(4) YA Place in History series. Archival photographs, maps, and sidebars combine with engaging texts to present thorough histories of the featured sites and landmarks. The chronological unfolding of events, interesting facts, personal accounts, and the current perspective provide well-rounded discussions of the impact and significance of these settings. The cramped design is a drawback. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Place in History titles: The Twin Towers, Hiroshima, Pearl Harbor, The Berlin Wall, Auschwitz, and The Normandy Beaches.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA Face the Facts series. Drug offers an overview of illegal drug use, reasons for it, and its impact on society. Capital provides historical and cross-cultural perspectives on its subject. Genocide gives examples of mass killings and ostensible justifications for them. The layouts--overcrowded with boxed quotes, photos, and brightly colored backgrounds--overwhelm the sound and authoritative texts. Directory, reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Face the Facts titles: The Drug Trade, Capital Punishment, and Genocide.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Cultures of the World series. Portraits of two European countries emerge through clearly written texts and an abundance of sharp photographs in these updated editions. In addition to the geography, history, government, and economy of Ireland and Turkey, these books present informative chapters about lifestyles, arts, festivities, and food (with recipes for Irish stew and lamb kebabs). A timeline paralleling national and world events is appended to each. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Cultures of the World titles: Ireland and Turkey.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) 4-6 Cultures of the World series. A profusion of sharp photographs combine with readable texts in these updated editions to provide a solid base of information on the geography, history, government, and lifestyles of five African countries. The books present each country with its own unique blend of economic, political, and social challenges, and include recipes and a timeline comparing world events with national events. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Cultures of the World titles: Libya, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) 4-6 World Watch series. The history and development of the World Wildlife Fund and Greenpeace are outlined, then followed by discussion of each group's aims and methods, along with assessment of the success of their various campaigns. Short, manageable chapters are liberally peppered with captioned color photos and text boxes. Addresses, reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these World Watch titles: WWF and Greenpeace.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) 4-6 Cultures of the World series. In this updated edition, clear writing and vibrant photographs introduce the geography, history, government, and economy of this country of blended cultures and disparate lifestyles. Maps and recipes are included, and a timeline parallels Jamaican and world events. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) 4-6 Cultures of the World series. Clear text and an abundance of sharp photographs showcase the geography, history, government, economy, and people of these countries in these updated editions. Of special interest are the lifestyle and arts chapters: the spiritual expression of Korean dances, Vietnam's water puppetry, and the distinctive patterns of Pakistani carpets, pottery, and tiles. Timelines compare national and world events. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Cultures of the World titles: Korea, Vietnam, and Pakistan.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) 4-6 Questioning History series. These two books combine philosophical questions ("What if the Cold War had never reached South Africa?", "What if the ghettos had resisted?") with a summary of the Cold War and the Holocaust, which may provide material for classroom discussions. Unfortunately, some of the information given is incomplete, making it difficult for readers to garner the full picture. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Questioning History titles: The Holocaust and The Cold War.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 Days That Shook the World series. From circumstances preceding each featured incident to its aftermath, the books in this well-researched series present accounts of these historical events. The accessible text is enhanced by archival material and quotes from prominent individuals. A final chapter briefly looks at the possibilities had the event not occurred. The tight design is somewhat off-putting. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Days That Shook the World titles: Hiroshima and D-Day.]

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA World Wars series. Archival illustrations, maps, sidebars, and captioned black-and-white photos enhance these concise overviews of the causes of WWI, technology used in both world wars, and major WWI leaders, including Woodrow Wilson, Nicholas II, and Leon Trotsky. While generally well written, the books' small type and cramped design is off-putting. Resources, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these World Wars titles: The Causes of World War I, Leaders of World War I, The Technology of World War I, and The Technology of World War II.]

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) 4-6 Cultures of the World series. Each volume in this series contains a wealth of information related to the featured country. A similar format for each book frames thirteen distinct topics, complete and complex--from geography and history to a broad overview of contemporary life. Vivid photographs with informative captions enhance each text. Appended are economic and cultural information, maps, a reading list, recipes, a timeline, and websites. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Cultures of the World titles: Greece, Sweden, France, Spain, Austria, and Italy.]

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA World Wars series. Though not comprehensive, these two slim volumes offer an overview of the causes, events, and leaders of World War II. Ross's profiles include such figures as Churchill, Hitler, Tojo, and Mussolini. Captioned black-and-white photographs, original documents, maps, and sidebars border the clear and engaging texts, and while informative, they are squeezed onto the page. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Mary R. Holt

(3) 4-6 Holocaust series. Covering everything from Hitler's rise to power to the Nuremberg trials, the books in this series provide an in-depth account of the atrocities of the Holocaust. Period photographs, profiles of survivors and perpetrators, and sidebars fill the pages without overwhelming the text. Each book contains a timeline as well as a list of related websites, films, and museums. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Holocaust titles: Causes, Survival and Resistance, After the Holocaust, The Death Camps.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) 4-6 Holocaust series. Covering everything from Hitler's rise to power to the Nuremberg trials, the books in this series provide an in-depth account of the atrocities of the Holocaust. Period photographs, profiles of survivors and perpetrators, and sidebars fill the pages without overwhelming the text. Each book contains a timeline as well as a list of related websites, films, and museums. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Holocaust titles: Causes, Survival and Resistance, After the Holocaust, The Death Camps.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) YA Cultures of the World series. Although the introduction speaks about a "racial and cultural melting pot," later chapters on peoples and lifestyles delineate the place of each ethnic group in the social and economic hierarchy of contemporary life. The exuberance of the many different ethnic groups shines out of the photographs. The encyclopedic text tackles geography, history, economy, and government, as well as different aspects of culture. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) YA Cultures of the World series. Sheehan gives readers good background in the geography, economy, and history of this West African nation, which had German, French, and British colonial influences. This volume, with its sharp color photographs of many aspects of Cameroonian life today, is a useful resource for report writers and armchair travelers. A recipe, a map, and a fact page are practical features. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 4-6 Cultures of the World series. With the help of color photographs, these books cogently introduce three European countries, looking at Latvia's and Moldova's transitions from Soviet rule and at Malta's road to independence. Each volume also discusses climate, economy, educational system, religious and artistic traditions, and leisure activities. Maps, a page of basic facts, and a traditional recipe are included in each book. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 History Beneath Your Feet series. A survey of the Roman Empire is presented in a series of double-page spreads, illustrated with detailed color artwork. The book serves as an introduction to this often-bloody society and its various rulers, but is little more than a hurried overview. A "Who's Who" section and a two-page spread outlining Rome's influence on modern life are helpful. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Cultures of the World series. These accessible volumes provide comprehensive profiles of four African countries. Each book features a readable text along with plenty of clear color photos and focuses on the individual country's geography, history, people, economy, and culture. Maps, a culturally representative recipe, and a page of basic facts round out these useful titles. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Ancient World series. In overcrowded layouts, wordy texts vie for space with photographs of ancient artifacts. Ultimately, the photos of Roman ruins, African sculptures, and Greek architecture prove most interesting. The texts present overviews of the politics, society, art, and religions of the various civilizations. Though informative, the writing is dull. Time lines are included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta