The Black American Journey (12 new titles) is the latest generation of the publisher's Journey to Freedom: The African American Library series (circa 2000) and The African American Journey series (a decade later). Some of the recent books are entirely new, while others are revised editions. The repackaged texts appear to be largely unchanged, although sentences or sections have sometimes been reworded (e.g., using enslaved people rather than slaves) or even omitted. The new book design, slightly smaller format, and increased use of color give the pages a more inviting look, and the smaller font is more suitable for the audience. The Underground Railroad omits the 2002 edition's section on patchwork quilts carrying secret messages for people escaping slavery, a notion that many historians regard as folklore. With well-chosen illustrations appearing throughout the books, this series offers concise, informative introductions to elements of Black history.

Brief texts, archival reproductions, and photos explore three significant eras in African-American history. Though the surveys in this series are generally overbroad and written in facile prose, Underground Railroad is enhanced by the inclusion of some intriguing anecdotal material. The format, which includes wide margins and many black-and-white photos and historical reproductions, should appeal to reluctant readers. Time lines are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Journey to Freedom titles: Slavery, The Civil Rights Movement, The Underground Railroad.]

Gr 3-6-Easy-to-read summaries of the topics. Slavery includes information on the history of bondage in America and the treatment of slaves through the Civil War. Civil Rights covers Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and other figures who are less well known. Underground Railroad tells the stories of some of the fugitives, including Henry "Box" Brown's train journey to Philadelphia. The books have double-column, large-print texts and generous amounts of white space. All three titles are illustrated with numerous sepia-toned photographs. Slavery and Underground also have color illustrations. Captions are informative. These volumes are suitable for schools needing additional material or succinct treatments.-Margaret C. Howell, West Springfield Elementary School, VA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.