Mary Mueller

These serviceable overviews for report writers are liberally illustrated with sharp photos. An introductory chapter in each book often highlights a holiday or festival (Israel includes a minor error). Four chapters then focus on land, government and cities, people and cultures, and daily life. A "Global Connections" page is usually devoted to a social issue. Fast facts are appended. Maps, reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these One World, Many Countries titles: India, Israel, The Philippines, China, Japan, and Vietnam.

In a visually attractive but superficial introductory series, each volume begins with fairly vague descriptive words (e.g., "Colorful," "Busy," "Beautiful") paired with bright photos. A smattering of facts about geography, animals, history, language, jobs, culture, and food follow, accompanied by engaging photos. The great geographic and ethnic diversity of many of these countries is barely mentioned. "Fast facts" appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Countries We Come From titles: The Philippines, China, India, Vietnam, and South Korea.

Each book introduces the major Native American nations of its geographic area. The straightforward texts touch on traditional way of life; well-known members such as artists or prominent citizens; controversial history with the U.S. and Canadian governments; and contemporary economies. Historical and modern photos round out the cleanly designed presentations. There are three other fall 2015 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Native Nations of North America titles: Native Nations of the Great Basin and Plateau, Native Nations of California, Native Nations of the Arctic and Subarctic, Native Nations of the Northwest Coast, and Native Nations of the Plains.

When Germany invaded Denmark in April 1940, the Nazis believed their small neighbor to the north would be a pushover. The Germans were partially right: the Danish government pretty much rolled out the red carpet for Hitler's army. What no one foresaw was the way many Danes, angered by their leaders' capitulation, would fight back. Some, like Tommy Sneum, spied on the Germans and fed intelligence to the British; others, like Niels Skov, sabotaged German vehicles and weapons; countless others worked together to warn and aid Danish Jews before they could be rounded up by the Nazis. Hopkinson pulls together these narratives, and others, with some truly propulsive storytelling (just try to put the book down during the tale of Sneum's harrowing night flight across the English Channel) and great attention to the humanity involved. This will surely garner comparisons to Hoose's The Boys Who Challenged Hitler (rev. 7/15), and while there is plenty of overlap between the two in terms of subject matter, Hopkinson's account is a little broader in scope; where Hoose keeps a tighter narrative focus, Hopkinson opts for multi-player storytelling (and two helpful sections in the excellent back matter—"About Danish," a pronunciation guide; and the self-explanatory "People in this book"