(4) 4-6 Extraordinary Women series. Each of these books profiles a highly prominent woman, covering her current role and accomplishments, past achievements, education, and early years. Lots of photographs, captions, and text boxes help to break up the accessible text but contribute to a busy look. "Then and Now" boxes consider how each has contributed to changing views on women in public life. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Extraordinary Women titles: Michelle Obama and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) K-3 Night Sky: And Other Amazing Sights in Space series. These two introductory books discuss each phenomenon, describing, for example, what a comet is made of, the relationship between the sun and northern lights, what ancient beliefs surrounding the sightings were, and how or where to see comets or northern lights today. The titles are well illustrated with photos and diagrams, and dull experiments round out the otherwise informative texts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Night Sky titles: Comets and Northern Lights.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 Night Sky: And Other Amazing Sights in Space series. These two introductory books discuss each phenomenon, describing, for example, what a comet is made of, the relationship between the sun and northern lights, what ancient beliefs surrounding the sightings were, and how or where to see comets or northern lights today. The titles are well illustrated with photos and diagrams, and dull experiments round out the otherwise informative texts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Night Sky titles: Comets and Northern Lights.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) 4-6 Remembering World War I series. With question-titled chapters, these books offer overviews of life on the world's home fronts (helping the war effort, food shortages, etc.) and the roles of women (international opposition, jobs, etc.) during WWI. "Did You Know?" bubbles, period photos, biographical sidebars, first-person testimonies, vintage advertisements, and maps are cleanly formatted and provide interesting access points to engage learners. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Remembering World War I titles: The Home Fronts in World War I and Women in World War I.

Reviewer: Andrea Curtis

(3) 4-6 Remembering World War I series. With question-titled chapters, these books offer overviews of life on the world's home fronts (helping the war effort, food shortages, etc.) and the roles of women (international opposition, jobs, etc.) during WWI. "Did You Know?" bubbles, period photos, biographical sidebars, first-person testimonies, vintage advertisements, and maps are cleanly formatted and provide interesting access points to engage learners. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Remembering World War I titles: The Home Fronts in World War I and Women in World War I.

Reviewer: Andrea Curtis

(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) 4-6 This straightforward and fairly superficial introduction shows readers how these international competitions developed over the years and concentrates on highlights from skiing, skating, winter team sports, extreme winter sports, and the Winter Paralympics. The discussion includes some drug-related and judging controversies. Color photos, sidebars, and a world map supplement the accessible text. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Explorer Travel Guides series. The premise here is that middle-grade readers are embarking on exploratory excursions. Each book introduces the landform and its ecosystems and touches on trip planning, equipment, and preparation. Brief interviews with scientists or explorers are engaging. The approachable design includes photographs (some captioned, others not), text boxes, and accessible texts. The treatment is superficial but engaging. Map, reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Explorer Travel Guides titles: Caves, Deserts, and Mountains.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Heroic Jobs series. Disaster and Mountain describe basic rescue operations undertaken by specially trained personnel following natural disasters, including floods, earthquakes, and avalanches. Special Forces briefly recounts military rescue missions performed by special forces operatives during wars or following acts of terrorism. Clear photographs accompany the large-font, lackluster texts. "Did You Know?" boxes provide additional information. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Heroic Jobs titles: Disaster Relief, Special Forces, and Mountain Rescue.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Ethics of Sports series. Addressing crucial issues in sports, this series looks at ethics as they apply to athletes, coaches, sponsors, and others. Money considers the effects of money and media attention in the sports world. Ahead discusses technology, steroid use, and gene enhancement. The cramped pages include lots of captioned photos and text boxes alongside the readable text. Reading/DVD lists, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Ethics of Sports titles: Getting Ahead and Money in Sports.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) YA Ethics of Politics series. These books examine ethical issues in politics from a global perspective. Political describes and compares governmental systems throughout world history as well as those operating today. International centers on how world governments interact and work together on issues facing the global community (human rights, population explosion, etc.). Photographs, maps, inserts, and topics for discussion extend the dense texts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Ethics of Politics titles: International Relations and Political Systems.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 From its origins and growth to the athletes and hosting countries, this introduction to the Olympics arrives just in time for the 2012 games. Sidebars featuring athletes, technology, and memorable moments add meaning and significance to the information while photographs, maps, and diagrams support the accessible text. The small font and uninspired design may deter some readers. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale