(4) 4-6 A moving introduction to Nazism, its fatal propaganda, and the Holocaust. Short, easy-to-read chapters explore this dark period from the perspective of the children, victims and survivors, through personal testimonies and diary entries. Though the quotations are of immense value, they are crowded onto poorly designed pages. Powerful images add to the shameful reality. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) YA World After... series. After a graphic novel–style prologue, this book takes a serious look at the potential environmental and societal impacts of a cataclysmic asteroid strike on Earth. The fairly dense presentation is supported by "Fact or Fiction" and "How Likely Is It?" boxes, relevant sidebars, charts, and captioned photographs. The tiny-size type and cramped page design may be off-putting to some readers. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jill Leibowitz

(4) 4-6 Animal Attack series. The sensationalistic titles aside, these overviews offer general information about their subjects. Crocodiles discusses crocodilian characteristics and behaviors before focusing on seven specific species. Snakes profiles twelve different snakes. Lots of photos and easy-to-read texts will entice reluctant readers. These are adequate resources. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Animal Attack titles: Killer Crocodiles and Killer Snakes.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Animal Attack series. The sensationalistic titles aside, these overviews offer basic information about their subjects. Bears begins with a general introduction, followed by two- to four-page spreads about nine different bear species. Cats focuses on how eight feline species hunt. Lots of photos and easy-to-read texts will entice reluctant readers. These are adequate resources. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Animal Attack titles: Killer Bears and Killer Cats.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Animal Attack series. The sensationalistic titles aside, these overviews offer basic information about their subjects. Bears begins with a general introduction, followed by two- to four-page spreads about nine different bear species. Cats focuses on how eight feline species hunt. Lots of photos and easy-to-read texts will entice reluctant readers. These are adequate resources. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Animal Attack titles: Killer Bears and Killer Cats.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Animal Attack series. The sensationalistic title aside, this overview offers a mix of general information and facts about specific types of arachnids on two- to four-page spreads. Topics introduced include webs, hunting styles, and camouflage. The inviting pages feature lots of photos, brightly colored text boxes, and an accessible if slight main text. This is an adequate resource. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Animal Attack series. The sensationalistic titles aside, these overviews offer general information about their subjects. Crocodiles discusses crocodilian characteristics and behaviors before focusing on seven specific species. Snakes profiles twelve different snakes. Lots of photos and easy-to-read texts will entice reluctant readers. These are adequate resources. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Animal Attack titles: Killer Crocodiles and Killer Snakes.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Animal Attack series. The sensationalistic title aside, this overview offers general information about its subject. After a brief introduction, Woolf profiles thirteen species of sharks on two- to four-page spreads. The inviting pages feature lots of photos, brightly colored text boxes, and an accessible if slight main text. This is an adequate resource. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Emergency! series. These are superficial overviews of natural and accident-related disasters. Each book defines the topic and identifies some notable events, mostly from recent history. For example, Earthquake includes catastrophes ranging from the 1906 San Francisco quake to the 2011 Japanese tsunami. Sidebars include eyewitness accounts and news segments from media sources. Reluctant readers will respond to the dramatic photographs. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Emergency! titles: Plane Crash, Earthquake, Oil Disaster, Fire Disaster, Nuclear Accident, and Chemical Accident.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Forensic Files series. The Piltdown Man, the Shroud of Turin, and the afflictions allegedly caused by the Salem "witches" are among the historical mysteries briefly documented. The blandly written text does a fair job describing forensic techniques, such as radiocarbon dating, ice-core sampling, and facial reconstruction, that may now help solve these long-puzzling cases. Reproductions and mediocre color photos illustrate the cramped pages. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Forensic Files series. These rushed but intriguing accounts describe how various crimes, including the Hitler Diaries hoax and the Washington, D.C., sniper case, were solved using forensic techniques (e.g., fingerprint matching, handwriting and voiceprint analysis, DNA testing). Text, information boxes, and mediocre color photos crowd the pages. Each volume concludes with a fictional case on which readers can test their newfound forensic knowledge. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Forensic Files titles: Investigating Murder Mysteries, Investigating Fakes & Hoaxes, and Investigating Thefts & Heists.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Forensic Files series. These rushed but intriguing accounts describe how various crimes, including the Hitler Diaries hoax and the Washington, D.C., sniper case, were solved using forensic techniques (e.g., fingerprint matching, handwriting and voiceprint analysis, DNA testing). Text, information boxes, and mediocre color photos crowd the pages. Each volume concludes with a fictional case on which readers can test their newfound forensic knowledge. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Forensic Files titles: Investigating Murder Mysteries, Investigating Fakes & Hoaxes, and Investigating Thefts & Heists.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Exploring Tough Issues series. These well-organized books examine their subjects in depth--no mean feat, given the length of the books and how unwieldy and complex the subjects are. Well-chosen (if not always well-reproduced) photos feature both individuals known for their social action or deviance and everyday people who unite to work for what they think is right. Abuse and Refugees list relevant resources. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Exploring Tough Issues titles: Why Do People Abuse Human Rights?, Why Are People Refugees?, Why Are People Terrorists?, and Why Do People Commit Crime?

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Exploring Tough Issues series. These well-organized books examine their subjects in depth--no mean feat, given the length of the books and how unwieldy and complex the subjects are. Well-chosen (if not always well-reproduced) photos feature both individuals known for their social action or deviance and everyday people who unite to work for what they think is right. Abuse and Refugees list relevant resources. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Exploring Tough Issues titles: Why Do People Abuse Human Rights?, Why Are People Refugees?, Why Are People Terrorists?, and Why Do People Commit Crime?

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(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 possiblities 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: The Kennedy Assassination and The Wall Street Crash.]

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA 21st Century Debates series. Examining both the different types of artificial intelligence and their potential applications, this book gives readers a broad grounding in the field. A busy design, with intrusive "Fact," "Debate," and "Viewpoint" sidebars, detracts from the narrative flow, but the straightforward prose and sharp color photos are informative. Reading list, directory, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Days That Shook the World series. From circumstances preceding each incident to its aftermath, the titles in this well-researched series present a comprehensive account of the featured historical event. The accessible text is enhanced by archival material, maps, diagrams, and quotes from prominent individuals. Though the design is tight, research-driven readers will find the bounty of information useful. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Days That Shook the World titles: Pearl Harbor and Assassination in Sarajevo.]

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA Ideas of the Modern World series. This book starts with a definition and then proceeds to take an in-depth look at the development over the centuries of both Christian and Islamic fundamentalism. The volume clearly delineates the movements and gives brief mention of influential figures in them; numerous sidebars, captioned photos, and reproduced art interrupt the flow of the text but make the book accessible to browsers. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) YA World Wars series. By focusing on narrower topics, these four books are able to provide detailed accounts of three aspects or battles of World War II and one offensive of World War I. Well written, with the information broken up by sidebars, maps, and period photographs, this series will help readers interested in these two wars. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these World War titles: The War in the Pacific, The Home Front in World War II, The Battle of the Somme, and The Battle of Britain.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) YA A & E Biography series. While Hussein, Arafat, and bin Laden attempt to provide unbiased biographies of controversial figures, Powell is an adulatory look at the Secretary of State. The books cover childhood and early influences but do not go into much detail about the current "war on terrorism." Some of the photos aren't relevant to the text. Reading list. Bib., ind. [Review covers these A & E Biography titles: Saddam Hussein, Colin Powell, Yasser Arafat, and Osama bin Laden.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman