(2) 4-6 Pandava series. Aru is accused of stealing the god of love's bow and arrow. She's given ten days to return them or be stripped of her Pandava (reincarnated demigod) memories and banished from the Otherworld. The story moves at a breakneck pace as Aru encounters legendary beings from Hindu mythology, who comically interact with the modern world. The importance of how you see yourself is at the heart of this entertaining second installment. Glos.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(3) 4-6 Pandava series. Twelve-year-old Aru knew she shouldn't light the Lamp of Bharata just to show off to her schoolmates, but she never expected to rouse a demon bent on awakening the God of Destruction. Now she must save her museum-curator mother and, well, everyone else. Witty humor and quick pacing carry readers through the Kingdom of Death in this series-starting fantasy rooted in Hindu mythology. Glos.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 Building by Design series. These books focus on four formidable architectural marvels constructed in diverse regions of the world. Each book details a specific building, giving an account of its unique purpose, history, design, construction, and modern use. Budding architects will find the series engaging. Stock photographs, diagrams, direct quotes, and sidebars provide clarity. "Fast Facts" and critical thinking questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Building by Design titles: Engineering the Space Needle, Engineering the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Engineering Burj Khalifa, and Engineering the Taj Mahal.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Ancient Civilizations series. Each volume introduces a civilization by covering a wide variety of topics including origins, political systems, religions, and daily life. Chapters are broken into subcategories, with numerous sidebars, photos, illustrations, and maps adding detail to the main narrative. The texts themselves are accessible without dumbing down the information. There are four other spring 2015 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. This review covers the following Ancient Civilizations titles: Ancient Maya, Ancient Rome, Ancient Mesopotamia, and Ancient India.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) K-3 Ancient Wonders series. Each volume offers the basic who-what-when-why-and-how for its titular ancient structure and concludes with a quick overview of its current condition and tourism. Color photos, maps, and other illustrations supplement the text; short question-and-answer footers provide additional detail. The brightly designed series is basic, but the content is sufficient for the target audience. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review includes these Ancient Wonders titles: Egyptian Pyramids, Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, Statues of Easter Island, Stonehenge, and Taj Mahal.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA World History series. Ancient Indus civilizations are explored in this thorough book. Chapters encompassing multiple aspects of the various cultures, such as language, medicine, and spice trading, are accompanied by pictures and sidebars offering a closer look at specific topics. Quotes from primary sources and historians flesh out additional details. The text is too densely packed with but rich with information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Dominique Amendola. In the Indian village of Vrindavan, Krishna, "a child who did amazing mystical things," outsmarts god Brahma after he steals away children and their calves. Adapted from a Bhagavata Purana tale, the picture book may appeal to Hindu families. The storytelling is staid, but Amendola's lavish paintings and the ornamented book design make for a gorgeous package.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) YA Illustrated by Moyna Chitrakar. Bold lines and vivid colors draw readers through the panels of this ancient Hindu epic (even when the text gets a bit long for a graphic novel). Arni presents the story of Queen Sita's abduction by Ravana, the Demon King, and her rescue by Rama, aided by Hanuman the wise monkey. This interpretation's feminist bent is documented in an afterword.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA World History series. India describes the cultural evolution and contributions of ancient India to the modern world. Inquisition examines the social and political climate that led to religious persecution in the Middle Ages. The straightforward writing, though accessible, is bland, and the two-column layout results in a sterile, textbooklike appearance. Maps, artwork reproductions, and illustrations add interest; some primary source material sidebars provide more historical context. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these World History titles: Ancient India and The Inquisition.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(4) 4-6 Science of the Past series. Each book offers a straightforward introduction to some of the scientific and technical accomplishments of these cultures. Among the areas discussed are medicine, mathematics, astronomy, natural history, and physics. Science is defined broadly and includes mention of such peripheral applications as the Mayan use of decorative jade and gold dental fillings and the Indian practice of yoga. Color photos and reproductions illustrate the texts. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard