(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Cheryl Kirk Noll. During the American Revolution, Rhode Island enlisted slaves to fight against the British because the state had too few available soldiers. Brennan discusses the development of the Black Regiment, its success in battle, and what life was like for troops after the war was over. A crowded book design includes sidebars, maps, and illustrations. A list of places to visit is appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: KaaVonia Hinton

(4) K-3 Checkerboard: One Nation series. Color photos and maps illustrate these series books, which discuss each immigrant group's native country, residence within the United States, preservation of culture, assimilation, and the accomplishments of individuals. Each book includes a "Becoming a Citizen" spread, which offers very limited information. A useful pronunciation guide is appended in the back. There are five other spring 2004 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard: One Nation titles: Chinese Americans, Dominican Americans, Norwegian Americans, Puerto Rican Americans, and Russian Americans.

Reviewer: KaaVonia Hinton

(4) K-3 Checkerboard: One Nation series. Color photos and maps illustrate these series books, which discuss each immigrant group's native country, residence within the United States, preservation of culture, assimilation, and the accomplishments of individuals. Each book includes a "Becoming a Citizen" spread, which offers very limited information. A useful pronunciation guide is appended in the back. There are five other spring 2004 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard: One Nation titles: Chinese Americans, Dominican Americans, Norwegian Americans, Puerto Rican Americans, and Russian Americans.

Reviewer: KaaVonia Hinton

(4) K-3 Checkerboard: One Nation series. Color photos and maps illustrate these series books, which discuss each immigrant group's native country, residence within the United States, preservation of culture, assimilation, and the accomplishments of individuals. Each book includes a "Becoming a Citizen" spread, which offers very limited information. A useful pronunciation guide is appended in the back. There are five other spring 2004 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard: One Nation titles: Chinese Americans, Dominican Americans, Norwegian Americans, Puerto Rican Americans, and Russian Americans.

Reviewer: KaaVonia Hinton

(4) K-3 Checkerboard: One Nation series. Color photos and maps illustrate these series books, which discuss each immigrant group's native country, residence within the United States, preservation of culture, assimilation, and the accomplishments of individuals. Each book includes a "Becoming a Citizen" spread, which offers very limited information. A useful pronunciation guide is appended in the back. There are five other spring 2004 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard: One Nation titles: Chinese Americans, Dominican Americans, Norwegian Americans, Puerto Rican Americans, and Russian Americans.

Reviewer: KaaVonia Hinton

(4) K-3 Checkerboard: One Nation series. Color photos and maps illustrate these series books, which discuss each immigrant group's native country, residence within the United States, preservation of culture, assimilation, and the accomplishments of individuals. Each book includes a "Becoming a Citizen" spread, which offers very limited information. A useful pronunciation guide is appended in the back. There are five other spring 2004 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard: One Nation titles: Chinese Americans, Dominican Americans, Norwegian Americans, Puerto Rican Americans, and Russian Americans.

Reviewer: KaaVonia Hinton

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Kellyn Alder. This fictional story is based on sketchy accounts of the work of a Kentucky slave who explored and led tours through Mammoth Cave in the mid-1800s. Self-educated, Bishop studied geology and was possibly the first to draw a map of the cave. While the narrative is stiff at times, the subject matter makes this book useful for cross-curriculum reading. Timeline.

Reviewer: KaaVonia Hinton

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Felipe Galindo. Simple rhyming text and cheery mixed-media illustrations follow a teacher as she helps her students conceptualize twenty-six occupations from A (astronaut) to Z (zillionaire). The message that teachers can encourage children to be whatever they want to be may not be subtle, but it's effective.

Reviewer: KaaVonia Hinton

(4) PS Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. Cutie LaRue refuses to go to bed, so her mother and father purchase Night Owl, a stuffed toy guaranteed to put any child to sleep. When Cutie shakes the owl, he comes to life and whisks her away to a "night" club where they dance until Cutie falls asleep onstage. The text is a bit forced, but jazzy illustrations convey Cutie's charm.

Reviewer: KaaVonia Hinton

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Domi. Napí, a Mexican Mazateca girl, describes the colors of afternoon as her family sits along the river's edge listening to her grandfather tell stories. When she dreams, Napí is a heron flying over her beautiful village admiring nature. The dreamlike acrylic illustrations reflect the beauty Napí sees in her surroundings and are a good match for the stream-of-consciousness narrative.

Reviewer: KaaVonia Hinton