(4) 4-6 Questioning History series. These two books combine philosophical questions ("What if the Cold War had never reached South Africa?", "What if the ghettos had resisted?") with a summary of the Cold War and the Holocaust, which may provide material for classroom discussions. Unfortunately, some of the information given is incomplete, making it difficult for readers to garner the full picture. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Questioning History titles: The Holocaust and The Cold War.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 Days That Shook the World series. This book looks at circumstances preceding the tearing down of the Wall, the aftermath, and the legacy. The accessible text, supported by archival material and text boxes, successfully brings history to life. A final section explores the question "What if...the East German or Soviet governments had acted to prevent the fall of the Berlin Wall?" The tight design is somewhat off-putting. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) YA World Wars series. By focusing on narrower topics, these four books are able to provide detailed accounts of three aspects or battles of World War II and one offensive of World War I. Well written, with the information broken up by sidebars, maps, and period photographs, this series will help readers interested in these two wars. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these World War titles: The War in the Pacific, The Home Front in World War II, The Battle of the Somme, and The Battle of Britain.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) 4-6 Holocaust series. Covering everything from Hitler's rise to power to the Nuremberg trials, the books in this series provide an in-depth account of the atrocities of the Holocaust. Period photographs, profiles of survivors and perpetrators, and sidebars fill the pages without overwhelming the text. Each book contains a timeline as well as a list of related websites, films, and museums. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Holocaust titles: Causes, Survival and Resistance, After the Holocaust, The Death Camps.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 Ancient World series. In overcrowded layouts, wordy texts vie for space with photographs of ancient artifacts. Ultimately, the photos of Roman ruins, African sculptures, and Greek architecture prove most interesting. The texts present overviews of the politics, society, art, and religions of the various civilizations. Though informative, the writing is dull. Time lines are included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta