(3) YA Ancient Civilizations series. Each volume introduces a civilization by covering a wide variety of topics including origins, political systems, religions, and daily life. Chapters are broken into subcategories, with numerous sidebars, photos, illustrations, and maps adding detail to the main narrative. The texts themselves are accessible without dumbing down the information. There are four other spring 2015 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. This review covers the following Ancient Civilizations titles: Ancient Maya, Ancient Rome, Ancient Mesopotamia, and Ancient India.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Discover Ancient Civilizations series. For upper-elementary-school students, these introductions to ancient civilizations cover origins, government, religion, contributions to culture worldwide, as well as other related topics. The accessible and easy-to-read texts are supported by plenty of well-chosen and -captioned color photos and reproductions. Some sections attempt to span centuries, making those parts seem rushed. Maps, reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Discover Ancient Civilizations titles: Discover Ancient China, Discover Ancient Egypt, Discover Ancient Persia, Discover Ancient Mesopotamia, Discover Ancient Rome, and Discover Ancient Greece.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA Living History series. This series emphasizes social history and forefronts family life, community organization, religious practices, education systems, and inventions. Pull-out boxes define some words, but a glossary would have been helpful. Translated snippets from famous texts are short and useful, whereas the illustrations are perfunctory at best. Each volume is adequately researched, offering standard information and perspectives. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these Living History titles: Life During Medieval Times, Life During the Roman Empire, and Life in Ancient Mesopotamia.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) YA Lucent Library of Historical Eras series. Peoples chronicles the rise and fall of Middle Eastern cultures from 9000 BCE to the beginning of the Arab Muslim era (600 CE), including Sumeria, Babylonia, Persia, and Greece. The other volumes focus on the practices and contributions of the numerous Mesopotamian empires. Photographs, maps, inserts, and sidebars enhance and extend the dense texts. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lucent Library of Historical Eras titles: Arts and Literature in Ancient Mesopotamia, Life and Worship in Ancient Mesopotamia, Peoples and Empires of Ancient Mesopotamia, and Science, Technology, and Warfare of Ancient Mesopotamia.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Lucent Library of Historical Eras series. Peoples chronicles the rise and fall of Middle Eastern cultures from 9000 BCE to the beginning of the Arab Muslim era (600 CE), including Sumeria, Babylonia, Persia, and Greece. The other volumes focus on the practices and contributions of the numerous Mesopotamian empires. Photographs, maps, inserts, and sidebars enhance and extend the dense texts. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lucent Library of Historical Eras titles: Arts and Literature in Ancient Mesopotamia, Life and Worship in Ancient Mesopotamia, Peoples and Empires of Ancient Mesopotamia, and Science, Technology, and Warfare of Ancient Mesopotamia.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Lucent Library of Historical Eras series. Peoples chronicles the rise and fall of Middle Eastern cultures from 9000 BCE to the beginning of the Arab Muslim era (600 CE), including Sumeria, Babylonia, Persia, and Greece. The other volumes focus on the practices and contributions of the numerous Mesopotamian empires. Photographs, maps, inserts, and sidebars enhance and extend the dense texts. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lucent Library of Historical Eras titles: Arts and Literature in Ancient Mesopotamia, Life and Worship in Ancient Mesopotamia, Peoples and Empires of Ancient Mesopotamia, and Science, Technology, and Warfare of Ancient Mesopotamia.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Lucent Library of Historical Eras series. Peoples chronicles the rise and fall of Middle Eastern cultures from 9000 BCE to the beginning of the Arab Muslim era (600 CE), including Sumeria, Babylonia, Persia, and Greece. The other volumes focus on the practices and contributions of the numerous Mesopotamian empires. Photographs, maps, inserts, and sidebars enhance and extend the dense texts. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lucent Library of Historical Eras titles: Arts and Literature in Ancient Mesopotamia, Life and Worship in Ancient Mesopotamia, Peoples and Empires of Ancient Mesopotamia, and Science, Technology, and Warfare of Ancient Mesopotamia.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 National Geographic Investigates series. This series discusses how archaeologists' work helps us learn about ancient cultures. Each volume highlights major sites and finds; the text touches on the impact of modern history (the Iraq war, pollution) on priceless artifacts and discusses controversies (Elgin marbles). Sidebars and well-captioned photos expand on the information, as does an interview with a working archaeologist. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these National Geographic Investigates titles: Ancient Inca, Ancient Iraq, Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, and Ancient Africa.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Cities Through Time series. Illustrated by Ray Webb. This book traces the city's history from 762 C.E. to the present, including a dispassionate account of the last decade. Chapters on cultural details alternate with historical accounts (sometimes jarringly: the 1958 assassination of King Faisal II is followed by an upbeat "Food in Baghdad" section). Visuals include boxed quotations from primary sources, reproductions, generic illustrations, and color photos. A time line is included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Science of the Past series. Ancient ideas about astronomy, medicine, animal and plant classification, and mathematics are clearly, if briefly, discussed. Color photos and reproductions illustrate the books, which cover so much information that some major figures, such as Plato and Aristotle, are barely mentioned. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard