, Mansa Musa, and Qin Shi Huangdi.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 Dorling Kindersley Discoveries series. Illustrated by Peter Dennis. This busily designed book emphasizes the insatiable ego, impulsive character, and military prowess of the larger-than-life King Alexander. Sidebars provide information on the culture, architecture, and art of the people he conquered. Though it glosses over Alexander's private life, this introduction is action-packed and informative. Ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 In World History series. Nardo looks at the rule of King Philip II of Macedonia and his son, Alexander III, who united the divided city-states of Greece to fight their enemies and create a mighty empire. The engaging narrative, supported by quotes from primary sources, and inherent intrigue in the political maneuverings will hold readers' interest. A time line, maps, reproductions, and poorly reproduced black-and-white photos are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Sara Pearce

(3) YA Rulers and Their Times series. These books combine biographical information about the rulers with historical and cultural information about their countries and eras. A selection of literary excerpts and primary source documents is also included. These pieces don't always correspond to the era in question but will expand readers' grasp of the cultures. The open design includes photos of carvings, mosaics, and paintings. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt