(3) YA Special Reports series. This excellent, extensively researched, and well-balanced series unpacks the details behind trending topics and current events. With extensive sidebars and peppered with well-captioned color photographs, each volume endeavors to cover all angles, from historical context and origins to coverage and reaction in social media. The complicated swirl of opinions surrounding the #metoo movement is handled particularly well. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Special Reports titles: Mass Shootings in America, The Charlottesville Protests and The Silence Breakers and the #MeToo Movement

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(2) YA Ortiz's volume is a good introduction to progressive Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg's life, along with being a fine primer for studying the United States Constitution. Each chapter opens with an important Supreme Court case, switching midway to events in Ginsburg's biography that were relevant to that case. Many eye-catching archival photographs enhance the information. The Bill of Rights is appended for handy reference. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(4) 4-6 Fact Finders: Cause and Effect: The Bill of Rights series. Each of these accessible titles examines the causes for and effects of an amendment to the Bill of Rights, including how the amendment came to be, how it has evolved over time, and current controversies surrounding it. The dry but informative texts are accompanied by drawings, photographs, and quotes, as well as "Fast Facts" and word definitions. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Fact Finders: Cause and Effect: The Bill of Rights titles: The First Amendment: Freedom of Speech and Religion and The Fourth Amendment: Civil Liberties.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Fact Finders: Cause and Effect: The Bill of Rights series. Each of these accessible titles examines the causes for and effects of an amendment to the Bill of Rights, including how the amendment came to be, how it has evolved over time, and current controversies surrounding it. The dry but informative texts are accompanied by drawings, photographs, and quotes, as well as "Fast Facts" and word definitions. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Fact Finders: Cause and Effect: The Bill of Rights titles: The First Amendment: Freedom of Speech and Religion and The Fourth Amendment: Civil Liberties.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) K-3 Smithsonian Little Explorer: Introducing Primary Sources series. This engaging series strikes the right balance between information and images. Each volume focuses on a primary source, examining the events that led to its creation, its evolving role throughout history, and its current status. Well-captioned photographs, maps, documents, and paintings are featured prominently throughout, breaking up the age-appropriate texts. Common Core critical thinking questions are appended. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Smithsonian Little Explorer: Introducing Primary Sources titles: The U.S. Constitution, The Liberty Bell, and That Statue of Liberty.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) 4-6 How America Works series. Designed to give middle-grade readers a basic understanding of American governmental operations, this series includes a broad overview (Government); information about the function of each branch; framework for our country's individual and collective freedoms (Bill of Rights and Constitution); and clarification on the electoral process (Elections). Photographs, illustrations, charts, and sidebars add interest to the choppy but informative texts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following How America Works titles: How Elections Work, How the Government Works, How the Judicial Branch Works, The Bill of Rights, The U.S. Constitution, How the Executive Branch Works, and How the Legislative Branch Works.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Anna Divito. Beginning with the text of the Bill of Rights and an overview of its history and importance, the book is divided into chapters focusing on each amendment. Legal cases (often involving children's rights) are well explained. Final chapters discuss later amendments and constitutional controversies. The casual prose and amusing illustrations make this updated edition a kid-friendly introduction. Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) K-3 Good Question! series. A question-and-answer format provides information relevant to each book's American government topic. Informative responses are given to such questions as "What is women's suffrage?"; "Why was Susan B. Anthony arrested in 1872?"; "Who was the Father of the Constitution?"; "Who attended the Constitutional Convention?"; and "What is the Bill of Rights?". Illustrations and archival photographs enhance the readable texts. Timeline. Review covers the following Good Question! titles: Why Couldn't Susan B. Anthony Vote? and What Are the Three Branches of Government?.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Holidays & Heroes series. These books highlight two U.S. holidays, providing information about their origins and purposes. Constitution presents a brief history of the creation and ratification of the document and the naming of September 17 as Constitution and Citizenship Day. Labor explains the holiday's origin and emphasizes its importance to the working sector of the American public. Photographs and period illustrations accompany the lackluster texts. Review covers these Holidays & Heroes titles: Let's Celebrate Constitution Day and Let's Celebrate Labor Day.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Constitution and the United States Government series. This retitled and updated series provides insight into the three branches of U.S. government, other agencies, and the documents that guide them. The dry texts are well researched and informative. While the photographs add interest, some are poorly reproduced. Executive includes a list of presidents; Security and Legislative include timelines. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Constitution and the United States Government titles: The Constitution of the United States, The President and the Executive Branch, The Security Agencies of the United States, The Supreme Court and the Judicial Branch, The United States Congress and the Legislative Branch.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Bill of Rights series. The Bill of Rights provides an overview of the subject, history, and the document's relationship to the framers of the Constitution. Each of the other volumes focuses on a particular amendment and its interpretation by the courts. The writing is clear (chatty at times), accessible, and interesting. The books are illustrated with well-chosen photographs and archival art and include better than average glossaries. Ind. Review covers these Bill of Rights titles: The Bill of Rights, Fifth Amendment, First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Second and Third Amendments, and Sixth Amendment.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 4-6 Bill of Rights series. The Bill of Rights provides an overview of the subject, history, and the document's relationship to the framers of the Constitution. Each of the other volumes focuses on a particular amendment and its interpretation by the courts. The writing is clear (chatty at times), accessible, and interesting. The books are illustrated with well-chosen photographs and archival art and include better than average glossaries. Ind. Review covers these Bill of Rights titles: The Bill of Rights, Fifth Amendment, First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Second and Third Amendments, and Sixth Amendment.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 4-6 Bill of Rights series. The Bill of Rights provides an overview of the subject, history, and the document's relationship to the framers of the Constitution. Each of the other volumes focuses on a particular amendment and its interpretation by the courts. The writing is clear (chatty at times), accessible, and interesting. The books are illustrated with well-chosen photographs and archival art and include better than average glossaries. Ind. Review covers these Bill of Rights titles: The Bill of Rights, Fifth Amendment, First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Second and Third Amendments, and Sixth Amendment.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 4-6 Bill of Rights series. The Bill of Rights provides an overview of the subject, history, and the document's relationship to the framers of the Constitution. Each of the other volumes focuses on a particular amendment and its interpretation by the courts. The writing is clear (chatty at times), accessible, and interesting. The books are illustrated with well-chosen photographs and archival art and include better than average glossaries. Ind. Review covers these Bill of Rights titles: The Bill of Rights, Fifth Amendment, First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Second and Third Amendments, and Sixth Amendment.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 4-6 Bill of Rights series. The Bill of Rights provides an overview of the subject, history, and the document's relationship to the framers of the Constitution. Each of the other volumes focuses on a particular amendment and its interpretation by the courts. The writing is clear (chatty at times), accessible, and interesting. The books are illustrated with well-chosen photographs and archival art and include better than average glossaries. Ind. Review covers these Bill of Rights titles: The Bill of Rights, Fifth Amendment, First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Second and Third Amendments, and Sixth Amendment.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) YA Constitution of the United States series. Each volume offers a detailed overview of the title topic, including historical highlights and Supreme Court cases. The authors do a solid job of presenting the history, importance, and future implications of each amendment. Illustrations include historical images and distracting website screen shots. The featured sites are accessible through the publisher's website. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Constitution of the United States titles: A Look at the Fourth Amendment, A Look at the Second Amendment, A Look at the Bill of Rights, and A Look at the Eighteenth and Twenty-First Amendments.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(1) YA Like a gifted and practiced teacher, Freedman outlines historical background that informed the original writing for each amendment, provides an overview of controversial aspects, and discusses landmark cases. In a friendly tone, Freedman shares his thinking, answers anticipated questions, cites quoted and statistical information, and appends several aids to explore ideas further. Numerous illustrations cover historical as well as contemporary issues. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2003

(4) 4-6 Historical Documents series. These books focus on the stories behind these historic documents with short chapters that provide a straightforward overview of their origins, rationale, application, and occasional controversy. Photographs, illustrations, and sidebars supplement the clearly written, although overly brief, text. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Historical Documents titles: The Mayflower Compact, The Bill of Rights, The Declaration of Independence, and The United States Constitution.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) YA Pages from History series. Drawing liberally from primary sources such as letters, speeches, court decisions, and the Constitution itself, Patrick traces the history of the Bill of Rights. The thorough text looks at early influences on the document (e.g., the Magna Carta) and legal landmarks (e.g., the Dred Scott case) that challenged the Bill of Rights. Black-and-white photos and historical reproductions provide solid support. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Anna Divito. Beginning with the text of the Bill of Rights and an overview of its history and importance, the book is divided into chapters that focus on each amendment. Legal cases (often involving children's rights) are well explained, and helpful websites and phone numbers are included. Final chapters discuss later amendments and constitutional controversies. The casual prose and amusing illustrations make this a kid-friendly introduction. Bib.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta