(3) 4-6 Core Library Guide to Racism in Modern America series. Slavery may have officially ended in 1865, but as the authors clearly show in this hi-lo series entry, racism continued to be codified in this country's laws and institutions. After a contemporary example of the criminal justice system's blatantly unfair treatment of Black people, this overview traces the effects of policies and practices in employment, education, and voting laws that negatively affected African Americans--and that continue to have repercussions today. Plenty of sidebars and captioned photos reinforce concepts in the main text. A glossary and index are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Native American Oral Histories series. Each book provides information about the Native American tribes of the region, retells several traditional stories, and quotes contemporary Native storytellers discussing the tradition. Color photos and maps break up the accessible texts; researchers may find the writing prompts and links in this Common Core–focused series distracting. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Native American Oral Histories titles: Traditional Stories of the Southwest Nations, Traditional Stories of the Great Basin and Plateau Nations, Traditional Stories of the Arctic and Subarctic Nations, and Traditional Stories of the Northeast Nations.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(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) 4-6 Building by Design series. Each book in this engaging engineering-focused series describes the history and construction of a famous structure, and explains how the landmark is maintained today. Sidebars (some with prompts and website links) as well as photographs, drawings, and diagrams enhance each main text's four chapters. Each book includes "Straight to the Source" pages quoting a primary source, discussion questions throughout, and additional appended facts. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Building by Design titles: Engineering the Golden Gate Bridge, Engineering the Colosseum, Engineering the NYC Subway System, and Engineering the Eiffel Tower.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) 4-6 War Technology series. Alongside general discussion of these major modern wars, the series traces the development of warfare technology, from WWI-era tanks, ships, and guns to drones, PackBots, and cyberwarfare of today's War on Terror. Photographs, sidebars, and infographics add to the serviceable texts, which largely center on the series' core-standards-geared prompts and activities (scattered throughout and appended). Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these War Technology titles: World War I Technology, Vietnam War Technology, World War II Technology, and War on Terror Technology.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 War Technology series. Alongside general discussion of two American wars, the books examine how military technology evolved, from cumbersome and inefficient eighteenth-century artillery to the more advanced technology of the Civil War. Archival illustrations, sidebars, and infographics add to the serviceable texts, which largely center on the series' core-standards-geared prompts and activities (scattered throughout and appended). Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these War Technology titles: American Revolution Technology and Civil War Technology.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 War Technology series. Alongside general discussion of two American wars, the books examine how military technology evolved, from cumbersome and inefficient eighteenth-century artillery to the more advanced technology of the Civil War. Archival illustrations, sidebars, and infographics add to the serviceable texts, which largely center on the series' core-standards-geared prompts and activities (scattered throughout and appended). Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these War Technology titles: American Revolution Technology and Civil War Technology.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Newsmakers series. This accessibly written series is notable for its clean layouts, including color photographs, sidebars, and charts. The mostly complimentary narratives are decent overviews of their subjects' early lives as well as career successes and failures, but with living subjects, the content will soon become outdated. A "Stop and Think" feature offers discussion questions that can be used for assignments. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Newsmakers titles: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Julian Assange, Elon Musk, and Ellen DeGeneres.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 4-6 Building by Design series. Each book in this engaging engineering-focused series describes the history and construction of a famous structure, and explains how the landmark is maintained today. Sidebars (some with prompts and website links) as well as photographs, drawings, and diagrams enhance each main text's four chapters. Each book includes "Straight to the Source" pages quoting a primary source, discussion questions throughout, and additional appended facts. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Building by Design titles: Engineering the Golden Gate Bridge, Engineering the Colosseum, Engineering the NYC Subway System, and Engineering the Eiffel Tower.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) 4-6 Building by Design series. Each book in this engaging engineering-focused series describes the history and construction of a famous structure, and explains how the landmark is maintained today. Sidebars (some with prompts and website links) as well as photographs, drawings, and diagrams enhance each main text's four chapters. Each book includes "Straight to the Source" pages quoting a primary source, discussion questions throughout, and additional appended facts. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Building by Design titles: Engineering the Golden Gate Bridge, Engineering the Colosseum, Engineering the NYC Subway System, and Engineering the Eiffel Tower.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) 4-6 Native American Oral Histories series. Each book provides information about the Native American tribes of the region, retells several traditional stories, and quotes contemporary Native storytellers discussing the tradition. Color photos and maps break up the accessible texts; researchers may find the writing prompts and links in this Common Core–focused series distracting. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Native American Oral Histories titles: Traditional Stories of the Southwest Nations, Traditional Stories of the Great Basin and Plateau Nations, Traditional Stories of the Arctic and Subarctic Nations, and Traditional Stories of the Northeast Nations.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) 4-6 Newsmakers series. This accessibly written series is notable for its clean layouts, including color photographs, sidebars, and charts. The mostly complimentary narratives are decent overviews of their subjects' early lives as well as career successes and failures, but with living subjects, the content will soon become outdated. A "Stop and Think" feature offers discussion questions that can be used for assignments. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Newsmakers titles: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Julian Assange, Elon Musk, and Ellen DeGeneres.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 War Technology series. Alongside general discussion of these major modern wars, the series traces the development of warfare technology, from WWI-era tanks, ships, and guns to drones, PackBots, and cyberwarfare of today's War on Terror. Photographs, sidebars, and infographics add to the serviceable texts, which largely center on the series' core-standards-geared prompts and activities (scattered throughout and appended). Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these War Technology titles: World War I Technology, Vietnam War Technology, World War II Technology, and War on Terror Technology.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 War Technology series. Alongside general discussion of these major modern wars, the series traces the development of warfare technology, from WWI-era tanks, ships, and guns to drones, PackBots, and cyberwarfare of today's War on Terror. Photographs, sidebars, and infographics add to the serviceable texts, which largely center on the series' core-standards-geared prompts and activities (scattered throughout and appended). Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these War Technology titles: World War I Technology, Vietnam War Technology, World War II Technology, and War on Terror Technology.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Native American Oral Histories series. Each book provides information about the Native American tribes of the region, retells several traditional stories, and quotes contemporary Native storytellers discussing the tradition. Color photos and maps break up the accessible texts; researchers may find the writing prompts and links in this Common Core–focused series distracting. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Native American Oral Histories titles: Traditional Stories of the Southwest Nations, Traditional Stories of the Great Basin and Plateau Nations, Traditional Stories of the Arctic and Subarctic Nations, and Traditional Stories of the Northeast Nations.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) 4-6 Building by Design series. Each book in this engaging engineering-focused series describes the history and construction of a famous structure, and explains how the landmark is maintained today. Sidebars (some with prompts and website links) as well as photographs, drawings, and diagrams enhance each main text's four chapters. Each book includes "Straight to the Source" pages quoting a primary source, discussion questions throughout, and additional appended facts. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Building by Design titles: Engineering the Golden Gate Bridge, Engineering the Colosseum, Engineering the NYC Subway System, and Engineering the Eiffel Tower.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) 4-6 Newsmakers series. This accessibly written series is notable for its clean layouts, including color photographs, sidebars, and charts. The mostly complimentary narratives are decent overviews of their subjects' early lives as well as career successes and failures, but with living subjects, the content will soon become outdated. A "Stop and Think" feature offers discussion questions that can be used for assignments. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Newsmakers titles: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Julian Assange, Elon Musk, and Ellen DeGeneres.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Newsmakers series. This accessibly written series is notable for its clean layouts, including color photographs, sidebars, and charts. The mostly complimentary narratives are decent overviews of their subjects' early lives as well as career successes and failures, but with living subjects, the content will soon become outdated. A "Stop and Think" feature offers discussion questions that can be used for assignments. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Newsmakers titles: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Julian Assange, Elon Musk, and Ellen DeGeneres.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Native American Oral Histories series. Each book provides information about the Native American tribes of the region, retells several traditional stories, and quotes contemporary Native storytellers discussing the tradition. Color photos and maps break up the accessible texts; researchers may find the writing prompts and links in this Common Core–focused series distracting. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Native American Oral Histories titles: Traditional Stories of the Southwest Nations, Traditional Stories of the Great Basin and Plateau Nations, Traditional Stories of the Arctic and Subarctic Nations, and Traditional Stories of the Northeast Nations.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) 4-6 War Technology series. Alongside general discussion of these major modern wars, the series traces the development of warfare technology, from WWI-era tanks, ships, and guns to drones, PackBots, and cyberwarfare of today's War on Terror. Photographs, sidebars, and infographics add to the serviceable texts, which largely center on the series' core-standards-geared prompts and activities (scattered throughout and appended). Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these War Technology titles: World War I Technology, Vietnam War Technology, World War II Technology, and War on Terror Technology.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg