(4) 4-6 Versus series. Each volume pits a present-day superstar against one from an earlier era. Comparisons include technical skills, statistics and records, and past or potential legacies. Sports fans will appreciate the many action photographs illustrating the choppy but accessible texts; side-by-side charts provide additional data. No attempt is made to name the superior athlete: that decision is left to the reader. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Versus titles: Lionel Messi vs. Pelé, Tiger Woods vs. Jack Nicklaus, Sidney Crosby vs. Wayne Gretzky, LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan, Serena Williams vs. Billie Jean King, and Tom Brady vs. Joe Montana.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Sports Trivia series. Trivia questions, divided into four chapters by difficulty, appear directly above answers. The format makes "cheating" hard to avoid: "In which sport did Lindsey Vonn win a gold medal in 2010?" is asked on the facing page to Vonn's downhill skiing picture. Sports fans are better off quizzing one another. A final quiz is provided. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following SportsZone: Sports Trivia titles: Basketball Trivia, Olympic Trivia, Baseball Trivia, Soccer Trivia, Football Trivia, and Hockey Trivia.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) K-3 Insider's Guide to Pro Football series. Geared toward second and third graders, this series presents a brief overview of NFL teams. Following the same format, each book notes the team's history, playing location, key players (past and present), memorable games and seasons, and selected statistics. Although the text of each is lackluster, sports enthusiasts will appreciate the full-page photos of players in action. There are twenty-eight other fall 2015 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Insider's Guide to Pro Football titles: Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, and New England Patriots.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 SportsZone: Inside Martial Arts series. Each book in this series presents the history, rules, vocabulary, techniques, and key personalities of its sport. While similarities among these sports exist, the authors emphasize how distinct purposes and procedures make each a unique form of martial arts. Aficionados will appreciate the colorful action photographs and the engaging play-by-play depictions of moves that accompany the readable texts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following SportsZone: Inside Martial Arts titles: Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu,Karate, Aikido, Judo, and Mixed Martial Arts.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 SportsZone: Great Moments in Olympic Sports series. After a brief introduction to/history of the sport, each of these books covers memorable Olympic moments. Chapters focus on individual athletes and their inspiring stories of hard work, determination, and talent. Sidebars and captioned photos highlight additional events and competitors. Skating includes both figure skating and speedskating. "Great Olympians" and "Places to Visit" lists are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these SportsZone: Great Moments in Olympic Sports titles: Great Moments in Olympic Skating, Great Moments in Olympic Snowboarding, Great Moments in Olympic Gymnastics, and Great Moments in Olympic Basketball.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) 4-6 Playing Pro Sports series. Each basic volume includes a brief history of the sport, rules, skills needed for success, and vignettes of outstanding athletes and memorable games. Sports fans will appreciate the clear but abbreviated information about their favorite teams and personalities. Numerous photographs, sidebars, inserts, and flashy graphics accompany the readable texts. Training tips and equipment diagrams are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Playing Pro Sports titles: Playing Pro Football, Playing Pro Basketball, Playing Pro Hockey, and Playing Pro Baseball.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Dirt and Destruction Sports Zone series. Covering history, equipment, and some high-performing drivers in each event, these volumes provide readers with straightforward introductions to six motorsports. The books include details of the rules governing the sport, the vehicles used, and course requirements. Color and black-and-white photos and sidebars compete for attention with text on busily designed pages. The small-size font may put off some readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Dirt and Destruction Sports Zone titles: Rock Crawling, Tractor Pulling, Demolition Derby, Mud Truck Racing, Monster Trucks, and Rally Car Racing.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Dirt and Destruction Sports Zone series. Covering history, equipment, and some high-performing drivers in each event, these volumes provide readers with straightforward introductions to six motorsports. The books include details of the rules governing the sport, the vehicles used, and course requirements. Color and black-and-white photos and sidebars compete for attention with text on busily designed pages. The small-size font may put off some readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Dirt and Destruction Sports Zone titles: Rock Crawling, Tractor Pulling, Demolition Derby, Mud Truck Racing, Monster Trucks, and Rally Car Racing.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Dirt and Destruction Sports Zone series. Covering history, equipment, and some high-performing drivers in each event, these volumes provide readers with straightforward introductions to six motorsports. The books include details of the rules governing the sport, the vehicles used, and course requirements. Color and black-and-white photos and sidebars compete for attention with text on busily designed pages. The small-size font may put off some readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Dirt and Destruction Sports Zone titles: Rock Crawling, Tractor Pulling, Demolition Derby, Mud Truck Racing, Monster Trucks, and Rally Car Racing.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Dirt and Destruction Sports Zone series. Covering history, equipment, and some high-performing drivers in each event, these volumes provide readers with straightforward introductions to six motorsports. The books include details of the rules governing the sport, the vehicles used, and course requirements. Color and black-and-white photos and sidebars compete for attention with text on busily designed pages. The small-size font may put off some readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Dirt and Destruction Sports Zone titles: Rock Crawling, Tractor Pulling, Demolition Derby, Mud Truck Racing, Monster Trucks, and Rally Car Racing.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Inside College Football series. These formulaic titles introduce several strong college football programs. Each volume begins with a memorable game then moves to the team's history and remarkable coaches and players. The laudatory series' focus remains on the teams' impressive stats and accolades. The small font and straightforward layout are uninviting, but the books will appeal to college football fans. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Inside College Football titles: Miami Hurricanes, Clemson Tigers, Arkanasas Razorbacks, and Florida State Seminoles.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Sports' Greatest Championships series. Recounting some significant championship moments in auto racing, basketball, golf, and hockey, these four titles highlight legendary athletes, extraordinary victories, tragic losses, and the sports' evolution. The dry texts are accompanied by photos of varying quality. Brief sidebars highlight quick facts as well as unusual statistics and events. These books offer balanced presentations of sports trivia and human interest stories. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Sports' Greatest Championships titles: The Daytona 500, The Stanley Cup Finals, The Masters, and The NBA Finals.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(4) 4-6 Inside College Basketball series. Each title begins with a significant championship then glides through the college team's history, notable coaches, all-star players, and memorable highs and lows, including Indiana coach Bobby Knight's record wins and his infamous "bad behavior." The layout is standard and the photographs vary in quality, but college basketball fans will eat up the statistics, game details, and anecdotes. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Inside College Basketball titles: Louisville Cardinals, Florida Gators, Indiana Hoosiers, and Syracuse Orange.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) 4-6 SportsZone: Inside College Basketball series. These volumes offer histories of the title college basketball programs along with play-by-play details of important games and information about star players and coaches, all supported by plentiful archival photographs. Authored by professional sports writers, the conversational texts will engage basketball fans and reluctant readers alike. Appended "Quick Stats" and "Quotes and Anecdotes" enhance the presentation. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these SportsZone: Inside College Basketball titles: Georgetown Hoyas, Connecticut Huskies, Duke Blue Devils, and Kansas Jayhawks.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Best Sport Ever series. These workmanlike titles trace the evolution of four popular sports from their beginnings through the present day. Each includes the characteristics of the games, stories of legendary athletes, and memorable game highlights. The book design is dull, but black-and-white and color photographs appear throughout and sidebars offer additional information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Best Sport Ever titles: Baseball, Basketball, Football, and Golf.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Best Sport Ever series. These workmanlike titles trace the evolution of four popular sports from their beginnings through the present day. Each includes the characteristics of the games, stories of legendary athletes, and memorable game highlights. The book design is dull, but black-and-white and color photographs appear throughout and sidebars offer additional information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Best Sport Ever titles: Baseball, Basketball, Football, and Golf.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Inside College Football series. This series introduces long-standing college football teams. Each volume begins with the team's recent National Championship then moves to the program's inception and its history, told mostly through the progression of coaches. Uninspired design and small font make for dull-looking packages, but archival photographs add interest. These will be appealing mostly to devout college football fans. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Inside College Football titles: LSU Tigers, Florida Gators, Auburn Tigers, and Alabama Crimson Tide.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) 4-6 SportsZone: Inside the NBA series. Rich with facts, play-by-play game details, and an abundance of archival photographs, these volumes provide engaging histories of four NBA teams. In each book, coaches and players are highlighted (e.g., from Celtics legends Bill Russell and Larry Bird to contemporary stars Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett). The squads' triumphs and tragedies are supported by stats, quotes, and anecdotes. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these SportsZone: Inside the NBA titles: Charlotte Bobcats, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and Atlanta Hawks.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) 4-6 SportsZone: Inside MLB series. Written by professional sportswriters, peppered with well-chosen quotations, and illustrated with photos at every page-turn, this series will interest die-hard baseball fans and is likely to engage reluctant readers. Highlights and heartbreaks from each team's history are interspersed with biographical information about many of their stars. Appended "Quick Stats" and "Quotes and Anecdotes" add to the package. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these SportsZone: Inside MLB titles: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) K-3 SportsZone: Playmakers series. Focusing on the stars' sports accomplishments and game highlights, these brief, adulatory profiles also touch on the players' childhoods and personal lives along with mentioning charitable contributions to their communities. Brees and Bryant are slightly better organized than the other two. The many clear photographs will satisfy sports fans. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these SportsZone: Playmakers titles: Drew Brees, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Sidney Crosby.

Reviewer: Jack Forman