The emotional and intellectual capacities of humans make for some engaging drama, and what an extraordinary backdrop is ours for playing out our triumphs and tragedies. These series below explore humanity through the ages: in competition and cooperation, destruction and creation, division and unity. They range from ancient cultures to contemporary society and cover everything from pirates to popular culture. Taken as a whole, these sets demonstrate how over time our species has ebbed and flowed, come together and broken apart, not unlike parts of the world itself.

Preschool-Grade 4

JENSON-ELLIOTT, Cindy. Life Under the Pirate Code. ISBN 978-1-4296-8611-2. LC 2011048907.
–––– . The Most Famous Pirates. photos. ISBN 978-1-4296-8609-9. LC 20110
48910.
–––– . Pirate Ships Ahoy! photos. ISBN 978-1-4296-8610-5. LC 2011048909.
–––– . Pirates’ Tools for Life at Sea. photos. ISBN 978-1-4296-8612-9. LC 2011048906.
ea vol: 32p. (Blazers: Pirates! Series). illus. reprods. further reading. glossary. index. websites. CIP. Capstone. 2012. PLB $25.99.
Gr 2-4–This series is a great introduction to pirate life for young swashbucklers. The rich colors, bold graphics, and thrilling artwork will catch their attention, and the texts are manageable and engaging. The few sentences per page contain interesting tidbits of information about tools, weaponry, the pirate code, life on a ship, and famous buccaneers. The books are well organized into short chapters, and some paragraphs have their own simple subtitles, helping young readers anticipate main ideas. Highlighted terms are defined at the bottom of the pages and in the glossaries. Fact boxes offer additional intriguing nuggets. The books have a wealth of entertaining, accessible information in an eye-popping package, and readers will plunder the shelves for them again and again.

Grades 5 & Up

BALLEN, Karen Gunnison. Decoding Our DNA: Craig Venter vs the Human Genome Project. diags. ISBN 978-0-7613-5489-5; ISBN 978-1-4677-0142-6. LC 2011045644.
JOHNSON, Rebecca L. Battle of the Dinosaur Bones: Othniel Charles Marsh vs Edward Drinker Cope. chart. map. ISBN 978-0-7613-5488-8; ISBN 978-1-4677-0141-9. LC 2011045648.
KALLEN, Stuart A. The Race to Discover the AIDS Virus: Luc Montagnier vs Robert Gallo. diag. ISBN 978-0-7613-5490-1; ISBN 978-1-4677-0143-3. LC 22010039375.
MCPHERSON, Stephanie Sammartino. War of the Currents: Thomas Edison vs Nikola Tesla. diags. ISBN 978-0-7613-5487-1; ISBN 978-1-4677-0140-2. LC 2011045526.
ea vol: 64p. (Scientific Rivalries and Scandals Series). photos. bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. websites. CIP. 21st Century Bks. Nov. 2012. PLB $33.27; ebook $24.95
Gr 8 Up–These books showcase major scientific developments and the brutal competition behind the scenes. They are highly engaging accounts of researchers resorting to cheap shots, spying, and double crossing to take credit for pivotal discoveries. But they are also disturbing documentation of how ego can trump the greater good, as in the battle between Luc Montagnier and Robert Gallo over the discovery of the virus that causes AIDS. Proprietary arguments and fraud delayed progress in its identification, which undoubtedly came at the cost of lives. Written cleanly and fluidly, these titles let the drama and occasional absurdity of the players’ actions speak for themselves. Captioned photographs and diagrams correspond well to the texts, while sidebars contribute additional facts. In-depth time lines are the most noteworthy of the strong supplementary features. This fascinating set would be equally useful in history and science classrooms.

BANKSTON, John. Ancient India Maurya Empire. ISBN 978-1-61228-280-0; 978-1-61228-355-5. LC 2012009409.
BOONE, Mary. The Byzantine Empire. ISBN 978-1-61228-281-7; 978-1-61228-356-2. LC 2012015879.
DIPRIMIO, Pete. Ancient Sparta. ISBN 978-1-61228-276-3; 978-1-61228-351-7. LC 2012009410.
GAGNE, Tammy. The Celts of the British Isles. ISBN 978-1-61228-283-1; 978-1-61228-358-6. LC 2012009414.
GIBSON, Karen Bush. Ancient Babylon. ISBN 978-1-61228-281-7; 978-1-61228-356-2. LC 2012008636.
LEAVITT, Amie Jane. Ancient Athens. ISBN 978-1-61228-275-6; 978-1-61228-350-0. LC 2012008635.
ORR, Tamra. Ancient Egypt. ISBN 978-1-61228-279-4; 978-1-61228-354-8. LC 2012008638.
–––– . The Aztecs. ISBN 978-1-61228-284-8; 978-1-61228-359-3. LC 2012009411.
ROBERTS, Russell. Ancient China. ISBN 978-1-61228-277-0; 978-1-61228-352-4. LC 2012008637.
TRACY, Kathleen. Ancient Assyria. ISBN 978-1-61228-282-4; 978-1-61228-357-9. LC 2012015878.
ea vol: 48p. (Explore Ancient Worlds Series). map. photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. websites. CIP. Mitchell Lane. 2012. PLB $29.95; ebook $29.95.
Gr 5-7–This mediocre series is marred by significant issues. Aztecs, Egypt, Sparta, and Babylon contain substantial fictionalization without explaining that the narratives exist only to illustrate different experiences within these civilizations. Given the target audience, such clarification is necessary. Celts focuses almost completely on the Celts across Europe instead of (as the title states) the British Isles. Much of Athens is written in second person, a style choice students are frequently told to avoid in their own writing. Many of the visual elements are grainy. Words defined in the glossaries are not bolded in the texts. Some information can be found in this set, but it’s buried beneath a lot of weak editorial decisions. Recipes and crafts or activities round out the back matter.

BANTING, Erinn. Galapagos Islands. diags. ISBN 978-1-61913-523-9; ISBN 978-1-61913-436-2. LC 2012010885.
–––– . Great Barrier Reef. diags. ISBN 978-1-61913-525-3; ISBN 978-1-61913-438-6. LC 2012010887.
BEKKERING, Annalise. Great Lakes. ISBN 978-1-61913-526-0; ISBN 978-1-61913-440-9. LC 2012011217.
LAPPI, Megan. Mount Everest. diags. ISBN 978-1-61913-527-7; ISBN 978-1-61913-439-3. LC 2012011218.
LOMBERG, Michelle. Grand Canyon. diags. ISBN 978-1-61913-524-6; ISBN 978-1-61913-437-9. LC 2012010886.
WATSON, Galadriel. Amazon Rain Forest. chart. diag. ISBN 978-1-61913-522-2; ISBN 978-1-61913-435-5. LC 2012010884.
ea vol: 32p. (Wonders of the World Series). maps. photos. reprods. chron. glossary. index. websites. CIP. Weigl. 2012. PLB $28.55; pap. $13.95.
Gr 4-7–This series is sure to infect readers with the travel bug. Clear photographs and interesting ancillary features share space with text that is cleanly and clearly written, creating a package that will appeal to browsers and assist report writers. The books take the audience on a tour of some of our planet’s most fascinating locales, and the topics covered includes the geography, biology, and some of the history of each place, as well as issues of environmental concern. Useful time lines bolster the back matter, but the books fall a bit short in their quizzes and hands-on activities, due to some insufficient and unclear instructions. A code is provided for a website featuring more information. Overall, this series will have broad interest and usefulness.

BARBER, Nicola. Medieval Medicine. map. ISBN 978-1-4109-4643-0; ISBN 978-1-4109-4649-2. LC 2011031906.
–––– . Renaissance Medicine. ISBN 978-1-4109-4644-7; ISBN 978-1-4109-4650-1. LC 2011031907.
LANGLEY, Andrew. Ancient Medicine. map. ISBN 978-1-4109-4642-3; ISBN 978-1-4109-4648-5. LC 2011031886.
OXLADE, Chris. Modern Medicine. ISBN 978-1-4109-4646-1; ISBN 978-1-4109-4652-2. LC 2011031909.
VICKERS, Rebecca. Industrial Age Medicine. ISBN 978-1-4109-4645-4; ISBN 978-1-4109-4651-5. LC 2011031908.
ea vol: 48p. (Medicine Through the Ages Series). diags. photos. reprods. chron. further reading. glossary. index. websites. CIP. Capstone/Raintree. 2012. PLB $33.99; pap. $8.99.
Gr 8 Up–These noteworthy volumes cover medicine’s progression from ancient times to the present day. They highlight theories, equipment, medications, procedures, diseases of particular concern, milestones, and more. They do not explore medicine in a vacuum, though, addressing the inextricable link between it and society at large. Unlike some series that fall into the limiting trap of cookie-cutter layouts and organization, these volumes only generally resemble one another and have abundant, fascinating material particular to their respective eras. The writing is straightforward and refrains from sensationalism, letting the torturous reality of early medicine speak for itself. The text is supplemented by interesting sidebars and informative photographs, maps, diagrams, and reproductions.

BINGHAM, Jane. Popular Culture: 1920-1939. reprods. ISBN 978-1-4109-4622-5; ISBN 978-1-4109-4629-4. LC 2011038434.
BURGAN, Michael. Popular Culture: 1960-1979. charts. ISBN 978-1-4109-4624-9; ISBN 978-1-4109-4631-7. LC 2011038611.
HUNT, Jilly. Popular Culture: 1900-1919. charts. reprods. ISBN 978-1-4109-4621-8; ISBN 978-1-4109-4628-7. LC 2011038399.
–––– . Popular Culture: 1980-1999. charts. ISBN 978-1-4109-4625-6; ISBN 978-1-4109-4632-4. LC 2011038633.
HUNTER, Nick. Popular Culture: 1940-1959. charts. reprods. ISBN 978-1-4109-4623-2; ISBN 978-1-4109-4630-0. LC 2011038609.
–––– . Popular Culture: 2000 and Beyond. charts. ISBN 978-1-4109-4626-3; ISBN 978-1-4109-4633-1. LC 2011038863.
ea vol: 64p. (A History of Popular Culture Series). photos. chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. websites. CIP. Heinemann. 2012. PLB $35; pap. $9.99.
Gr 5-7–These books highlight the TV, movies, music, fashion, art, and major events of each decade of the 20th century. Unfortunately, they are dotted with pesky problems. Stilted, weak writing produces silly euphemisms (such as James Bond “found time to date many beautiful women”), and the set’s design is uninspired. “Yuppie” is wrongly defined as “young upwardly mobile professional”; the 3-D film craze is said to have passed quickly even though such movies continue to be blockbuster hits, and there are some unhelpful glossary entries. For example, in 1900-1919, the one for “honky-tonk” gives the same definition as the main text. Flaws such as these build a strong case for the unreliability of these retrospectives as report material. The well-selected photographs and reproductions and abundant back matter aren’t enough to bring them up to snuff.

COHN, Jessica. The Medieval Islamic World: Conflict and Conquest. map. photos. ISBN 978-1-4333-50030.
–––– . Muhammad: Prophet of Islam. map. photos. ISBN 978-1-4333-50047.
HOLLINGSWORTH, Tamara Leigh. Martin Luther: A Reforming Spirit. photos. ISBN 978-1-4333-50108.
–––– . The Reformation: A Religious Revolution. map. ISBN 978-1-4333-50092.
KULIGOWSKI, Stephanie. Leonardo da Vinci: Renaissance Artist and Inventor. photos. ISBN 978-1-4333-50085.
–––– . The Renaissance: A Rebirth of Culture. photos. ISBN 978-1-4333-50078.
MATTERN, Joanne. Geoffrey Chaucer: Medieval Writer. photos. ISBN 978-1-4333-50061.
–––– . Medieval Times: England in the Middle Ages. ISBN 978-1-4333-50054.
PHAN, Sandy. Cecil Rhodes: The Man Who Expanded an Empire. maps. photos. ISBN 978-1-4333-50160.
–––– . Imperialism: Expanding Empires. photos. ISBN 978-1-4333-50153.
RODGERS, Kelly. The Byzantine Empire: A Society That Shaped the World. maps. photos. ISBN 978-1-4333-50016.
–––– . Justinian I: Byzantine Emperor. map. photos. ISBN 978-1-4333-50023.
SCHWARTZ, Heather E. The French Revolution: Terror and Triumph. ISBN 978-1-4333-50115.
–––– . Marie Antoinette: Controversial Queen of France. ISBN 978-1-4333-50122.
SHERMAN, Patrice. The Enlightenment: A Revolution in Reason. photos. ISBN 978-1-4333-50139.
–––– . John Locke: Philosopher of the Enlightenment. photos. ISBN 978-1-4333-50146.
ea vol: 32p. (Primary Source Readers: World History Series). reprods. glossary. index. Teacher Created Materials dist. by Shell. 2012.pap.$8.99.
Gr 4-5–A great feature of this series is that the volumes are complementary to one another. For example, Medieval accompanies Chaucer. It’s an effective way of narrowing the focus and providing a specific experience connected to the era. Some information overlaps within each pairing, but since these are introductions, that’s not necessarily a flaw as it can reinforce some key points. Oversimplification and superficiality are a risk when covering a subject as broad as the Byzantine Empire or the Enlightenment for a younger audience, but the authors do an admirable job of achieving depth while maintaining accessibility. Reproductions, photos, and sidebars break up the texts without making them too busy. Each book concludes by revisiting a tidbit from the text and inviting readers to complete a creative and thought-provoking activity.

COLLINS, Terry. True Stories of World War II. illus. by Pat Kinsella. photos. ISBN 978-1-4296-8623-5; ISBN 978-1-4296-9346-2. LC 2011051833.
RAUM, Elizabeth. True Stories of the Revolutionary War. illus. by Pat Kinsella. ISBN 978-1-4296-8674-7; ISBN 978-1-4296-9342-4. LC 2012003965.
YOMTOV, Nel. True Stories of the Civil War. illus. by Carlo Molinari. ISBN 978-1-4296-8624-2; ISBN 978-1-4296-9340-0. LC 2012004276.
–––– . True Stories of World War I. illus. by Jon Proctor. ISBN 978-1-4296-8625-9; ISBN 978-1-4296-9344-8. LC 2011051832.
ea vol: 32p. (Graphic Library: Stories of War Series). map. chron. further reading. glossary. index. websites. CIP. Capstone. 2012. PLB $29.99; pap. $7.95.
Gr 4-6–The heavy dependence on fictionalized content or unattributed information in this collection of profiles begs the question as to why the individuals are mentioned at all when so much license was taken with their actual stories. Attracting reluctant readers to history via a graphic-novel format has merit, but fictionalization for effect is a risky bet, and it’s one these titles lose. A list of pages containing verified quotations is hidden at the front of three of the books; World War II contains no confirmed quotation notes. The illustrations vary from volume to volume, but are full of action and engaging. Despite a brief summary of the war, a time line, and a map as well as back matter, these books aren’t appropriate for reports, and even browsers, especially the less sophisticated ones, need a preface explaining the purpose fictionalization serves.

CRAATS, Rennay. Maasai. ISBN 978-1-61913-171-2; ISBN 978-1-61913-531-4. LC 2011051106.
MARSHALL, Diana. Aboriginal Australians. ISBN 978-1-61913-093-7; ISBN 978-1-61913-528-4. LC 2011050249.
STRUDWICK, Leslie. Inuit. ISBN 978-1-61913-092-0; ISBN 978-1-61913-530-7. LC 2011051109.
–––– . Maori. ISBN 978-1-61913-095-1; ISBN 978-1-61913-532-1. LC 2011051107.
WATSON, Galadriel. Bushmen of Southern Africa. ISBN 978-1-61913-094-4; ISBN 978-1-61913-529-1. LC 2011051105.
WEBSTER, Christine. Polynesians. ISBN 978-1-61913-172-9; ISBN 978-1-61913-533-8. LC 2011051104.
ea vol: 32p. (World Cultures Series). diag. map. photos. chron. glossary. index. websites. CIP. Weigl. 2012. PLB $28.55; pap. $13.95.
Gr 4-6–This series showcases a diverse array of peoples and places that should fascinate aspiring world travelers. The texts are informative, but are written in a way that sometimes obfuscate rather than inform, particularly when it comes to what traditions the profiled cultures still practice. The “Culture Cues” text boxes actually highlight geographical and biological information of the group’s native area. On the upside, each book includes a website where kids can enter a code and gain access to videos, quizzes, activities, and other materials that expand on the subjects.

GEORGE, Charles & Linda George. The Pyramids of Giza. diags. ISBN 978-1-60152-258-0. LC 2012000282.
KALLEN, Stuart A. Pharaohs of Egypt. ISBN 978-1-60152-256-6. LC 2012000360.
LACE, William W. King Tut’s Curse. ISBN 978-1-60152-250-4. LC 2011048987.
–––– . Mummification and Death Rituals of Ancient Egypt. diags. ISBN 978-1-60152-254-2. LC 2012011481.
WHITING, Jim. Life Along the Ancient Nile. ISBN 978-1-60152-252-8. LC 2012000358.
ea vol: 80p. (Ancient Egyptian Wonders Series). map. photos. reprods. chron. further reading. index. notes. websites. CIP. ReferencePoint. 2012. PLB $27.95.
Gr 8 Up–This series provides a wealth of information on the ancient Egyptians, focusing on the infamous curse of King Tut, the pyramids of Giza, pharaohs, mummification and burial rites, and daily life. Even though this is oft-covered ground, these books stand out for their abundant material and the appealing presentations. The content is extensive, but it is written in a conversational style that will pull in report writers and browsers alike. The main text is interspersed with fact boxes providing additional intriguing tidbits (“The Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza weighs an estimated 6 million tons.”), interesting photographs, and noteworthy artwork and reproductions. These are solid purchases, even for libraries with Egyptian collections of a good size.

SENKER, Cath. North Korea and South Korea. maps. ISBN 978-1-4488-6029-6; ISBN 978-1-4488-6072-2. LC 2012010617.
STEELE, Philip. Afghanistan: From War to Peace? maps. ISBN 978-1-4488-6030-2; ISBN 978-1-4488-6069-2. LC 2012010616.
–––– . Iran and the West. chart. map. ISBN 978-1-4488-6031-9; ISBN 978-1-4488-6070-8. LC 2012010613.
–––– . Sudan, Darfur and the Nomadic Conflicts. maps. reprods. ISBN 978-1-4488-6028-9; ISBN 978-1-4488-6068-5. LC 2012010639.
ea vol: 48p. (Our World Divided Series). photos. chron. further reading. glossary. index. websites. CIP. Rosen Central. 2012. PLB $29.25; ebook $29.25.
Gr 6-8–Each of these volumes begins with a recent news event pertaining to the featured conflict and then looks back at the origin and milestones of the discord. They aren’t just about history as it happened; they’re about history as it is happening now. “Viewpoints” sidebars are great supplementary features. They showcase quotations about a specific matter from individuals on opposing sides, giving students arguments to consider and prompts for class discussion and individual writing exercises. The material is detailed but clear and digestible, not an easy feat given the complexity of these clashes. The informative photos and “Case Study” and other sidebars strongly support the main text. These books effectively address global hot spots that will continue to be of great concern for the foreseeable future, serving as solid, relevant resources for students and teachers alike.

The top purchase is Twenty-First Century’s “Scientific Rivalries and Scandals”; it effectively blends drama, history, and science, creating excellent opportunities for cross-curricular instruction and study. ReferencePoint’s “Ancient Egyptian Wonders” is a stately (but not staid) series that will enrich any collection; it presents an incredible amount of information in an enjoyable style. Raintree’s “Medicine Through the Ages” is a solid set, providing an in-depth chronology and opening the door for discussions about the field. Rosen’s “Our World Divided” is an excellent purchase for its thoughtful, thorough examination of history as it is unfolding now. Weigl’s “Wonders of the World” is thrilling, and Capstone’s “Blazers: Pirates!” is just plain fun. Teacher Created Materials’s “Primary Source Readers: World History” stands out for its double dose of history in the form of broader volumes matched with pinpoint biographies. Weigl’s “World Cultures” and Mitchell Lane’s “Explore Ancient Worlds” are a considerable distance down the list as they contain decent amounts of information but suffer from the substandard presentations. Capstone’s “Graphic Library: Stories of War” and Heinemann’s “A History of Popular Culture,” which fail on multiple levels, are at the bottom of the pack.