EUROPEAN UNION. By Jillian Powell.

INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS. By Ralf Perkins.

NATO. By Reg Grant

UNICEF. By Katherine Prior

UNITED NATIONS. By Linda Melvern

WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION. By Jillian Powell.. WORLD WILDLIFE FUND. By Jillian Powell

Watts. pound;12.99 each.

Not that long ago, current affairs had little place in the curriculum beyond carefully non-political prayers in morning assembly for “those less fortunate than ourselves”. But the growing links between the curriculum and the real world (or perhaps the proliferation of news programmes on television) make this series necessary and welcome.

Its eight titles use topical photographs, “spotlight” panels detailing case studies and checklists of relevant facts to amplify the main text, which is accessible and explicit. The result is a series of sound introductions suitable for key stage 2 pupils and above.

There is a caveat. While I have only admiration for the work of, for example, Unicef and the World Health Organisation, I’m uneasy that these often uncritical books read too much like promotional or fund-raising materials. This feeling is confirmed by notes which suggest that, in many cases, representatives of the organisations have acted as consultants to the series or the organisation has given advice or otherwise assisted in the production of the books.

Furthermore, there is little acknowledgement that some work has at times been controversial. In this respect, the Nato volume is an exception. It’s cheerfully frank about dissent over Nato’s role in Kosovo. Indeed, both this and the United Nations book are especially admirable. The UN’s economic and social council is, after all, more difficult to make interesting than panda preservation or the plight of a rainforest.

All the books are succinct and useful introductions to their subjects, though the somewhat enthusiastic European Union volume may give some Tories an attack of the vapours.

David Self