(4) 4-6 Special Ops II series. This series centers on special units of the American armed forces. Each book recounts deeds of selected heroes, emphasizes unit members' intense and demanding training, briefly describes major historical successes, and concludes by covering necessary gear. Though they vary in quality and effective layout, military fans will appreciate the many photographs and maps accompanying the readable texts. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Special Ops II titles: Army Night Stalkers in Action, Navy SEAL Team Six in Action, CIA Paramilitary Operatives in Action, and Marine Scout Snipers in Action.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Special Ops II series. This series centers on special units of the American armed forces. Each book recounts deeds of selected heroes, emphasizes unit members' intense and demanding training, briefly describes major historical successes, and concludes by covering necessary gear. Though they vary in quality and effective layout, military fans will appreciate the many photographs and maps accompanying the readable texts. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Special Ops II titles: Army Night Stalkers in Action, Navy SEAL Team Six in Action, CIA Paramilitary Operatives in Action, and Marine Scout Snipers in Action.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Rescuing Animals from Disasters series. This book describes how animals are located, rescued, and cared for by local and national animal groups following devastating tornadoes. Discussion focuses on the 2011 "Super Outbreak," specifically disasters in Alabama and Missouri where workers conducted search-and-rescue missions for household pets (dogs, cats, birds), farm animals, and wildlife. The text is accessible but dry. Animal lovers will empathize with the poignant photographs. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) K-3 America's Hidden Animal Treasures series. Beginning with a brief account of a human encounter with each animal, these books feature double-page spreads offering accurate, readable information about such topics as habitat, food, behavior (including raising young), prey, and threats. IIlustrations--mostly photos--are well matched to the texts, which are clear about known facts and also unknowns, such as jaguarundis' presence in the U.S. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these America's Hidden Animal Treasures titles: Cougar, Collared Peccary, White-Nosed Coati, Ringtail, and Jaguarundi.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 America's Hidden Animal Treasures series. Beginning with a brief account of a biologist studying spoonbills, this book features double-page spreads that offer accurate, readable information about such topics as habitat, food, behavior (including raising young), prey, and threats. IIlustrations--mostly photos--are well matched to the text, which is clear about facts and also about motivation for studying these unusual birds. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 America's Hidden Animal Treasures series. Beginning with a brief account of a human encounter with each animal, these books feature double-page spreads offering accurate, readable information about such topics as habitat, food, behavior (including raising young), prey, and threats. IIlustrations--mostly photos--are well matched to the texts, which are clear about known facts and also unknowns, such as jaguarundis' presence in the U.S. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these America's Hidden Animal Treasures titles: Cougar, Collared Peccary, White-Nosed Coati, Ringtail, and Jaguarundi.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Built for Cold: Arctic Animals series. The authors describe various animals that live and thrive in arctic environments. Each volume begins by introducing a scientist studying the title creature; that person acts as expert by providing quotes throughout the book. The information is solid but tends to meander. Colorful photos, maps, sidebars, and accounts of real-life encounters with the animals will engage readers curious about the natural world. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Built for Cold: Arctic Animals titles: Arctic Wolf, Caribou, Wolverine, Polar Bear, Sled Dog, and Walrus.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(4) K-3 Built for Cold: Arctic Animals series. The authors describe various animals that live and thrive in arctic environments. Each volume begins by introducing a scientist studying the title creature; that person acts as expert by providing quotes throughout the book. The information is solid but tends to meander. Colorful photos, maps, sidebars, and accounts of real-life encounters with the animals will engage readers curious about the natural world. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Built for Cold: Arctic Animals titles: Arctic Wolf, Caribou, Wolverine, Polar Bear, Sled Dog, and Walrus.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(4) K-3 Built for Cold: Arctic Animals series. The authors describe various animals that live and thrive in arctic environments. Each volume begins by introducing a scientist studying the title creature; that person acts as expert by providing quotes throughout the book. The information is solid but tends to meander. Colorful photos, maps, sidebars, and accounts of real-life encounters with the animals will engage readers curious about the natural world. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Built for Cold: Arctic Animals titles: Arctic Wolf, Caribou, Wolverine, Polar Bear, Sled Dog, and Walrus.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(4) 4-6 Rescuing Animals from Disasters series. This series recounts specific disasters and the rescue efforts made to save the animals affected, using accessible but stilted language, brief personal stories, and evocative (sometimes cute [baby turtles], sometimes disturbing [severely burned cows]) photographs. Though successes are highlighted, harsh realities are not ignored (especially in Oil Spills). Well-known examples of the specific types of disasters are appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Rescuing Animals from Disasters titles: Saving Animals from Volcanoes, Saving Animals After Earthquakes, Saving Animals After Floods, Saving Animals from Fires, Saving Animals from Hurricanes, and Saving Animals from Oil Spills.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) 4-6 Rescuing Animals from Disasters series. This series recounts specific disasters and the rescue efforts made to save the animals affected, using accessible but stilted language, brief personal stories, and evocative (sometimes cute [baby turtles], sometimes disturbing [severely burned cows]) photographs. Though successes are highlighted, harsh realities are not ignored (especially in Oil Spills). Well-known examples of the specific types of disasters are appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Rescuing Animals from Disasters titles: Saving Animals from Volcanoes, Saving Animals After Earthquakes, Saving Animals After Floods, Saving Animals from Fires, Saving Animals from Hurricanes, and Saving Animals from Oil Spills.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) 4-6 Rescuing Animals from Disasters series. This series recounts specific disasters and the rescue efforts made to save the animals affected, using accessible but stilted language, brief personal stories, and evocative (sometimes cute [baby turtles], sometimes disturbing [severely burned cows]) photographs. Though successes are highlighted, harsh realities are not ignored (especially in Oil Spills). Well-known examples of the specific types of disasters are appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Rescuing Animals from Disasters titles: Saving Animals from Volcanoes, Saving Animals After Earthquakes, Saving Animals After Floods, Saving Animals from Fires, Saving Animals from Hurricanes, and Saving Animals from Oil Spills.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) K-3 Big Dogs Rule series. Each volume begins with a notable member of the title breed (e.g., Saint Bernard Katie, a therapy dog at a public library). The books then give very broad histories of the breeds, with hit-or-miss information about physical characteristics, personality, intelligence, and suitability as pets. "At a Glance" and "Best in Show" diagrams are also included. Numerous photographs enhance interest for dog lovers. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Big Dogs Rule titles: German Shepherd, Great Dane, Labrador Retriever, Newfoundland, Rottweiler, and Saint Bernard.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) 4-6 Nightmare Plagues series. The real-life stories of people suffering from the title diseases precede causes, symptoms, histories, modern cures, and prevention, all described in very broad strokes; final sections return to the personal stories. Each crowded spread includes multiple captioned photos; additional maps and text boxes appear throughout. Bulleted lists of outbreaks and facts are appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Nightmare Plagues titles: Tuberculosis, Typhoid Fever, Bubonic Plague, Malaria, Smallpox, and The Flu of 1918.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Nightmare Plagues series. The real-life stories of people suffering from the title diseases precede causes, symptoms, histories, modern cures, and prevention, all described in very broad strokes; final sections return to the personal stories. Each crowded spread includes multiple captioned photos; additional maps and text boxes appear throughout. Bulleted lists of outbreaks and facts are appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Nightmare Plagues titles: Tuberculosis, Typhoid Fever, Bubonic Plague, Malaria, Smallpox, and The Flu of 1918.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 HorrorScapes series. Bold headings and melodramatic narratives characterize this high-interest series. The use of period images is effective, but many of the illustrations are cheesy reenactment photographs. A "Then and Now" comparison chart is an engaging feature of each title. While creepy details (e.g., supernatural-looking cover art, skeleton ornamentation on sidebars) may draw readers in, the sensationalism is cumulatively a bit much. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these HorrorScapes titles: Ghostly Alcatraz Island, Voodoo in New Orleans, and Witchcraft in Salem.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) 4-6 HorrorScapes series. Bold headings and melodramatic narratives characterize this high-interest series. The use of period images is effective, but many of the illustrations are cheesy reenactment photographs. A "Then and Now" comparison chart is an engaging feature of each title. While creepy details (e.g., supernatural-looking cover art, skeleton ornamentation on sidebars) may draw readers in, the sensationalism is cumulatively a bit much. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these HorrorScapes titles: Ghostly Alcatraz Island, Voodoo in New Orleans, and Witchcraft in Salem.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) 4-6 Disaster Survivors series. Each volume relates the events of a specific natural disaster. Two-page sections describe what happened or what caused the event as well as the personal stories of those who lived through it; the journalistic style heightens tension, but the text is limited in details. Tips are provided on what to do during and after each type of disaster. Maps and photographs supplement the texts. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Disaster Survivors titles: Mangled by a Hurricane!, Slammed by a Tsunami!, Hammered by a Heat Wave!, Blitzed by a Blizzard!, Devastated by a Volcano!, Struck by Lightning!, Leveled by an Earthquake!, and Erased by a Tornado!

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Disaster Survivors series. Each volume relates the events of a specific natural disaster. Two-page sections describe what happened or what caused the event as well as the personal stories of those who lived through it; the journalistic style heightens tension, but the text is limited in details. Tips are provided on what to do during and after each type of disaster. Maps and photographs supplement the texts. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Disaster Survivors titles: Mangled by a Hurricane!, Slammed by a Tsunami!, Hammered by a Heat Wave!, Blitzed by a Blizzard!, Devastated by a Volcano!, Struck by Lightning!, Leveled by an Earthquake!, and Erased by a Tornado!

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 Spectacular Animal Towns series. This volume provides an informative look at coral reef ecology. Each double-page spread focuses on a particular aspect of reef life; combined they form a picture of the diversity of species and the overall importance of coral reefs. Though the information is selective, there are enough facts to fulfill basic report requirements. Vibrant photographs will hold readers' interest. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister