(3) 4-6 Rulers and Their Times series. Divided into three parts, each book in this series provides a short biography of its title subject; examines everyday life, including housing, food, clothing, education, and recreation; and then use primary documents to illustrate Renaissance or Victorian thought. Color reproductions of art and manuscripts accompany the text, which is spaciously designed with plenty of white space. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Rulers and Their Times titles: Lorenzo De' Medici and Renaissance Italy and Queen Victoria and Nineteenth-Century England.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 It's My State! series. Each of the books in this formulaic series offers information about a particular state's geography, history, economy, and environmental concerns in a dry text. Illustrated with captioned color photos and cartoony drawings, the books also include state facts such as flag, bird, tree, song, flower, etc. A related craft idea is included. Reading list, websites, timeline. Ind. [Review covers these It's My State! titles: Texas, Massachusetts, California, New York, Maryland, and Illinois.]

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) YA History Makers series. Each volume begins with an overbroad historical survey, followed by six to eight individual profiles. Illustrated with mediocre black-and-white photos, reproductions, and maps, the books contain limited personal information, focusing mostly on what made each individual famous (or infamous). Limited by their brevity, these profiles may serve as a starting point for report writers seeking basic biographical information. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA Endangered Animals and Habitats series. These calls to action achieve an artful balance: general information about the subjects is peppered with provocative sidebars ("Gorilla Humor," "Is the Giant Panda a Bear?"); gruesome images reinforcing a point about an animal's mistreatment are often tempered with a relevant cartoon. Unfortunately, the black-and-white photos are sometimes blurry and dark. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram