(4) K-3 Big Buddy Pop Biographies series. In each standard-issue biography, readers are introduced to the celebrity's early life and family, career, achievements, business ventures, and charitable works. The cheerful, adulatory texts are peppered with gratuitous exclamation points ("Fans love to buy goods Rihanna helped create!") and are accompanied by stock photos and "Did You Know?" boxes. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Pop Biographies titles: Adele, Carrie Underwood, Drake, and Rihanna.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) YA Contemporary Lives series. Each musical star is profiled in these adequate biographies, illustrated with frequent, middling-quality photos. The texts comprehensively, if dryly, cover the artists' professional accomplishments--hit songs, albums, tours, and awards--as well as personal achievements and struggles, including Pink's early drug use and Chris Brown's assault of Rihanna. Quotes by and about the musicians are thoroughly sourced. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Contemporary Lives titles: Rihanna, Pink, and Bruno Mars.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) YA Caribbean Today series. Though they're not the most scintillating reads, these books provide plenty of information for report writers. Main texts focusing on history, geography, and people are supplemented with maps, sidebars, photos, recipes (geared toward experienced cooks), events calendars, report ideas, and organizations to contact. There are five other spring 2009 books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Caribbean Today titles: Cuba, Caribbean Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Leeward Islands, Barbados, and Windward Islands.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 4-6 Discovering the Caribbean series. Overviews of these Caribbean islands introduce the geography, history, economy, politics, peoples, and culture of each place. Brief chapters feature a dry, straightforward text and color photos of varying quality. Recipes and project ideas are appended. Those looking for in-depth information for reports will have to go elsewhere. There are six other fall 2003 books in this series. Reading list, timeline, website. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Discovering the Caribbean titles: Cuba, Barbados, Windward Islands, Haiti, and The Bahamas.]

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) 4-6 Cultures of the World series. These straightforward and thorough introductions to two small island nations discuss climate, economy, religious and artistic traditions, educational systems, and metamorphosis from British colonies to independent countries. Maps, illustrations, and color photographs are included in each book, as are a traditional recipe and a brief language lesson. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram