(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 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. These volumes provide informative looks at the title animals. While focusing on the creatures' habitats and homes, the texts also provide decent overviews of what makes each animal unique and interesting. The information is selective, but there are enough facts to fulfill basic report requirements. Photographs and maps will hold readers' interest. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Spectacular Animal Towns titles: The Prairie Dog's Town, The Bat's Cave, and The Beaver's Lodge.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister