(3) K-3 Serving our Country series. These high-interest titles provide overviews of the duties of different branches of the U.S. armed forces. Dynamic photographs of sleek equipment should appeal to the young audience. Comprehension is aided by clear texts and controlled vocabulary. Diverse service members depicted in peaceful pursuits are a humanizing counterpoint after descriptions of violent, dangerous activities. Introduces nonfiction conventions, including table of contents and sidebars. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Serving Our Country titles: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy and U.S. Special Forces

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 Serving our Country series. These high-interest titles provide overviews of the duties of different branches of the U.S. armed forces. Dynamic photographs of sleek equipment should appeal to the young audience. Comprehension is aided by clear texts and controlled vocabulary. Diverse service members depicted in peaceful pursuits are a humanizing counterpoint after descriptions of violent, dangerous activities. Introduces nonfiction conventions, including table of contents and sidebars. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Serving Our Country titles: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy and U.S. Special Forces

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 Serving our Country series. These high-interest titles provide overviews of the duties of different branches of the U.S. armed forces. Dynamic photographs of sleek equipment should appeal to the young audience. Comprehension is aided by clear texts and controlled vocabulary. Diverse service members depicted in peaceful pursuits are a humanizing counterpoint after descriptions of violent, dangerous activities. Introduces nonfiction conventions, including table of contents and sidebars. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Serving Our Country titles: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy and U.S. Special Forces

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biographies series. The lives of two well-known (and somewhat notorious) public figures are outlined in these no-frills, cursory introductions. Prince's profile follows his evolving musical career and daring artistic identity up to his unexpected death. Trump's focuses more narrowly on a few business, entertainment, and political successes preceding his presidency; while providing accurate background information, this book is already outdated. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Gateway Biographies titles: Prince and Donald Trump.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(3) 4-6 Fact Finders: Discover the Night Sky series. Budding astronomers will be eager to head outside to observe for themselves the natural phenomena introduced in these texts. Over four to five chapters, the scientific principles are explained clearly, with "Did You Know?" sidebars offering additional facts throughout. The combination of detailed text and vivid photographs make these valuable volumes for school projects or casual reading. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Fact Finders: Discover the Night Sky titles: Exploring Meteor Showers and Exploring Eclipses.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(4) K-3 First Facts: Fact Files series. These books are cursory introductions to the topics of civics and economics. Government outlines the basic functions of American government and how its three branches operate. Money describes the role currency plays in American culture, briefly touching on supply and demand, interest, and savings. Informative sidebars and charts, stock photographs, and appended critical thinking questions provide additional context. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Facts: Fact Files titles: U.S. Government and Money.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Eyewitness to World War II series. Each book in this series looks at a specific aspect of World War II with an emphasis on first-hand accounts. The age-appropriate prose is engaging but provides minimum background information, making the volumes better as supplementary texts for interested young readers. Relevant black-and-white photographs throughout enhance the presentations. There are four other spring 2016 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Eyewitness to World War II titles: The Tuskegee Airmen, The Dropping of the Atomic Bomb, The Navajo Code Talkers, and The Role of Women in World War II.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Highly Guarded Places series. It's all about protection in these examinations of guarding important or high-profile entities. From America's gold storehouse and nuclear facilities to prisons or the president, these seven entries briefly describe the history and necessary safety measures taken with regards to each one. Captioned color and black-and-white photos, maps, and sidebars complement the straightforward narratives. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Highly Guarded Places titles: Guarding Fort Knox, Guarding Nuclear Weapons Facilities, Guarding Supermax Prisons, Guarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Guarding Air Force One, Guarding Area 51, and Guarding the Super Bowl Stadium.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 American Citizenship series. This volume broadly describes what constitutes the American identity, including a brief history, national symbols, how patriotism is shown, national celebrations, noted national landmarks, and Americans' shared experiences (sports, foods, music, etc.). Primary sources and photos extend the serviceable text, but related core-standards-geared prompts and activities may distract general researchers. "Fast Facts" and discussion questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 American Citizenship series. These books are designed to give young readers an overview of how the American political system was created and how it operates. Primary sources (e.g., an excerpt from Washington's farewell address) extend the serviceable texts, but related core-standards-geared prompts and activities may distract general researchers. Photographs and charts provide additional insight. "Fast Facts" and discussion questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following American Citizenship titles: Modern Political Parties, Our Electoral Leaders, Voting and Elections, and Constitutional Rights.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Cause-and-Effect Disasters series. Sherman explores the nineteenth-century Irish potato disaster in four succinct chapters addressing its economic and political causes and effects. She provides historical background before relating the major events and their far-reaching aftermath (including modern research tracing the original source of the crop's disease to Mexico). Numerous photographs/illustrations, diagrams, sidebars, and a clear appended flow chart round out the presentation. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) YA Essential Issues series. These books examine societal issues, reviewing their histories and relating steps taken to combat problems, including laws enacted to protect citizens. Warfare involves issues of national security and chronicles the use of deadly poisonous agents employed against countries and individuals, whether in war or peacetime. The readable texts are enhanced with numerous photographs and sidebars that, while informative, crowd the pages. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Issues titles: Children's Rights, Biological & Chemical Warfare, Gangs, and Drug Trafficking.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Essential Events series. These volumes examine background, primary players, and lasting impact of historic events. The Munich tragedy and the Hindenburg disaster, two unexpected and shocking occurrences, are graphically but sensitively described. The readable narratives are accompanied by numerous sidebars, archival photographs, and illustrations that, while useful, tend to encroach on the main texts. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Events titles: Terror at the Munich Olympics, The Hindenburg Disaster, and The United States Enters World War I.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Publishing Pioneers series. Stretching across the centuries, from the first printed volumes (1400s) to today's realm of bookselling in cyberspace, these biographies portray the lives of achievers who have shaped the world of books. The writing is bland but accessible; students will come away with an appreciation of the far-reaching social impact of each individual's innovations. Sidebars, period illustrations, photographs, and maps augment the texts. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Publishing Pioneers titles: Barnes & Noble, Jeff Bezos, Randolph Caldecott, Melvil Dewey, and Johannes Gutenberg.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute