(3) 4-6 This enticing, newly revamped collection of international female spy profiles moves chronologically from the seventeenth century to the present day. From hiding messages in hair to using handkerchiefs as secret signals, the stories of courageous espionage--combined with summaries of the historical conflicts, black-and-white portraits, "spy files" trivia, and "spycraft" activities--will engage and inspire young readers. Bib.

Reviewer: April Mazza

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Julia Gorton. This book is geared to two age groups. The simple rhyming text and uncluttered collage art will appeal to preschoolers; the illustrated sidebars, which briefly discuss such advances as microrobots, mesicopters, and robofish, are appropriate for older readers (who will be put off by the preschool look). Despite the bifurcated approach, this is an informative introduction. Websites.

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(4) PS Illustrated by Edward Miller. Plane-crazy toddlers might like this very basic encyclopedia of planes because it includes an abbreviated history of aviation, the kinds of work planes do, and what happens in the control tower and cockpit. The bland, featureless illustrations add nothing to the appeal, but the numerous aircraft pictured and catalogued on the endpapers will delight young fans.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Edward Miller. This simple and sometimes vague introduction looks very briefly at how people used tunnels in the past before it examines some present-day tunnels and how tunnels are constructed. While the clear illustrations are a good match for the subject matter, they don't always convey the information in the text. Young tunnel fans won't mind but may need to dig deeper for more information.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Edward Miller. A brief account of the origins of skyscrapers precedes a general overview of how the structures are built. Miller's symmetrical, angular graphics (in the same style as Cross a Bridge) give step-by-step visual representation to Hunter's simple text, which describes many of the basic details involved in the building process.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey

(3) K-3 Vibrant computer graphics use realism, perspective, and atmosphere to create spare yet scenic depictions of a variety of bridges (a fox leaps across a felled tree to demonstrate the first wooden bridge; a plane hovers just above a one-thousand-foot suspension bridge to indicate its size and height). The text manages to convey the facts about bridges in a simple, straightforward tone.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.