(4) K-3 Let Freedom Ring: Colonial America series. Illustrated with color art and a few photographs, these four slim volumes offer brief overviews of important periods and events in U.S. history. The short, sometimes choppy sentences make for dull reading, but the information will be helpful for report writing. Occasional sidebars provide a few additional details. Directory, reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Let Freedom Ring: Colonial America titles: The Salem Witch Trials, The Plymouth Colony, The Slave Trade in Early America, and The Jamestown Colony.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) 4-6 American Indian Nations series. Each of the books in this series examines a Native American group: the East Coast Powhatan and Wampanoag and the Blackfeet in Montana and southwestern Canada. Brief, choppy sentences are accompanied by contemporary and archival photographs, illustrations, and sidebars. Directories, map, reading list, recipe, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these American Indian Nations titles: The Powhatan, The Blackfeet, and The Wampanoag.]

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Countries and Cultures series. Information about Australia is conveyed in chapters with plenty of subheads to make the material easily accessible for readers. Chapters open with "fast facts" about the country; the text introduces aspects of the land, climate, history, government, economy, people, and culture. Color photos, maps, recipes, and other features enliven the somewhat dry text. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Countries and Cultures series. This dry introduction to the South American country of Colombia provides information about its land, climate, wildlife, history and government, economy (a few paragraphs on drug trafficking is included), and culture. Each chapter begins with a few "Fast Facts," and chapter subdivisions make for easier reading. Color photos, maps, a recipe, timeline, and relevant websites make this a useful volume. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Countries and Cultures series. The books in this series provide readers with some basic facts on the land, climate, wildlife, history and government, economy, people, and cultures of each country included. Subdivided chapters chunk the text and make information retrieval easier; additional features include "Fast Facts," color photos, maps, timelines, and recipes. Written in a straightforward style, these volumes, although dry, will be useful to report writers. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Countries and Cultures titles: England, Sweden, and France.]

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Countries and Cultures series. The books in this series provide readers with some basic facts on the land, climate, wildlife, history and government, economy, people, and cultures of each country included. Subdivided chapters chunk the text and make information retrieval easier; additional features include "Fast Facts," color photos, maps, timelines, and recipes. Written in a straightforward style, these volumes, although dry, will be useful to report writers. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Countries and Cultures titles: England, Sweden, and France.]

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Countries and Cultures series. These two sereis overviews provide readers with basic information about the land, climate, history and government, economy, and culture of each country. Both volumes are written in a straightforward but dry manner; Israel's troubled history and current political situation is given even-handed, if brief, coverage. Other useful features include maps, color photos, and timelines. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Countries and Cultures titles: Israel and Thailand.]

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Countries and Cultures series. These two sereis overviews provide readers with basic information about the land, climate, history and government, economy, and culture of each country. Both volumes are written in a straightforward but dry manner; Israel's troubled history and current political situation is given even-handed, if brief, coverage. Other useful features include maps, color photos, and timelines. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Countries and Cultures titles: Israel and Thailand.]

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Countries and Cultures series. "Fast facts" begin chapters on Brazil's physical features, land and climate, history and government, economy, and people; together with maps, color photos and prints, boxed asides, and even a dessert recipe, this forms a thorough, if dry, country overview. Like the others in this series, this volume is uninspired but may be of use to report writers. A time line is included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Countries and Cultures series. Maps and color photos join somewhat dry texts in explaining the physical features, climate, exports, government, history, industries, food, arts, and symbols of Canada and Mexico. Boxed quick facts and recipes enliven the design. Like the others in this series, these volumes are uninspired but may be of use to report writers. Time lines are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Colonies titles: Canada and Mexico.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Countries and Cultures series. "Fast facts" begin chapters on the physical features, land and climate, history and government, economy, and people of Egypt and Kenya. Maps, color photos and prints, boxed asides, and a recipe form a thorough, if dry, country overview. The fill-in-the-blanks coverage is rather mechanical, but report writers will find the books in this series helpful. A time line is included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Countries and Cultures series. For each volume in this series, chapters on a particular country's physical features, climate, history, government, economy, and people combine with various maps, color photos, boxed "fast facts," and even cookie recipes to offer a complete, if somewhat dry, country survey. The fill-in-the-blanks coverage is rather mechanical, but report writers will find the books helpful. A time line is included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Countries and Cultures titles: Japan and China.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam