(4) YA Storm-chasers-in-training, or those who want to live vicariously through them, will enjoy this overview. Information about meteorology, tornado formation, and the havoc wreaked by specific storms is provided in sometimes confusing text. Quotes from storm chasers appear throughout; many photographs, sidebars, and diagrams help break up the text but crowd the pages. A "Creating Your Own Weather Station" project is appended. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) YA Miller profiles the latest Martian rover expedition, leading with the mission's scientific questions about current and ancient water on the planet. Technical and scientific information includes details about the rover and its array of tools, accounts of past and future Mars missions, and the ways in which Martian geology and climate could sustain life. Helpful photos, diagrams, and sidebars accompany the text. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA During the Renaissance, scientific conceptions of the universe shifted from an earth-centered to a sun-centered perspective. Miller profiles the scientific thinkers behind this shift, the evidence they relied on to argue their theories, and the ways in which scientific and religious communities struggled with seemingly radical conceptual change. Historical illustrations in a greenish sepia tone accompany the thorough text. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Miller examines doomsday scenarios for their scientific merit or lack thereof. First he debunks religious and cultural myths and twentieth-century pseudoscience predictions, then he digs into more probable ways that the earth or the human race could end: through radiation bursts, asteroid impacts, disease, global warming, or nuclear war. Stock color photographs and illustrations round out the compelling volume. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Seven Wonders series. In these well-organized volumes, Miller covers the basics of planetary science and star formation in addition to looking more closely at interesting elements of the bodies in the solar system (e.g., rings of Saturn, mountains on Mars). Sharp color-enhanced images and artist renderings portray planetary and stellar features for astronomy buffs. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Seven Wonders titles: Seven Wonders Beyond the Solar System, Seven Wonders of the Gas Giants and Their Moons, and Seven Wonders of the Rocky Planets and Their Moons.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Seven Wonders series. In these well-organized volumes, Miller covers the basics of planetary science and star formation in addition to looking more closely at interesting elements of the bodies in the solar system (e.g., rings of Saturn, mountains on Mars). Sharp color-enhanced images and artist renderings portray planetary and stellar features for astronomy buffs. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Seven Wonders titles: Seven Wonders Beyond the Solar System, Seven Wonders of the Gas Giants and Their Moons, and Seven Wonders of the Rocky Planets and Their Moons.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Seven Wonders series. In these well-organized volumes, Miller covers the basics of planetary science and star formation in addition to looking more closely at interesting elements of the bodies in the solar system (e.g., rings of Saturn, mountains on Mars). Sharp color-enhanced images and artist renderings portray planetary and stellar features for astronomy buffs. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Seven Wonders titles: Seven Wonders Beyond the Solar System, Seven Wonders of the Gas Giants and Their Moons, and Seven Wonders of the Rocky Planets and Their Moons.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA This comprehensive overview covers the history and applications of digital art, from drafting and engineering to movie special effects. The real focus is on the art itself: comic book covers, science fiction illustrations, architectural achievements, etc. The many photographs and diagrams help break down and demonstrate the creative process; a few simple activities also explicate the technical concepts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) YA Ancient World Leaders series. These books delve into historical, social, and political theories specific to each ancient world leader and, where applicable, to today. The texts, though informative, can be dry, and they sometimes jumble the details when explaining military campaigns and battle tactics. Archival photographs and sidebars break up the pages; additional maps, battle plans, and/or illustrations would have been helpful. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Ancient World Leaders titles: Xerxes, Cyrus the Great, Cleopatra, Hannibal, and Darius the Great.

Reviewer: Thom Barthelmess

(4) 4-6 Space Innovations series. These books are packed with information about the history, technology, pioneers, and applications of their subjects. Busy pages include text, photographs, sidebars, and diagrams, all set against monochromatic backgrounds; some of the text and photos are common to both books. The information--from astronomy's beginnings in China to the next generation of space telescopes--is accurate and focused. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Space Innovations titles: Rockets and Satellites.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Space Innovations series. These books are packed with information about the history, technology, pioneers, and applications of their subjects. Busy pages include text, photographs, sidebars, and diagrams, all set against monochromatic backgrounds; some of the text and photos are common to both books. The information--from astronomy's beginnings in China to the next generation of space telescopes--is accurate and focused. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Space Innovations titles: Rockets and Satellites.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Worlds Beyond series. In Earth and the Moon, Miller covers the history, physical composition, and atmosphere of these bodies, as well as the development of life on Earth. Uranus and Neptune concentrates on what astronomers believe to be the appearance and composition of these planets and the reasons behind these beliefs. The striking illustrations, diagrams, and photos are well chosen. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Worlds Beyond titles: Earth and the Moon and Uranus and Neptune.]

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(3) YA Worlds Beyond series. In Earth and the Moon, Miller covers the history, physical composition, and atmosphere of these bodies, as well as the development of life on Earth. Uranus and Neptune concentrates on what astronomers believe to be the appearance and composition of these planets and the reasons behind these beliefs. The striking illustrations, diagrams, and photos are well chosen. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Worlds Beyond titles: Earth and the Moon and Uranus and Neptune.]

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(3) YA Worlds Beyond series. Careful research, a well-organized text, sidebars of additional information, clearly designed charts/maps, well-chosen photos, and lucid writing make these books fine additions to collections. The historical perspective offered complements the contemporary information well. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Worlds Beyond titles: Mercury and Pluto and Saturn.]

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) YA Worlds Beyond series. Careful research, a well-organized text, sidebars of additional information, clearly designed charts/maps, well-chosen photos, and lucid writing make these books fine additions to collections. The historical perspective offered complements the contemporary information well. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Worlds Beyond titles: Mercury and Pluto and Saturn.]

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) YA Worlds Beyond series. In two books in this series, Miller discusses astrophysical accounts of the development of these bodies and the history of their discovery by humans, as well as projection of future events. The text is accurate, even scholarly, and the bright illustrations are particularly eye-catching: digitally generated or enhanced pictures, NASA photos, and charts. The long final chapter of Extrasolar comprises a descriptive catalog of these planets. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Worlds Beyond titles: Extrasolar Planets and The Sun.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Worlds Beyond series. In two books in this series, Miller discusses astrophysical accounts of the development of these bodies and the history of their discovery by humans, as well as projection of future events. The text is accurate, even scholarly, and the bright illustrations are particularly eye-catching: digitally generated or enhanced pictures, NASA photos, and charts. The long final chapter of Extrasolar comprises a descriptive catalog of these planets. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Worlds Beyond titles: Extrasolar Planets and The Sun.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Worlds Beyond series. In two books in this series, Miller covers the history of each planet's discovery, its physical composition and atmosphere, and past and future exploration. Both texts contain minor errors, but the paintings are magnificent and, like the diagrams and photographs included, well captioned. A list of websites is appended. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Worlds Beyond titles: Jupiter and Venus.]

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(3) YA Worlds Beyond series. In two books in this series, Miller covers the history of each planet's discovery, its physical composition and atmosphere, and past and future exploration. Both texts contain minor errors, but the paintings are magnificent and, like the diagrams and photographs included, well captioned. A list of websites is appended. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Worlds Beyond titles: Jupiter and Venus.]

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(3) YA Venture Book series. Before launching into the history of rockets, the author explains how rockets work and why they work better in space. Miller describes the use of rockets in war, entertainment, and research (including the various aspects of space travel), and rocket cars and airplanes are also examined. Technical details are well covered in the book, which is illustrated with photos and diagrams. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs