(1) K-3 Illustrated by Daniel Egnéus. In a shadowy (pre-industrial) wood, a peppered moth--its "speckled, freckled" patterns wonderfully detailed in Egnéus's gorgeous mixed-media illustrations--attempts to survive; all-black moths stand out and are quickly eaten. But things change: with soot from nineteenth-century industrialization, the black moths are now hidden. Thomas deftly builds an easily understandable explanation of natural selection into the well-paced narrative. Back matter shows both variations of the peppered moth.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(3) K-3 Talbott limns the life and legacy of Thomas Cole, the nineteenth-century American painter best known for his landscapes and as the originator of the Hudson River school of art. The text is straightforward yet consistently infused with the sense of curiosity that drove Cole to explore and make art. In his own illustrations, Talbott alternately uses narrative-furthering vignettes and sweeping nature scenes. An appended note works in Cole reproductions.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) YA Adapted by Rebecca Stefoff. Adapted from Mann's adult book, this is an extensive explanation of the ecological convulsion known as the Columbian Exchange that occurred among the continents after Columbus's successful voyage; particular focus is on the worldwide historical impact of foods and tobacco, industrial products (e.g., rubber, silver), and human migration and enslavement. Maps, drawings, and photographs enhance this fascinating account of the far-reaching exchanges. Timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Daily Life in US History series. Designed to engage students for Common Core standards, these United States history books present their material in various ways, including simplified summaries, quotations from primary sources, "perspectives" sidebars, suggested activities and discussion questions, and "Day in the Life" segments. Archival photos and/or period-style illustrations break up the chapters. There are four other spring 2015 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Daily Life in US History titles: Life During the Industrial Revolution, Life During the Revolutionary War, Life During the Great Depression, and Life on the Frontier.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA In United States History series. In these informative volumes, originally published under slightly different titles in the In American History series, four seminal events in United States history are recounted in detailed but never dull prose. Unfortunately, the black-and-white photos have been removed from these new editions, making for dense packages. There are four other fall 2014 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Ind. Review covers these In United States History titles: The Battle of the Little Bighorn in United States History, The Watergate Scandal in United States History, The Industrial Revolution in United States History, and The Reconstruction of the South After the Civil War in United States History.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Story of the United States series. This series focusing on pivotal periods in U.S. history is generally well organized, and the writing, though clunky, is accessible. Frequent photos, diagrams, and sidebars enhance the texts; writing prompts, primary source quotes, and "Stop and Think" questions contribute to the volumes' usefulness. Coverage of certain events is uneven (e.g., 1960s anti-war protests are glossed over). Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Story of the United States titles: World War I and Modern America, The Postwar Era, The United States Today, and The Rise of Industry.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Understanding World History series. Report writers will find an accessible, detailed discussion of the factors that led to Industrial Revolution; how innovations in transportation, warfare, and communication sustained it; and the impact of the rapid changes on society. Sidebars, maps, and archival illustrations extend and help break up the dense text, which is enriched with primary source quotes. An annotated list of "Important People" is appended. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 All About America series. Concentrating mostly on America in the nineteenth century, these overviews present their topics on busily designed pages. Lots of text boxes, sidebars, and captioned illustrations and drawings compete for space with the main texts. There's a fair amount of information in each book, but the crowded pages may deter some readers. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these All About America titles: Stagecoaches and Railroads, The Industrial Revolution, Explorers, Trappers, and Pioneers, and A Nation of Immigrants.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Medicine Through the Ages series. From the mid-eighteenth century to the end of the nineteenth century, rapid changes in living conditions, technology, and scientific thought led to vast advances in Western medical knowledge and treatment. In this book the accessible main text provides an overview; frequent sidebars add details about individuals and related topics. Archival illustrations and photos provide a sense of the era. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Medicine Through the Ages series. From the mid-eighteenth century to the end of the nineteenth century, rapid changes in living conditions, technology, and science led to advances in Western medical knowledge and treatment. In this leveled-text edition for reluctant upper-elementary-age readers, the choppy text provides an overview; frequent sidebars add details about individuals and issues. Archival illustrations and photos provide a sense of the era. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Twelve-year-old garment worker Emily endures long hours and harsh conditions to help support her family in the early 1900s. The book's structure, alternating chapters of Emily's fictional tale with a more straightforward history of child labor, may entice some readers, but nonfiction fans will think the story element is unnecessary. Most of the accompanying photographs are by Lewis Hine. Timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Making a New Nation series. These books survey American history from the first European settlers to the beginning of World War I. The stories are told through a series of vignettes, sidebars, and inserts. Also included are maps, charts, graphs, drawings, and archival photographs. The episodic treatment gives little specific information but will be useful as introductions. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Making a New Nation titles: A Changing Nation, Colonial America, The Louisiana Purchase, and Westward to the Pacific.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Pages from History series. This in-depth discussion is organized around primary source materials (e.g., diary entries of an eighteenth-century midwife; a pictorial essay on child labor), which make up the main body of the text. Written by an academic historian, this book nevertheless provides an accessible and convenient way for students to understand the worldwide effects of the Industrial Revolution. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(4) 4-6 American History through Primary Sources series. These books introduce readers to a wide range of popular topics in American history with an emphasis on primary sources such as maps, photographs, and newspaper clippings. Unfortunately, the writing style is inconsistent, making some books more polished than others. Repetitive definitions of challenging words (covered within the text, in a sidebar, and in the glossary) needlessly interrupt the flow. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these American History through Primary Sources titles: Following Freedom, George Washington, Strike It Rich in Cripple Creek, The Dirty Thirties, Rebirth of a People, and Smokestacks and Spinning Jennys.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(4) 4-6 American Saga series. The texts of these fact-laden volumes are broken up with multiple design features, including chapter subheads, sidebars, photographs, and archival reproductions. Because they lack narrative energy, the books, which shed light on significant periods in American history, are best used for report research. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these American Saga titles: The Transcontinental Railroad and Western Expansion, The Industrial Revolution, The New Deal, and Colonial America.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(4) 4-6 American Moments series. Each book in this series offers a brief, general introduction to a chapter in U.S. history. The writing is clear but lacks style. The books offer overviews of their subjects, giving report writers basic information but little insight. Drawings, maps, photographs, and sidebars enhance the text. There are eighteen other spring 2005 books in this series. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these American Moments titles: The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, The Kent State Tragedy, The Pilgrims, The Industrial Revolution, The Jamestown Colony, and The Lincoln-Douglas Debates.

Reviewer: Ed Spicer

(4) 4-6 Witness to History series. Each of the developments and inventions of the Industrial Revolution is given a two-page spread and matched with an eyewitness account presented in a handwritten or typed font; captioned archival photos and drawings enliven the text. The full picture is overgeneralized and sketchy, and the bolded vocabulary words are patronizing, but the first-person experiences are intriguing. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Making of America series. These entries present an overview of U.S. history from the antebellum era to the new millennium. Encyclopedia-quality prose examines major historical events, as well as noting evolving changes in the areas of foreign relations, civil rights, and popular culture. Color photographs, boxed quotes, and biographical profiles perk up the texts. Time lines are included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.