Reviews

Books in the Becoming a Soldier series show how new recruits are trained to become members of the U.S. armed forces. After an initial double-page spread involving a fire drill and another…

The horrifying statistics, the scientific facts, and the public-health breakthroughs will all grab readers in this clearly presented overview of smallpox, “the world’s greatest killer.” The…

[Starred review]. The books in this series present information about catastrophic natural disasters by discussing the causes, characteristics, the science, and progress in predicting them,…

Ghostly Alcatraz Island and Witchcraft in Salem were recommended in Booklist’s October 2010 Spotlight on Series Nonfiction.

[Starred review]. This book is one of a series of at least six that focus on places where animals live. If the other books in the series are done as well as this one, then it must be said…

Books in the Becoming a Soldier series show how new recruits are trained to become members of the U.S. armed forces. After an initial double-page spread involving a fire drill and another…

[Starred review]. This book is one of a series of at least six that focus on places where animals live. If the other books in the series are done as well as this one, then it must be said…

The HorrorScapes series takes on such well-trod topics as Dracula, King Tut, and Salem witchcraft, but it’s especially nice to see this eye-opening take on a subject often avoided. Using…

Sure, cheetahs get all the attention for their blazing running speed, but in terms of pure velocity, no animal can touch a diving peregrine falcon, which this entry in the Blink of an Eye:…

This series provides an…introduction to frogs, toads, and other amphibians. The books emphasize the similarities among all amphibians while highlighting species’ unique capabilities. Each…

Each volume relates the events of a specific natural disaster. Two-page sections describe what happened or what caused the event as well as the personal stories of those who lived through it;

Basic facts such as the subjects’ habitats, life cycles, anatomies, and survival techniques are explained… The glossy photos are the most appealing element of the series.