(4) K-3 Lightning Bolt Books series. These books present basic facts and historical background about the title landmarks. The texts, in large, easy-to-read font, offer minimal but useful information; a few complex concepts (e.g., cofferdams, setbacks) are included without much explanation. Vivid photographs cover most of the pages. A cartoony map is appended in each volume. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lightning Bolt Books titles: The Empire State Building, The Capitol Building, and The Hoover Dam.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) K-3 Early Bird Astronomy series. Short, accessible chapters offer an introduction to planets. Each planet's position in the solar system is noted, with particular information paid to its unique features (e.g., Saturn's rings, Jupiter's clouds). Accurate information about data-gathering equipment such as the Voyagers is also included. Colorful captioned illustrations (some shared within the series) and less effective stock photos illustrate the texts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Early Bird Astronomy titles: Jupiter, Pluto, Saturn, and Earth.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Amazing Athletes series. Each of these books begins in the middle of one of the athlete's most important performances and from there backtracks to an outline of his or her childhood and athletic accomplishments. The text is dry and choppy and the layout is textbook-like, but the subjects are of interest to the intended audience. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Amazing Athletes titles: Lance Armstrong, Annika Sorenstam, Carly Patterson, Yao Ming, and Michael Phelps.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) 4-6 Visual Geography series. Color photographs, maps, and sidebars combine with a dry but informative text to provide a comprehensive study of the geography, history, government, people, culture, and economy of these two African countries. A website maintained by the publisher offers additional up-to-date information for the report-driven reader. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Visual Geography titles: Zimbabwe in Pictures and Ethiopia in Pictures.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) K-3 Pull Ahead Books series. Well-paired photographs and simple text provide solid introductions to the parts, operation, and jobs of big rigs and helicopters. These easy readers are loaded with kid-friendly facts: "The steering wheel [on a big rig] is bigger than an extra large pizza." Labeled diagrams and extra fact pages accompany the text. Glos., ind. Review covers these Pull Ahead Books titles: Big Rigs and Helicopters.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) 4-6 Visual Geography series. A dry but informative text introduces the geography, history, government, culture, and economy of the featured country. In a textbook-like design, color photographs and maps offer a comprehensive resource for report-driven readers. The book is intended to be used with a designated website. Directory, reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Visual Geography titles: Russia in Pictures and Germany in Pictures.]

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Visual Geography series. In these two series books, a dry but informative text is combined with stock color photographs to introduce the geography, history, government, culture, and economy of the featured country. An accompanying enhanced website offers the report-driven reader access to up-to-date information, additional links, and downloadable material, making these books useful resources. A timeline is included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Visual Geography titles: Kenya in Pictures and Egypt in Pictures.]

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale