The Mighty Military series distills the purpose of different branches of America's armed forces to their most basic functions without sacrificing their exciting nature. The latter is accomplished through the large, dramatic photos, diagrams, maps, and infographics that illustrate each volume, spotlighting specialized weapons, gear, and vehicles as well as images of soldiers in action. Each title opens with an action-oriented scenario to draw in readers before moving on to three short chapters that effectively utilize dynamic double-page spreads and succinct paragraphs that cover what the given military branch is, its training, and what gear and weapons are used. A final " Bonus Facts" spread visually presents additional trivia. U.S. Air Force details the parts of an F-22 Raptor and discusses how airmen can pilot planes as well as fly drones and repair machinery. U.S. Army examines these ground troops' versatility, whether fighting in combat, spying, doctoring, or building roads. U.S. Marines reveals that these highly trained soldiers can be found on land, sea, and in the air and how they are often deployed to fight terrorism. U.S. Special Ops Forces takes a slightly different tack, devoting one chapter to land teams (the Green Berets and Army Rangers) and another to air and sea teams (Air Commandoes and Navy SEALs). An engaging first look at our military.

Using simple language and straightforward narratives, the author of these six volumes succinctly relates basic details of the various branches of the United States military. Each volume contains diagrams of sample vehicles (e.g., Coast Guard cutter, aircraft carrier, fighter jet) or gear of a soldier and Marine. Readers learn various facts, such as the Marines require 13 weeks in boot camp, only half the candidates for Army Ranger school pass, the Coast Guard has 42,000 members, and the Navy was founded in 1775. Colorful accompanying photographs of personnel display the diversity of the modern armed forces. Young enthusiasts will also appreciate the pictures f ships, planes, and firearms. VERDICT Very young readers interested in the military will find these titles suitable introductions, and purchase should be considered where there is a demand.