November 1, 2011
Gr 4-8-These compact volumes are bursting with information, but the visuals are their real strength. Filled with full-bleed, full-color action photos and concise texts, the pages are also peppered with "Xtreme Fact" sidebars that add related information. Well suited for reports or pleasure reading, the books are so current that Navy Seals includes information about Seal Team 6's attack on Osama bin Laden's compound in May 2011. History chapters, though brief, are enriched with engaging reproductions. The texts are brief but not easy, making the books best suited to older reluctant readers. The glossaries don't contain as many terms as readers might require (and the words included aren't distinguished by bold type in the texts). Final chapters called "The Future" are a bit simplistic.
Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2012
These books identify four groups within the U.S. military. Army and Air Force provide background on these two service branches, including history, specialized vehicles, and types of artillery. Seals and Berets present two elite Special Forces, giving readers some insight into the basic operations and training involved in each. Photographs enhance the cursory texts. Glos., ind.
(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)