(3) K-3 World Around Us series. Illustrated by Jane Heinrichs. Meant to foster discussion about upsetting news events, this book poses questions--such as "What causes a tragedy or disaster?"--and answers them in a child-appropriate manner. Purposeful but effective, the text defines tragedy and disaster and discusses those of natural, human, and technological causes; near book's end, Roberts briefly pontificates about finding meaning in tragedies. Serviceable illustrations and stock photographs appear throughout. Reading list.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 World Around Us series. Illustrated by Jane Heinrichs. Meant to introduce young readers to the topic of poverty, this book poses questions--such as "Why do people have to sleep on the street?"--and answers them in a straightforward manner. Homelessness and restricted access to education and healthcare are all discussed as types of poverty. Serviceable illustrations and stock photographs (with examples primarily of urban poverty) illustrate the purposeful, accessible text. Websites.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Holidays Around the World series. With warm photographs and simple, informative texts, these books detail the history, traditions, and family rituals that take place during Thanksgiving and Kwanzaa. The use of "we" throughout feels welcoming and inclusive. Appended to each are activities, recipes, a map, and a one-page essay by a university professor (of African American studies in Kwanzaa; of history in Thanksgiving). Reading list, websites. Glos. Review covers these Holidays Around the World titles: Celebrate Thanksgiving and Celebrate Kwanzaa.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) K-3 Holidays Around the World series. With warm photographs and simple, informative texts, these books detail the history, traditions, and family rituals that take place during Thanksgiving and Kwanzaa. The use of "we" throughout feels welcoming and inclusive. Appended to each are activities, recipes, a map, and a one-page essay by a university professor (of African American studies in Kwanzaa; of history in Thanksgiving). Reading list, websites. Glos. Review covers these Holidays Around the World titles: Celebrate Thanksgiving and Celebrate Kwanzaa.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) K-3 Holidays Around the World series. This reissued book effectively summarizes the history and religious traditions associated with the Christian holiday. The dynamic layout includes large, colorful, well-captioned photographs showing people around the world observing Easter. The text is easy to read, and Heiligman uses the inclusive "we" throughout. Additional facts, a recipe, a map, and a one-page essay from a reverend are included. Reading list, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) K-3 Holidays Around the World series. This book effectively summarizes the history and religious traditions associated with the "Festival of Lights." The dynamic layout includes large, colorful, well-captioned photographs showing people around the world observing Hanukkah. In the easy-to-read text, Heiligman uses the inclusive "we" throughout. Additional facts, a recipe for "Deborah's Potato Latkes," a map, and a one-page essay from a rabbi are included. Reading list, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Animals Around the World series. Each of twelve spreads features a colorful illustration of a dinosaur surrounded by text boxes cursorily highlighting the particular dinosaur's notable behaviors and physical attributes, a very simple map, and a generic dinosaur-to-human size comparison. References to body parts' theorized functions nod to uncertainty in the field. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Animals Around the World series. This book features a concise, accessible text broken into seven boxes per spread. The volume profiles twelve animals, touching on social behaviors, diet, physical adaptations, and geographic location (shown on an unlabeled map). Stock photos highlight physical features, and each spread includes a generic animal-to-human size comparison. Several proofreading errors are unfortunate. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Animals Around the World series. These books feature concise, accessible texts broken into seven boxes per spread. Each volume highlights twelve animals, touching on physical adaptations, diet, habits, defense mechanisms, and behaviors. Each spread includes vivid stock photos, a small (occasionally confusing) and generic animal-to-human size comparison, and an overly simplistic map. A few proofreading errors are unfortunate. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Animals Around the World titles: Jungle Animals, Ocean Animals, and Sharks and Sea Creatures.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Animals Around the World series. These books feature concise, accessible texts broken into seven boxes per spread. Each volume highlights twelve animals, touching on physical adaptations, diet, habits, defense mechanisms, and behaviors. Each spread includes vivid stock photos, a small (occasionally confusing) and generic animal-to-human size comparison, and an overly simplistic map. A few proofreading errors are unfortunate. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Animals Around the World titles: Jungle Animals, Ocean Animals, and Sharks and Sea Creatures.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Animals Around the World series. Each of twelve spreads introduces a different type of horse, emphasizing breed origins, physicality, and current and historical uses. The concise text appears in seven callout boxes per spread, with occasional tidbits about famous horses. Stock photos enliven the pages and clarify differences between breeds. Generic horse-to-human size comparisons are misleading due to inconsistencies in horses' positions. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Animals Around the World series. This book features a concise, accessible text broken into seven boxes per spread. The volume profiles twelve animals, touching on social interactions and adaptations for hunting, eating, and self-defense. Close-up stock photos highlight physical features described in the text, while generic size comparisons featuring curled-up snakes side-by-side with standing humans are less enlightening. Several proofreading errors are unfortunate. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Animals Around the World series. These books feature concise, accessible texts broken into seven boxes per spread. Each volume highlights twelve animals, touching on physical adaptations, diet, habits, defense mechanisms, and behaviors. Each spread includes vivid stock photos, a small (occasionally confusing) and generic animal-to-human size comparison, and an overly simplistic map. A few proofreading errors are unfortunate. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Animals Around the World titles: Jungle Animals, Ocean Animals, and Sharks and Sea Creatures.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Animals Around the World series. Each of twelve spreads feature seven text boxes that superficially introduce an "extraordinary" creature, discussing social structures, species variation, relative size (with a simple graphic), and geographic spread (unfortunately with an often unlabeled map). Stock photos provide close-ups of unique physical features and show hunting in action. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) YA Spies Around the World series. This book gives readers insight into the activities of Israel's elite Mossad organization. Basic techniques of espionage are described, and brief accounts of successful missions, including the capture of Adolf Eichmann, the Entebbe rescue mission, and retribution for the Munich Olympic shootings, are also included. Photographs and inserts accompany thorough text on cleanly designed pages. Websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Spies Around the World series. These books give readers insight into British and Russian espionage. Brief history of the country's spy operations, recruitment of spies, and examples of espionage techniques are described in both volumes; accounts of well-known spies, particularly those from the twentieth century, are also included. Photographs and inserts accompany the thorough text on cleanly designed pages. Websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers this Spies Around the World title: The KGB and Other Russian Spies and The SIS and Other British Spies.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Spies Around the World series. This book gives readers insight into America's espionage operations with emphasis on the CIA. The training of agents and how they operate in various settings are described; events from the Revolutionary War, Civil War, Cold War, and the conflict in Afghanistan are also touched on. Photographs and inserts accompany the thorough text on cleanly designed pages. Websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Spies Around the World series. These books give readers insight into British and Russian espionage. Brief history of the country's spy operations, recruitment of spies, and examples of espionage techniques are described in both volumes; accounts of well-known spies, particularly those from the twentieth century, are also included. Photographs and inserts accompany the thorough text on cleanly designed pages. Websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers this Spies Around the World title: The KGB and Other Russian Spies and The SIS and Other British Spies.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Countries Around the World series. Both volumes contain a broad spectrum overview of their respective country. Topics explored relate to historical, geographical, environmental, social, political, and cultural details. Photos, maps, and sidebars provide additional insight. The information is truncated, but the books may be useful for school reports. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Countries Around the World titles: India and Iran.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Countries Around the World series. Both volumes contain a broad spectrum overview of their respective country. Topics explored relate to historical, geographical, environmental, social, political, and cultural details. Photos, maps, and sidebars provide additional insight. The information is truncated, but the books may be useful for school reports. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Countries Around the World titles: Czech Republic and Latvia.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo