(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Awesome Athletes series. Geared toward middle-grade readers, these slight overviews cover each star athlete's childhood and early career, including personal obstacles overcome (gender/racial barriers, single-parent families, truancy), before focusing on professional success and achievements. Two-page chapters don't offer any depth, but lots of game/competition highlights, stock photos, and action shots will please fans. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Awesome Athletes titles: Danica Patrick, Gabby Douglas, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Awesome Athletes series. Geared toward middle-grade readers, these slight overviews cover each star athlete's childhood and early career, including personal obstacles overcome (gender/racial barriers, single-parent families, truancy), before focusing on professional success and achievements. Two-page chapters don't offer any depth, but lots of game/competition highlights, stock photos, and action shots will please fans. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Awesome Athletes titles: Danica Patrick, Gabby Douglas, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Awesome Athletes series. Geared toward middle-grade readers, these slight overviews cover each star athlete's childhood and early career, including personal obstacles overcome (gender/racial barriers, single-parent families, truancy), before focusing on professional success and achievements. Two-page chapters don't offer any depth, but lots of game/competition highlights, stock photos, and action shots will please fans. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Awesome Athletes titles: Danica Patrick, Gabby Douglas, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Awesome Athletes series. Geared toward middle-grade readers, these slight overviews cover each star athlete's childhood and early career, including personal obstacles overcome (gender/racial barriers, single-parent families, truancy), before focusing on professional success and achievements. Two-page chapters don't offer any depth, but lots of game/competition highlights, stock photos, and action shots will please fans. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Awesome Athletes titles: Danica Patrick, Gabby Douglas, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Atomic series. This overview of skateboarding gives the sport's history and highlights some standout athletes, and it will probably appeal more to new fans than hardcore skateboarding enthusiasts. The many exciting, up-to-date photographs and abundance of interesting sidebars will draw in reluctant readers, although the busy design and diagonally set text may prove distracting for some. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) 4-6 Atomic series. Engaging, easy-to-read text introduces these action-packed and often dangerous careers (Stunt Double warns readers not to try to duplicate the stunts in the book). The many exciting, up-to-date photographs and abundance of interesting sidebar tidbits will draw in reluctant readers, although the busy design and diagonally set text may prove distracting for some. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Atomic titles: Fighter Pilot, Mountain Rescue Team, and Stunt Double.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Atomic series. Engaging, easy-to-read text introduces these action-packed and often dangerous careers (Stunt Double warns readers not to try to duplicate the stunts in the book). The many exciting, up-to-date photographs and abundance of interesting sidebar tidbits will draw in reluctant readers, although the busy design and diagonally set text may prove distracting for some. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Atomic titles: Fighter Pilot, Mountain Rescue Team, and Stunt Double.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Atomic series. Engaging, easy-to-read text introduces these action-packed and often dangerous careers (Stunt Double warns readers not to try to duplicate the stunts in the book). The many exciting, up-to-date photographs and abundance of interesting sidebar tidbits will draw in reluctant readers, although the busy design and diagonally set text may prove distracting for some. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Atomic titles: Fighter Pilot, Mountain Rescue Team, and Stunt Double.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Hands-on Ancient History series. Three short chapters provide a slight overview of an ancient civilization, including a bit about everyday life and typical leisure activities. A fourth chapter presents a recipe, instructions for two craft projects, and an activity. The text is more a collection of random facts than a cohesive unit. Photos of artifacts and archival pictures appear on every page. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Hands-on Ancient History titles: The History and Activities of Ancient China, The History and Activities of the Islamic Empire, The History and Activities of Ancient Egypt, The History and Activities of the Roman Empire, The History and Activities of the Aztecs, and The History and Activities of Ancient Greece.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges