These books provide cursory information about the history and current operations of the military and of government agencies such as the CIA and FBI. The choppy texts are far from inspiring, but readers will glean some basic facts. Illustrated with stock photographs, the books also include a list of officer and enlisted ranks where appropriate. Timeline. Glos., ind.

HAMILTON, John . The Marine Corps . charts. ISBN 978-1-59679-758-1 . LC 2005029133. HAMILTON, John . The Navy . charts. ISBN 978-1-59679-760-4 . LC 2005028754. HAMILTON, John . Special Forces . ISBN 978-1-59679-759-8 . LC 2005032870. ea vol: 32p. (Defending the Nation Series). photos. reprods. chron. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. ABDO/Checkerboard Library . 2007. PLB $22.78. Gr 3-5 These books give basic information about various military and governmental organizations. Written in simple vocabulary and organized into sections of a spread or two, they have plenty of clear, well-captioned photos. Glossary words are printed in red within the text. Large sidebars lend variety to the books' design and provide engaging facts. Each title has a time line giving highlights of the agency as well as a narrative discussing its historical development, purpose, and activities. Sections are devoted to describing jobs, special equipment and the training necessary to execute them, and the agency's future. FBI has a section about the work of the laboratory. Marine Corps and Navy include charts that indicate the various ranks attainable for officers and enlisted personnel. Special Forces discusses Army Rangers, Green Berets, Delta Force, Navy SEALs, Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance, and Air Force Special Operations. One page indicates that there is a link from the publisher's Web site to appropriate subject sites, but there is no link listed for this series. These easy-to-read books provide introductory information that may be adequate for rudimentary reports or career introductions. Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, NJ