(3) YA A compelling narrative provides numerous examples of racial profiling and social injustices in the U.S.; examples of religious intolerance and discriminatory stances on immigrants are also discussed. The design is engaging: photos, data visualizations, and call-out boxes highlighting personal anecdotes and ripped-from-the-headlines stories break up the main text. Though the book's topics are sprawling, they're important and clearly conveyed. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(3) 4-6 Timeline Trackers: Westward Expansion series. The volumes in this series examine the cause and effect surrounding particular aspects of America's westward expansion. Each well-organized chapter begins with a timeline plotting out the events described within, skillfully zooming in and out on relevant years. An inviting approach, accessible prose, and carefully curated photographs and art enhance the presentations. Writing activities are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Timeline Trackers: Westward Expansion titles: Mexican-American War, Transcontinental Railroad, and California Gold Rush.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Timeline Trackers: Westward Expansion series. The volumes in this series examine the cause and effect surrounding particular aspects of America's westward expansion. Each well-organized chapter begins with a timeline plotting out the events described within, skillfully zooming in and out on relevant years. An inviting approach, accessible prose, and carefully curated photographs and art enhance the presentations. Writing activities are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Timeline Trackers: Westward Expansion titles: Mexican-American War, Transcontinental Railroad, and California Gold Rush.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Timeline Trackers: Westward Expansion series. This entry in the approachable series examines events surrounding the forced removal of the Cherokee people from their land. From the arrival of the first Europeans through the Trail and Tears and after, this well-organized volume moves through history via a visual timeline at chapter beginnings. Carefully curated art enhances the accessible text. Writing activities are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA This slim volume takes on human trafficking all over the world, covering debt bondage, forced domestic servitude, the sex trade, organ and adoption trafficking, forced military service, and more. Although the text takes a thorough, businesslike approach to an emotional topic, the frequent "Voices of the Victims" feature and moving photographs humanize the statistics. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Beginning with the announcement of Lennon's death on December 8, 1980, the author then adeptly presents two chronological biographies of Lennon and Mark David Chapman and comes full circle with a more detailed telling of the events leading up to the assassination. Black-and-white photographs, sidebars, and first-hand accounts enhance and extend a well-researched, engaging narrative. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) YA Dressing a Nation: The History of U.S. Fashion series. REVIEW MISSING

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(3) YA Unearthing Ancient Worlds series. Each volume begins with a snapshot look at an ancient civilization, then reveals the history of its archaeological site. Readers are given insight into who the first explorers were and their lasting contributions, in addition to future digs and discoveries at the sites. Numerous sidebars, maps, and illustrations provide more information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Unearthing Ancient Worlds titles: Angkor Wat and Easter Island.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA Dictatorships series. These books about two Asian dictators first present histories of their countries before exploring the men's own backgrounds and regimes in greater depth. The texts are dense; strong graphic design with a bold, contemporary look including well-placed sidebars and photographs makes these books visually appealing and accessible. Thorough backmatter includes a "Who's Who?" Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Dictatorships titles: Kim Jong Il's North Korea and Mao Zedong's China.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(3) YA Pivotal Moments in History series. Each volume details an important turning point in ancient history. Sure to satisfy history buffs, the books not only relate facts about the specific topics but also delve into the events leading up to those points as well as exploring their effects throughout history. Numerous sidebars, illustrations, maps, and art reproductions provide additional information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Pivotal Moments in History titles: The Conquests of Alexander the Great, Marco Polo's Journey to China, The Signing of the Magna Carta, and The Fall of the Roman Empire.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Visual Geography series. Color photographs, maps, and sidebars combine with a dry but informative text to provide a comprehensive study of the geography, history, government, people, culture, and economy of the featured country. A website maintained by the publisher offers additional up-to-date information for the report-driven reader. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these titles: North Korea in Pictures, South Korea in Pictures, Turkey in Pictures, and Lebanon in Pictures.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Visual Geography series. Color photographs, maps, and sidebars combine with a dry but informative text to provide a comprehensive study of the geography, history, government, people, culture, and economy of the featured country. A website maintained by the publisher offers additional up-to-date information for the report-driven reader. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these titles: North Korea in Pictures, South Korea in Pictures, Turkey in Pictures, and Lebanon in Pictures.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) 4-6 Easy Menu Ethnic Cookbooks series. A lengthy introduction describes the region, its wide variety of crops and foods, holidays and customs. Safety rules, descriptions of utensils, explanations of terms, and special ingredients introduce nineteen recipes that vary from a simple salad to the complex "Upside-down Lamb and Eggplant." The photographs of some of the finished dishes are mouth-watering. Ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Pull Ahead Books series. Useful for beginning readers studying community helpers, these books provide very basic introductions to some familiar professions. Vocabulary words are printed in bold and defined in a glossary. Supported by photos of people at work, the books also contain a brief list of historical and career facts. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Pull Ahead Books titles: Firefighters, Doctors, Police Officers, Librarians, and Teachers.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 4-6 In America series. Short chapters highlight the forces that led people from various countries to consider emigration and discuss the challenges they faced in America. Sidebars supply additional nuggets of information and plugs for an enhanced website. Photographs and archival illustrations break up the texts. Each book concludes with a few pages of famous immigrants, past and present. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these In America titles: Chinese in America, Italians in America, Mexicans in America, Vietnamese in America, Irish in America, and Puerto Ricans in America.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(3) 4-6 In America series. Short chapters highlight the forces that led people from various countries to consider emigration and discuss the challenges they faced in America. Sidebars supply additional nuggets of information and plugs for an enhanced website. Photographs and archival illustrations break up the texts. Each book concludes with a few pages of famous immigrants, past and present. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these In America titles: Chinese in America, Italians in America, Mexicans in America, Vietnamese in America, Irish in America, and Puerto Ricans in America.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(3) 4-6 In America series. Short chapters highlight the forces that led people from various countries to consider emigration and discuss the challenges they faced in America. Sidebars supply additional nuggets of information and plugs for an enhanced website. Photographs and archival illustrations break up the texts. Each book concludes with a few pages of famous immigrants, past and present. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these In America titles: Chinese in America, Italians in America, Mexicans in America, Vietnamese in America, Irish in America, and Puerto Ricans in America.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(3) 4-6 Easy Menu Ethnic Cookbooks series. These cookbooks feature recipes for such traditional fare as lamb kebabs, as well as lower-fat and vegetarian dishes. Introductory sections on each country's culture and cuisine provide excellent material for school reports. Glossaries of exotic ingredients and substitutions for hard-to-find items are included. Most recipes require extensive adult supervision. Ind. Review covers these Easy Menu Ethnic Cookbooks titles: Cooking the Brazilian Way, Cooking the Cuban Way, Cooking the Indonesian Way, and Cooking the Turkish Way.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(3) 4-6 Easy Menu Ethnic Cookbooks series. These cookbooks feature recipes for such traditional fare as lamb kebabs, as well as lower-fat and vegetarian dishes. Introductory sections on each country's culture and cuisine provide excellent material for school reports. Glossaries of exotic ingredients and substitutions for hard-to-find items are included. Most recipes require extensive adult supervision. Ind. Review covers these Easy Menu Ethnic Cookbooks titles: Cooking the Brazilian Way, Cooking the Cuban Way, Cooking the Indonesian Way, and Cooking the Turkish Way.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) 4-6 Visual Geography series. Each book in this series presents geography, history, government, culture, and economy of the featured country. A dry text combines with color photos, maps, and an accompanying enhanced website with up-to-date information, links, and downloadable material. This comprehensive study provides a worthwhile resource for report-driven readers. Directory, reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Visual Geography titles: Afghanistan in Pictures, Pakistan in Pictures, and Vietnam in Pictures.]

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale