(4) 4-6 DK Secret Worlds series. This survey strikes a nice balance, offering spooky, anecdotal stories about gargoyles, vampires, Bigfoot, and the Loch Ness Monster, while also exploring the reasons humans "need" monsters to explain nature, confront death, and create a cultural mythology. The photos and reproductions are diminished by the book's small trim size. An extensive list of websites is included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 DK Secret Worlds series. Grant documents the history of flight: from ancient myths about humans trying to simulate bird flight and pre-twentieth-century balloon experiments to twenty-first-century space flight and stealth airplanes. The busy color and black-and-white graphics are so prominent that they often distract readers from the informative prose. Text boxes offer statistics, and a variety of short reference appendices are included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 DK Secret Worlds series. This book's copious color photos of bared fangs and attacking animals (a zebra is brought down by a lion; a caiman is in the death grip of an anaconda) may be viewed as somewhat sensationalistic, but Setford does a fine job explaining food chains, hunting strategies, and camouflage techniques. Unfortunately, the book's small trim size results in a cluttered appearance. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 DK Secret Worlds series. Written with enthusiasm for the subject, this volume introduces various sharks and provides facts about their physiology, habits, and somewhat exaggerated rep for attacking humans. The accompanying color photos are diminished by the book's small trim size and crowded design. Information on rays, jellyfish, and other sea animals is included, as is a reference section that features a shark-classification chart. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 DK Secret Worlds series. Fans of gladiators, gore, and Russell Crowe will appreciate this volume's down-to-earth approach to ancient history. Conversational prose, film stills, and archival images fill the cluttered pages, revealing how gladiators were trained and how they fought to the death. Later chapters offer general information about life in ancient Rome. A timeline of the era is included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 DK Secret Worlds series. This pocket-sized book explains the evolution of the brain. A brief history of neurological theory and study leads to sections on the senses in humans and animals, brain teasers, and behavior. Photos are clear, but the page design is overly busy and switches distractingly from white to black to screened backgrounds. Lists of related websites and "Amazing Facts" are appended. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 DK Secret Worlds series. While less than ten percent of this volume is devoted to tornadoes, the balance addresses not only "dramatic weather systems" but general weather concepts, meteorology, and pollution. The cluttered layout includes color photographs, charts, websites, and "Weird World" anecdotes to entice reluctant readers. A brief but useful reference section is included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) 4-6 DK Secret Worlds series. Conversational prose and archival images introduce the wide spectrum of historical Native life in America. The first section broadly examines topics such as family life, religion, war, and crafts. The second half of the volume focuses on the traditions of specific tribes from various regions. A small trim size gives the book a cluttered appearance. Lists of websites and a timeline are included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 DK Secret Worlds series. Illustrated with color photographs of models, Dixon describes various prehistoric creatures, speculates on how they lived, and explains how their fossils were formed. Though the writing is smooth, the small trim size of the book emphasizes the crowded layout. A time line of "milestones of discovery" is included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 DK Secret Worlds series. Illustrated with color photographs, this book discusses the roles of mummies, religion, medicine, and the arts in ancient Egypt. Though the writing is smooth, the small trim size exacerbates the crowded layout. A time line and lists of notable pharaohs, important deities, and related websites are included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 DK Secret Worlds series. In an informal readable, humorous style, Maynard takes readers on a guided tour of the insect world and points out the weird, the amazing, and the disgusting in insect habitats, locomotion, reproduction, and much more. Though the pages are crowded with numerous captioned, close-up photos, the text-rich book is quite accessible. Suggested websites and quick facts are included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 DK Secret Worlds series. This small book uses anecdotes and numerous photos to describe the world of apes. In addition to discussing biology and social life, the text explores the history of primate research and the connection between apes and humans. The layout is distractingly cluttered, but the information will be useful to report writers. A list of "Primate Organizations" is appended. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire

(4) 4-6 DK Secret Worlds series. Small in size but packed with information, this is a lively account of explorers--from prehistoric people who migrated across the continents to astronauts and deep-sea divers. Text and photos are crammed onto each illustrated page, occasionally making it hard to focus. Notable women are mentioned in the appended time line. A list of related websites is included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 DK Secret Worlds series. This pocket-sized book features striking photos in a distractingly tight layout. In casual language, the text describes the structure and function of the human organ systems and relates interesting anecdotes. A reference section includes a time line of medical breakthroughs, branches of medicine, and websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges