(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) 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) 4-6 Cultures of the World series. These in-depth country studies cover everything from geography, history, the environment, and government to food, lifestyles, and the people living in each of these Balkan countries. The wooden prose may turn off casual readers, but report writers will find plenty of information and many clear photographs. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Cultures of the World titles: Slovakia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, Albania, and Macedonia.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(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