(4) 4-6 Who HQ: Who Was...? series. Illustrated by John Hinderliter. Grosset's long-running Who Was...? series is re-branded. These readable, informative biographies are marred only by the caricatured cover illustrations (typical of the classic series) and interior pencil illustrations that are inconsistent in style. Otherwise, these will give young readers a good sense of who these people were (or are). Occasional full- and double-page text boxes successfully illuminate related topics. Timeline. Bib. Review covers these Who HQ: Who Was...? titles: Who Was Jane Austen?, Who Was Chuck Jones?, Who Was Coretta Scott King?, Who Is Ralph Lauren? Who Was Alexander Hamilton?, Who Was Lewis Carroll?, Who Is Pope Francis?, and Who Was Andrew Jackson?.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Fast Wheels! series. These books profile specific types of high-speed vehicles. The leveled texts should appeal to reluctant readers, who will be drawn to the topic and the (small-size) photos. The books are a combination of description and history, with emphasis on special features and anecdotes. "Smokin' Facts" pages highlight unusual stats, notable individuals, and oddities. The random organization of information, however, is unfortunate. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Fast Wheels! titles: Smokin' Open Wheel Race Cars, Smokin' Dragsters and Funny Cars, Smokin' Race Cars, Smokin' Motorcycles, Smokin' Muscle Cars, and Smokin' Sports Cars.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Sterling Biographies series. Opinionated yet informative, these latest additions to the series blend anecdotes, quotations, and facts to create engaging portraits of six of America's greatest sports stars. With some of the subject matter overlapping, these biographies focus on their athletes' careers, but also offer insight into the social and political realities of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Photographs and sidebars are incorporated into the reader-friendly designs. Timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Sterling Biography titles: Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Jesse Owens, Jim Thorpe, Jackie Robinson, and Muhammad Ali.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot

(3) 4-6 Wild Wheels! series. These books provide insight into the high-speed world of car racing. Types, styles, characteristics, and capabilities of the various racing machines are presented, along with the sport’s history, statistics, and notable personalities in the field. Racing enthusiasts will appreciate the photographs and text boxes that expand the simple but informative text. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Wild Wheels! titles: Hottest Race Cars, Hottest Dragsters and Funny Cars, and Hottest NASCAR Machines.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg