These titles, discussing oceans of the world and the northern, coniferous forests or taigas, present concise information about the ecosystems in each environment. The books contain basic details about the location, climate, plants, and animals found in each biome. The volumes contain succinct text and are full of pictures, maps, graphs, and sidebars of interesting facts. Each book includes a discussion of the technology in use in each biome, as well as a description of the species and lands that are currently endangered. Possible careers in each biome are presented, with a description of what each profession does and the interests and education necessary to achieve employment. The end of each book contains a quiz reviewing the material covered, instructions for a relevant experiment that the reader can perform, books and Web sites for additional research, and a glossary. Although the volumes are slim, each one contains a great deal of information presented in a clear, compelling fashion. The photographs, particularly those in Oceans, are beautiful. The career discussion is an exceptional feature that exposes readers to a variety of possible professions. The quizzes are an excellent way to judge reading comprehension. The experiments provide a good tool for a hands-on experience that will further enhance the reader's understanding of the subject. This series, which also includes Wetlands, Grasslands, Tundras, and Deserts, is an excellent source of basic information on a commonly studied subject.-Heather Pittman.