(4) YA Sharpen Your Writing Skills series. These volumes present clear advice for developing writing skills in the title areas. The hints are practical and good-humored, and there are a range of examples, which will make this useful to middle school and high school writers. The page design is accessible if dull; the cartoony writing-implement characters are dorky. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sharpen Your Writing Skills titles: Sharpen Your Business Letter Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Debate and Speech Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Essay Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Good Grammar Skills, Sharpen Your Report Writing Skills, and Sharpen Your Story or Narrative Writing Skills.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) YA Sharpen Your Writing Skills series. These volumes present clear advice for developing writing skills in the title areas. The hints are practical and good-humored, and there are a range of examples, which will make this useful to middle school and high school writers. The page design is accessible if dull; the cartoony writing-implement characters are dorky. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sharpen Your Writing Skills titles: Sharpen Your Business Letter Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Debate and Speech Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Essay Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Good Grammar Skills, Sharpen Your Report Writing Skills, and Sharpen Your Story or Narrative Writing Skills.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) YA Sharpen Your Writing Skills series. These volumes present clear advice for developing writing skills in the title areas. The hints are practical and good-humored, and there are a range of examples, which will make this useful to middle school and high school writers. The page design is accessible if dull; the cartoony writing-implement characters are dorky. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sharpen Your Writing Skills titles: Sharpen Your Business Letter Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Debate and Speech Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Essay Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Good Grammar Skills, Sharpen Your Report Writing Skills, and Sharpen Your Story or Narrative Writing Skills.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) YA Sharpen Your Writing Skills series. These volumes present clear advice for developing writing skills in the title areas. The hints are practical and good-humored, and there are a range of examples, which will make this useful to middle school and high school writers. The page design is accessible if dull; the cartoony writing-implement characters are dorky. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sharpen Your Writing Skills titles: Sharpen Your Business Letter Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Debate and Speech Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Essay Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Good Grammar Skills, Sharpen Your Report Writing Skills, and Sharpen Your Story or Narrative Writing Skills.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) YA Sharpen Your Writing Skills series. These volumes present clear advice for developing writing skills in the title areas. The hints are practical and good-humored, and there are a range of examples, which will make this useful to middle school and high school writers. The page design is accessible if dull; the cartoony writing-implement characters are dorky. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sharpen Your Writing Skills titles: Sharpen Your Business Letter Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Debate and Speech Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Essay Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Good Grammar Skills, Sharpen Your Report Writing Skills, and Sharpen Your Story or Narrative Writing Skills.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) YA Sharpen Your Writing Skills series. These volumes present clear advice for developing writing skills in the title areas. The hints are practical and good-humored, and there are a range of examples, which will make this useful to middle school and high school writers. The page design is accessible if dull; the cartoony writing-implement characters are dorky. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sharpen Your Writing Skills titles: Sharpen Your Business Letter Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Debate and Speech Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Essay Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Good Grammar Skills, Sharpen Your Report Writing Skills, and Sharpen Your Story or Narrative Writing Skills.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 You Can Write series. Grammar discusses parts of speech, punctuation, and proofreading. A list of "Common Grammar Goofs" is appended. Essay defines what one is, covers different forms, provides information on research and writing, and includes a sample essay. Students will find these serviceably written books useful, but the dull layout is off-putting and a joking cartoon pencil is annoying. Reading list, websites. Review covers these You Can Write titles: You can Write Using Good Grammar and You Can Write an Essay.

Reviewer: Kate Murphy

(3) 4-6 Health Alert series. A fictional case study of a person suffering from each disorder introduces typical symptoms to readers. Three subsequent chapters describe the disease's biology and progress, its history, and ways to treat and cope with it as both a patient and a support for a patient. Clear archival black-and-white and color photos and photomicrographs support and extend the text. Directory, reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Health Alert titles: Asthma, Alzheimer's Disease, Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Juvenile Diabetes, and Depression.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 You Can Write series. Grammar discusses parts of speech, punctuation, and proofreading. A list of "Common Grammar Goofs" is appended. Essay defines what one is, covers different forms, provides information on research and writing, and includes a sample essay. Students will find these serviceably written books useful, but the dull layout is off-putting and a joking cartoon pencil is annoying. Reading list, websites. Review covers these You Can Write titles: You can Write Using Good Grammar and You Can Write an Essay.

Reviewer: Kate Murphy

(3) 4-6 Discovering Cultures series. Engaging photographs, maps, and a simply written text present an overview of each featured country's geography, history, and culture, including clothing, language, food, education, and holidays. Recipes and brief highlights of traditional activities help make these useful resources. Information on currency, the flag, and notable citizens is appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Discovering Cultures titles: Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA You Can Write series. Report discusses how to choose a topic, do research, and make an outline, and it also includes tips on writing and editing. Story describes writing genres, touches on such topics as plotting and characterization, and offers information on editing and publishing. Although their prose is unexciting, these books contain solid material for those writing either out of necessity or desire. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these You Can Write titles: You Can Write a Report and You Can Write a Story or Narrative.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA You Can Write series. Report discusses how to choose a topic, do research, and make an outline, and it also includes tips on writing and editing. Story describes writing genres, touches on such topics as plotting and characterization, and offers information on editing and publishing. Although their prose is unexciting, these books contain solid material for those writing either out of necessity or desire. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these You Can Write titles: You Can Write a Report and You Can Write a Story or Narrative.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) K-3 Discovering Cultures series. Engaging color photos, maps, and a simple text present an accessible introduction to Israel's geography, history, and culture, including language, clothing, education, and holidays. Games, dance steps, and a recipe are included in this practical resource. Information on currency and the flag, counting in Hebrew, and three famous Israelis is appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 You Can Write series. These books provide satisfactory step-by-step guidance for writers. The information is logically organized; the bland presentation is somewhat enhanced by black-and-white drawings of a cartoon pencil that offers encouragement and jokes. A brief listing of Internet addresses may distinguish these books from similar titles. Reading list. Glos., ind. [Review covers these You Can Write titles: You Can Write a Business Letter and You Can Write Speeches and Debates.]

Reviewer: Amanda Sullivan

(4) 4-6 You Can Write series. These books provide satisfactory step-by-step guidance for writers. The information is logically organized; the bland presentation is somewhat enhanced by black-and-white drawings of a cartoon pencil that offers encouragement and jokes. A brief listing of Internet addresses may distinguish these books from similar titles. Reading list. Glos., ind. [Review covers these You Can Write titles: You Can Write a Business Letter and You Can Write Speeches and Debates.]

Reviewer: Amanda Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Artist Biographies series. The large typeface (and publisher's age recommendation) indicates this series is intended for primary-grade readers, but the forthright language and sophisticated ideas make the books more appropriate for middle graders. Reproductions and photos accompany the comprehensive, though short, texts. These volumes provide a strong picture of each artist's career. Timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Artist Biographies titles: Andy Warhol, Willem de Kooning, John Singer Sargent, Norman Rockwell, Edward Hopper, and Georgia O'Keeffe.]

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA Teen Issues series. With advice for teens (purportedly gay and straight) about navigating the highs and lows of dating, this book's less-than-original insights are mitigated by teen testimonials, fresh suggestions (the "breakup ceremony"), and high-mindedness ("the relationship should end after the first act of abuse . . . no matter what"). Unfortunately, the textbook format, featuring posed dark black-and-white photographs, isn't inviting. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram