(4) YA Legendary African Americans series. These biographies, originally published under slightly different titles in the African-American Biographies series, dutifully (and somewhat dully) report on their subjects' lives, accomplishments, and struggles, placing them within their historical time period. Unfortunately, almost all of the black-and-white photographs have been removed in these new editions, making for dense, uninspired packages. Reading list, timeline. Ind. Review covers these Legendary African Americans titles: The Life of Carter G. Woodson, The Life of Paul Laurence Dunbar, The Life of Harriet Tubman, and The Life of Martin Luther King, Jr..

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Inspiring Collective Biographies series. These revised editions of books originally published as part of the Collective Biographies series provide surveys of pioneers in various fields (computers, the arts, exploration, etc.). Each volume contains ten biographical profiles, illustrated with black-and-white photographs. The writing can be flat, but the profiles will serve as adequate starting points for those doing basic research. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Inspiring Collective Biographies titles: Harlem Renaissance Artists and Writers, Amazing American Inventors of the 20th Century, Fighting U.S. Generals of World War II, Innovators of American Jazz, Pioneering American Computer Geniuses, and Daredevil American Heroes of Exploration and Flight.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) YA Latino Biography Library series. These biographies describe how Cisneros struggled to feel appreciated and understood as a Latina author and how Ochoa's groundbreaking path frequently led her to be the only woman in her field of study and profession. The texts, though choppy, are readable. Photographs and sidebars add interest and some context for report writers. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these Latino Biography Library titles: Ellen Ochoa and Sandra Cisneros.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(4) YA Latino Biography Library series. The contributions of three prominent Latino Americans--educator Escalante (of Stand and Deliver fame), actor Prinze, and actor/comedian Lopez--are covered in these serviceable biographies. The texts are choppy, but the information provided is fairly wide-ranging. Sidebars offer some historical perspective; average-quality photos round out the presentations. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these Latino Biography Library titles: George Lopez, Freddie Prince, Jr., and Jaime Escalante.

Reviewer: Alissa C. Salamone

(4) YA African-American Biography Library series. These competent (if uninspired) biographies present information about their subjects' backgrounds and then focus in on their later accomplishments. Wells-Barnett describes her journalistic work on behalf of education, voting rights, and anti-lynching laws. Obama (which ends with his entry into the presidential race) highlights the candidate's early interest in politics. Formulaic design includes photos, sidebars, and boxed quotes. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these African-American Biography Library titles: Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and Barack Obama.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) YA African-American Biography Library series. These accessible (if somewhat simplistic) biographies provide basic information on their subjects. Angelou highlights her careers in writing, entertainment, and civil rights; Washington depicts as a peaceful educator whose nonconfrontational methods drew criticism; Hughes focuses on his world travel, literary relationships, and celebration of African American culture. Numerous archival photographs, drawings, and other materials provide historical context. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these African-American Biography Library titles: Maya Angelou, Booker T. Washington, and Langston Hughes.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) 4-6 African-American Biographies series. After overcoming double pneumonia, scarlet fever, and polio--all at the same time--Rudolph was left with a crippled leg. Years of physical therapy paid off, and Rudolph went on to win three gold medals at the 1960 Olympics. This biography, though sometimes adulatory, covers both her personal and professional life. Black-and-white photos illustrate the text. Timeline, reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 African-American Biographies series. This biography follows Garvey's life from his childhood in Jamaica to his work for black equity and his belief that the races needed to be separate. Though Garvey is an intriguing character, lack of sufficient details and a dry text detract from this otherwise useful book. Black-and-white reproductions illustrate the text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) YA African-American Biographies series. These books chronicle the obstacles and accomplishments of the individuals and their contributions to America. All four provide adequate background information to establish an appropriate context; those of Drew and Terrell include frequent parenthetical definitions. The black-and-white illustrations enhance the easy-to-follow text (which may seem condescending to more accomplished readers). Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these African-American Biographies titles: Mahalia Jackson, Mary Church Terrell, Dr. Charles Drew, and Denzel Washington.]

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) YA African-American Biographies series. Competently written and illustrated with adequate black-and-white photos and reproductions, the books in this series pay tribute to five African Americans who received acclaim in various fields, while simultaneously advancing the cause of civil rights. The biographies of activists Hamer and Lewis are particularly welcome, filling a need for book-length profiles of these individuals. Timelines are included. Bib., ind. [Review covers these African-American Biographies titles: John Lewis, George Washington, Fannie Lou Hamer, Frederick Douglass,and Richard Wright.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA African-American Biographies series. Writing styles of individual authors affect the readability of each volume in this series, ranging from enthusiastic to plodding and prosaic. The books will be useful where other material on each subject is limited. Unexceptional black-and-white photos are included as are websites and chronologies. Bib., ind. [Review covers these African-American Biographies titles: Julian Bond, Matthew Henson, Kweisi Mfume, Bessie Coleman, Harriet Tubman.]

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(3) YA African-American Biographies series. These generally admiring biographies trace the lives of Bunche and Goldberg from their impoverished beginnings through their professional triumphs. Bunche, the statesman who engineered Mideast peace, was the first African American to win a Nobel Prize; Goldberg has combined Oscar-winning film work with humanitarian causes. The accessible texts are illustrated with average quality black-and-white photos. Goldberg contains a filmography. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 United States Presidents series. Adequate, if uninspired, prose recounts the childhood, professional career, and presidential tenure of each man, concluding with an examination of his historical legacy. Illustrated with standard black-and-white photographs and reproductions, the texts are supplemented with examples of "source documents," such as letters, newspaper articles, and excerpts of speeches. Chronologies are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 United States Presidents series. Adequate, if uninspired, prose recounts the childhood, professional career, and presidential tenure of each man, concluding with an examination of his historical legacy. Illustrated with standard black-and-white photographs and reproductions, the texts are supplemented with examples of "source documents," such as letters, newspaper articles, and excerpts of speeches. Chronologies are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.