(3) K-3 First Facts: Predator Profiles series. Short chapters accompanied by large, pertinent color photos clearly explain the concepts of predator and prey. The text focuses on the piranha's hunting style, discussing the kinds of prey it seeks and the piranha's size, speed, physical attributes, defenses against counterattack, and strategy. Fact sidebars and same-page vocabulary definitions are helpful design elements. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) K-3 First Facts: Predator Profiles series. Short chapters accompanied by large, pertinent color photos clearly explain the concepts of predator and prey. The text focuses on the hyena's hunting style, discussing the kinds of prey it seeks and the hyena's size, speed, physical attributes, defenses against counterattack, and strategy. Fact sidebars and same-page vocabulary definitions are helpful design elements. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) K-3 First Facts: Predator Profiles series. Short two- or three-paragraph chapters accompanied by large, pertinent color photos clearly explain the concepts of predator and prey. The text focuses on the crocodile's hunting style: discussing the kinds of prey it seeks, the creature's size, speed, physical attributes, defenses against counterattack, and strategy. Fact sidebars and same-page vocabulary definitions are helpful design elements. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) K-3 First Facts: Predator Profiles series. Short two- or three-paragraph chapters accompanied by large, pertinent color photos clearly explain the concepts of predator and prey. The text focuses on ways sharks are adapted to hunt: their size, speed, range, special teeth, senses (including a sixth "electrical" sense), and hunting methods. Fact sidebars and same-page vocabulary definitions are helpful design elements. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) K-3 First Facts: Predator Profiles series. Short two- or three-paragraph chapters accompanied by large, pertinent color photos clearly explain the concepts of predator and prey. The text focuses on how the tiger's traits suit it for hunting: its size and speed, hunting style, camouflage and territorial markings, preferred prey, and training from cubhood. Fact sidebars and same-page vocabulary definitions are helpful design elements. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) YA Profiles in Science series. The life of the Nobel Prize–winning scientist, whose major contributions include characterization of radioactive elements and the structure of the atom, is described through detailed descriptions of his early life in New Zealand to his schooling in England, his professorships and scientific research, and the relationships among famous turn-of-the-twentieth-century scientists. Archival photographs and diagrams supplement the dry text. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Devon Johnson

(4) YA Profiles in Science series. This profile of Dalton, an impoverished Quaker, provides a detailed account of his experimental and observational work in many sciences; especially highlighted are his principles of atomic theory, an important development in physical science, as well as insights into the scientific community at the turn of the nineteenth century. Photographs and diagrams supplement the dry text. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Devon Johnson

(4) YA Political Profiles series. Already outdated post–2012 presidential race, this standard-issue biography touches on Romney's childhood, family background, and the trajectory of his business and political careers. Although it tries to be balanced by including some criticisms of Romney, the portrayal is mostly positive, sometimes bordering on biased (Romney's pro–Vietnam War stance is dubbed "patriotism"). Plentiful photos add interest. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 4-6 Profiles series. This volume profiles six important Civil War figures: Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Clara Barton, George McClellan, Robert E. Lee, and Mathew Brady. Biographical information is well tied to key historical events. Supplemented with black-and-white drawings and photos (some color-tinted), these readable and informative short sketches may motivate readers to do further research on the period. Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA Political Profiles series. When Bloomberg--zealous, obstinate, and motivated--desired a third turn as mayor of New York, he challenged its term limit law and won. Moving from his early years as "a regular kid" through his success as a news service provider to his potential 2012 presidential run, the volume offers a somewhat useful (if quickly dated) synopsis of Bloomberg's career. Photographs help break up the pages. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) YA Political Profiles series. These three uneven political biographies cover their subjects' childhoods, important life events, and present-day careers. Though the texts are marred by occasional inaccuracies (e.g, Lewis incorrectly states that Martin Luther King Jr. went to Boston College instead of Boston University), they could appeal to budding politicians. Photographs, some without captions, help illuminate history and personalities. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Political Profiles titles: Sarah Palin, John Lewis, and Joe Biden.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot

(3) YA Profiles in Science series. Besides noting personal and public milestones, these biographies clearly explain both men's significant scientific contributions: Lavoisier's work with oxygen and chemical nomenclature and Darwin's painstaking, lengthy, and controversial development of the theories of natural selection and evolution. Well-chosen photographs and diagrams illustrate the scrupulously documented texts, which offer good historical context. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Profiles in Science titles: Fire, Water, and Air and Origin.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA Profiles in Economics series. This series explores the lives and work of four philosophers and economists. The books show shared--and divergent--ideas the men gained from classical sources and from each other. Though the texts tend to focus on minutiae ("Cheese and fruit, especially strawberries, were favorites of Adam"), they do present well-rounded portraits of their subjects. Many archival paintings and photographs accompany the texts. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Profiles in Economics titles: Adam Smith, John Maynard Keynes, Milton Friedman, and Karl Marx.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) YA Profiles in Economics series. This series explores the lives and work of four philosophers and economists. The books show shared--and divergent--ideas the men gained from classical sources and from each other. Though the texts tend to focus on minutiae ("Cheese and fruit, especially strawberries, were favorites of Adam"), they do present well-rounded portraits of their subjects. Many archival paintings and photographs accompany the texts. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Profiles in Economics titles: Adam Smith, John Maynard Keynes, Milton Friedman, and Karl Marx.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) YA Profiles in Economics series. This series explores the lives and work of four philosophers and economists. The books show shared--and divergent--ideas the men gained from classical sources and from each other. Though the texts tend to focus on minutiae ("Cheese and fruit, especially strawberries, were favorites of Adam"), they do present well-rounded portraits of their subjects. Many archival paintings and photographs accompany the texts. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Profiles in Economics titles: Adam Smith, John Maynard Keynes, Milton Friedman, and Karl Marx.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) YA Profiles in Science series. With good documentation, LeVine presents the complicated person of Richard Feynman: Nobel Prize winner, maverick physics researcher, key member of the Manhattan Project and the Challenger investigation teams, thrice married father of two, inveterate curious scientist. Photographs of Feynman (mostly black-and-white), along with some less relevant stock photos, illustrate the text. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Profiles in Science series. Besides noting personal and public milestones, these biographies clearly explain both men's significant scientific contributions: Lavoisier's work with oxygen and chemical nomenclature and Darwin's painstaking, lengthy, and controversial development of the theories of natural selection and evolution. Well-chosen photographs and diagrams illustrate the scrupulously documented texts, which offer good historical context. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Profiles in Science titles: Fire, Water, and Air and Origin.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA Profiles in Economics series. This series explores the lives and work of four philosophers and economists. The books show shared--and divergent--ideas the men gained from classical sources and from each other. Though the texts tend to focus on minutiae ("Cheese and fruit, especially strawberries, were favorites of Adam"), they do present well-rounded portraits of their subjects. Many archival paintings and photographs accompany the texts. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Profiles in Economics titles: Adam Smith, John Maynard Keynes, Milton Friedman, and Karl Marx.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) YA Political Profiles series. These three uneven political biographies cover their subjects' childhoods, important life events, and present-day careers. Though the texts are marred by occasional inaccuracies (e.g, Lewis incorrectly states that Martin Luther King Jr. went to Boston College instead of Boston University), they could appeal to budding politicians. Photographs, some without captions, help illuminate history and personalities. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Political Profiles titles: Sarah Palin, John Lewis, and Joe Biden.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot

(4) YA Political Profiles series. These profiles focus on their subjects' childhoods, backgrounds, and the forces that shaped them into today's leaders. Though largely laudatory, both books also touch on foibles and scandals (e.g., Chappaquiddick). Some of the information is already out of date. Obama gives little insight into Michelle's life before Barack. Photographs help break up the texts, which will be useful for basic information. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Political Profiles titles: Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot