(4) 4-6 Newsmakers series. This accessibly written series is notable for its clean layout, including color photographs, sidebars, and charts. The mostly complimentary narratives are solid overviews of their subjects' early lives, successes, and failures. A "Stop and Think" feature offers discussion questions that can be used for assignments. For the living subjects, the content will soon become outdated. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Newsmakers titles: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Vladimir Putin, Malala Yousafzai, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Nelson Mandela, and Pope Francis.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) YA Translated by Marian Schwartz. Grisha spends his time in the Moscow puppet theater where his parents work, a refuge from his homophobic classmates. He's in awe of Sam, a young actor, but Sam is leaving Russia and Grisha is dejected. Grisha's first-person, present-tense narrative voice is graceful and dreamlike. This story of unrequited love showcases the dramatic arts as means of self-expression and self-discovery.

Reviewer: Thom Barthelmess

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Mary GrandPré. Pioneering abstract artist Vasily Kandinsky experienced "colors as sounds, and sounds as colors," a neurological condition called synesthesia. Concentrating primarily on Kandinsky's childhood, Rosenstock embellishes known events with dialogue. GrandPré does a fine job showing color and sound as abstractions while presenting the artist and his surroundings realistically. An author's note provides more information about the artist and four reproductions. Websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2014

(3) 4-6 On a school trip to Russia, orphan Sophie is stranded at a decaying palace, where Princess Volkonskaya enlists her help searching for family diamonds. Sophie's past holds the key, though the glamorous princess may not be all she appears. Some readers may anticipate the twist, but a well-integrated folk legend and a deep love for Russian culture give this mystery appeal. Glos.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(2) 4-6 Ivan is one of the thousands of abandoned children living on the streets of Moscow in the mid-1990s when he is adopted by a pack of feral dogs who protect him from gangs and the harsh winter. Well-crafted sentences, lively dialogue, and a remarkable plot line (based on a true story) combine for an absorbing adventure tale that young readers will find irresistible.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2013

(3) 4-6 In elegant verse, Lewis and Yolen put words to some of Chagall's famous works. Paragraphs of supporting biographical text and vibrant reproductions of the art are paired with poems, mostly written in the first-person, that feel like Chagall's own authentic voice; occasional photographs are included. A novel way to package an artist biography and impart admiration of mastery. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) YA Modern World Nations series. The focus in these books is on geography and the economy, although history, people, and culture are also discussed. Written for report writers (and not likely to engage others), the authors offer substantial information, some analysis, and usually their own solutions to contemporary issues. Occasional color and black-and-white photos (some washed-out looking) help break up the text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Modern World Nations titles: Ukraine and Russia.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA Modern World Leaders series. By placing the featured leader in a historical context, this series, part history and part biography, challenges the reader to consider the concept of leadership. Each book features a comprehensive discussion of the subject's childhood experiences and rise to power, significant historical events, international relationships, and ideology. The text is dense; some photographs and drawings help break up the pages. Reading list, timeline. Bib., ind. Review covers these Modern World Leaders titles: Jacques Chirac, Tony Blair, George W. Bush, Hugo Chávez, The Saudi Royal Family, Pope John Paul II, Vladimir Putin, and Pervez Musharraf.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Major World Leaders series. Students researching current events will appreciate these volumes about six newsworthy subjects. Workmanlike prose balances biographical details with information--both positive and negative--about how these political figures have led, or continue to lead, their countries. The accompanying color photos are often pallid. Timelines are included. There are six other fall 2002 books in this series. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Major World Leaders titles: Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Anwar Sadat, Saddam Hussein, Vladimir Putin, and Yasir Arafat.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) K-3 Colors of the World series. Illustrated by Jeni Reeves. In the books in this series, each of ten double-page spreads features a color, the color's name is translated into the country's national language, along with the phonetic pronunciation (Russia includes the Cyrillic). Faced by a stiff illustration featuring the color, a couple of paragraphs briefly discuss random cultural or historical information. Subjects include Russia's Red Army and caviar, and France's lavender fields and the Tour de France. Ind. [Review covers these Colors of the World titles: Colors of France and Colors of Russia.]

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn