(3) YA Black Americans of Achievement series. Each updated biography raises awareness about the unique contributions of an African American, exploring significant events from the subject's childhood through his or her adulthood while successfully blending information about personal experiences and public achievements. Photographs feature extensive captions, and informative sidebars round out the biographical portraits. There are nine other new books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Ind. Review covers these Black Americans of Achievement titles: Jesse Jackson, Sojourner Truth, Coretta Scott King, Malcolm X, and Frederick Douglass.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(4) 4-6 Major World Nations series. Published spring 1998. This formulaic study provides basic information about the country's history, government, people, and culture. While undeniably useful, the encyclopedia-style prose and bland black-and-white photos will relegate this volume mainly to report-writing students. The book contains an insert of postcard-quality color plates, a fact sheet, and a map. There are fifteen other titles in this series. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta