The Horn Book Guide

Adele: Singing Sensation

32 pp. | ABDO | September, 2017 | Library ISBN 978-1-5321-1057-3 $19.95 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-6807-8842-6

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Pop Biographies series. In each standard-issue biography, readers are introduced to the celebrity's early life and family, career, achievements, business ventures, and charitable works. The cheerful, adulatory texts are peppered with gratuitous exclamation points ("Fans love to buy goods Rihanna helped create!") and are accompanied by stock photos and "Did You Know?" boxes. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Pop Biographies titles: Adele, Carrie Underwood, Drake, and Rihanna.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

Lajiness, Katie

Drake: Famous Music Star

32 pp. | ABDO | September, 2017 | Library ISBN 978-1-5321-1060-3 $19.95 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-6807-8845-7

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

Lajiness, Katie

Rihanna: Pop Star

32 pp. | ABDO | September, 2017 | Library ISBN 978-1-5321-1062-7 $19.95 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-6807-8847-1

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

Lajiness, Katie

Carrie Underwood: Famous Entertainer

32 pp. | ABDO | September, 2017 | Library ISBN 978-1-5321-1064-1 $19.95 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-6807-8849-5

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

Lajiness, Katie

Demi Lovato: Singing Sensation

32 pp. | ABDO | December, 2017 | Library ISBN 978-1-5321-1216-4 $28.50 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-6147-9923-8

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Pop Biographies series. In each standard-issue biography, readers are introduced to the celebrity's early life and family, career, achievements, business ventures, and charitable works. The cheerful, adulatory texts are peppered with gratuitous exclamation points (as contestants on Dancing with the Stars, "Zendaya and her partner won second place!") and are accompanied by stock photos and "Did You Know?" boxes. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Pop Biographies titles:Demi Lovato, Ed Sheeran, Emma Watson, and Zendaya.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

Lajiness, Katie
Ed Sheeran: Singer & Songwriter

32 pp. | ABDO | December, 2017 | Library ISBN 978-1-5321-1218-8 $28.50 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-6147-9925-2

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Pop Biographies series. In each standard-issue biography, readers are introduced to the celebrity's early life and family, career, achievements, business ventures, and charitable works. The cheerful, adulatory texts are peppered with gratuitous exclamation points (as contestants on Dancing with the Stars, "Zendaya and her partner won second place!") and are accompanied by stock photos and "Did You Know?" boxes. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Pop Biographies titles:Demi Lovato, Ed Sheeran, Emma Watson, and Zendaya.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

Lajiness, Katie
Emma Watson: Talented Actress

32 pp. | ABDO | December, 2017 | Library ISBN 978-1-5321-1219-5 $28.50 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-6147-9926-9

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Pop Biographies series. In each standard-issue biography, readers are introduced to the celebrity's early life and family, career, achievements, business ventures, and charitable works. The cheerful, adulatory texts are peppered with gratuitous exclamation points (as contestants on Dancing with the Stars, "Zendaya and her partner won second place!") and are accompanied by stock photos and "Did You Know?" boxes. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Pop Biographies titles:Demi Lovato, Ed Sheeran, Emma Watson, and Zendaya.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

Lajiness, Katie
Zendaya: Famous Entertainer

32 pp. | ABDO | December, 2017 | Library ISBN 978-1-5321-1220-1 $28.50 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-6147-9927-6

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Pop Biographies series. In each standard-issue biography, readers are introduced to the celebrity's early life and family, career, achievements, business ventures, and charitable works. The cheerful, adulatory texts are peppered with gratuitous exclamation points (as contestants on Dancing with the Stars, "Zendaya and her partner won second place!") and are accompanied by stock photos and "Did You Know?" boxes. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Pop Biographies titles:Demi Lovato, Ed Sheeran, Emma Watson, and Zendaya.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

Lajiness, Katie
Taylor Swift: Pop Star

32 pp. | ABDO | January, 2016 | Library ISBN 978-1-68078-060-4 $19.95

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Pop Biographies series. In each standard-issue biography, readers are introduced to the celebrity or band's early life and family, career, achievements, business ventures, and charitable works. The cheerful texts are peppered with gratuitous exclamation points ("Taylor spent two years writing songs for 1989!") and accompanied by stock photos and "Did You Know?" boxes. There are seven other spring 2016 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Big Buddy Pop Biographies: 5 Seconds of Summer, Justin Timberlake, Kate Middleton, Pharrell Williams, and Taylor Swift.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

Lajiness, Katie
Justin Timberlake: Famous Entertainer

32 pp. | ABDO | January, 2016 | Library ISBN 978-1-68078-061-1 $19.95

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Pop Biographies series. In each standard-issue biography, readers are introduced to the celebrity or band's early life and family, career, achievements, business ventures, and charitable works. The cheerful texts are peppered with gratuitous exclamation points ("Taylor spent two years writing songs for 1989!") and accompanied by stock photos and "Did You Know?" boxes. There are seven other spring 2016 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Big Buddy Pop Biographies: 5 Seconds of Summer, Justin Timberlake, Kate Middleton, Pharrell Williams, and Taylor Swift.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

Lajiness, Katie
Pharrell Williams: Famous Music Star

32 pp. | ABDO | January, 2016 | Library ISBN 978-1-68078-063-5 $19.95

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Pop Biographies series. In each standard-issue biography, readers are introduced to the celebrity or band's early life and family, career, achievements, business ventures, and charitable works. The cheerful texts are peppered with gratuitous exclamation points ("Taylor spent two years writing songs for 1989!") and accompanied by stock photos and "Did You Know?" boxes. There are seven other spring 2016 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Big Buddy Pop Biographies: 5 Seconds of Summer, Justin Timberlake, Kate Middleton, Pharrell Williams, and Taylor Swift.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

Lajiness, Katie
5 Seconds of Summer: Popular Band

32 pp. | ABDO | January, 2016 | Library ISBN 978-1-68078-052-9 $19.95

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Pop Biographies series. In each standard-issue biography, readers are introduced to the celebrity or band's early life and family, career, achievements, business ventures, and charitable works. The cheerful texts are peppered with gratuitous exclamation points ("Taylor spent two years writing songs for 1989!") and accompanied by stock photos and "Did You Know?" boxes. There are seven other spring 2016 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Big Buddy Pop Biographies: 5 Seconds of Summer, Justin Timberlake, Kate Middleton, Pharrell Williams, and Taylor Swift.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

Lajiness, Katie
Kate Middleton: Real-Life Princess

32 pp. | ABDO | January, 2016 | Library ISBN 978-1-68078-055-0 $19.95

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Pop Biographies series. In each standard-issue biography, readers are introduced to the celebrity or band's early life and family, career, achievements, business ventures, and charitable works. The cheerful texts are peppered with gratuitous exclamation points ("Taylor spent two years writing songs for 1989!") and accompanied by stock photos and "Did You Know?" boxes. There are seven other spring 2016 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Big Buddy Pop Biographies: 5 Seconds of Summer, Justin Timberlake, Kate Middleton, Pharrell Williams, and Taylor Swift.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

Lajiness, Katie
Usain Bolt: Olympic Sprinter

32 pp. | ABDO | December, 2016 | Library ISBN 978-1-68078-551-7 $28.50 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-68078-579-1

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Olympic Biographies series. These upbeat biographies explore the lives of well-known Olympic athletes (five Americans and Bolt from Jamaica). The texts are accessible if adulatory, illustrated with useful stock photos. "Did You Know?" sidebars range from informative ("In 2012, the Muslim Women's Sport Foundation named Ibtihaj the Muslim Sportswoman of the Year") to throwaway ("In 2016, Michael was on The Tonight Show"). Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Olympic Biographies titles: Ibtihaj Muhammad, Katie Ledecky, Laurie Hernandez, Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, and Usian Bolt.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

Lajiness, Katie
Laurie Hernandez: Olympic Gymnast

32 pp. | ABDO | December, 2016 | Library ISBN 978-1-68078-552-4 $28.50 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-68078-580-7

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Olympic Biographies series. As each book states, these professional football teams "have had good seasons and bad. But time and again, they've proven themselves." The volumes focus on the good, highlighting the teams' Super Bowl victories, winning coaches, and star players. Accompanying the choppy texts are plenty of color and archival photographs showcasing players, stadiums, and fans. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Books: The NFL's Greatest Teams titles: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

Lajiness, Katie
Michael Phelps: Olympic Swimmer

32 pp. | ABDO | December, 2016 | Library ISBN 978-1-68078-555-5 $28.50 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-68078-583-8

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Olympic Biographies series. As each book states, these professional football teams "have had good seasons and bad. But time and again, they've proven themselves." The volumes focus on the good, highlighting the teams' Super Bowl victories, winning coaches, and star players. Accompanying the choppy texts are plenty of color and archival photographs showcasing players, stadiums, and fans. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Books: The NFL's Greatest Teams titles: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

Lajiness, Katie
Simone Biles: Olympic Gymnast

32 pp. | ABDO | December, 2016 | Library ISBN 978-1-68078-550-0 $28.50 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-68078-578-4

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Olympic Biographies series. As each book states, these professional football teams "have had good seasons and bad. But time and again, they've proven themselves." The volumes focus on the good, highlighting the teams' Super Bowl victories, winning coaches, and star players. Accompanying the choppy texts are plenty of color and archival photographs showcasing players, stadiums, and fans. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Books: The NFL's Greatest Teams titles: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

Lajiness, Katie
Katie Ledecky: Olympic Swimmer

32 pp. | ABDO | December, 2016 | Library ISBN 978-1-68078-553-1 $28.50 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-68078-581-4

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Olympic Biographies series. As each book states, these professional football teams "have had good seasons and bad. But time and again, they've proven themselves." The volumes focus on the good, highlighting the teams' Super Bowl victories, winning coaches, and star players. Accompanying the choppy texts are plenty of color and archival photographs showcasing players, stadiums, and fans. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Books: The NFL's Greatest Teams titles: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

Lajiness, Katie
Ibtihaj Muhammad: Olympic Fencer

32 pp. | ABDO | December, 2016 | Library ISBN 978-1-68078-554-8 $28.50 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-68078-582-1

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Olympic Biographies series. As each book states, these professional football teams "have had good seasons and bad. But time and again, they've proven themselves." The volumes focus on the good, highlighting the teams' Super Bowl victories, winning coaches, and star players. Accompanying the choppy texts are plenty of color and archival photographs showcasing players, stadiums, and fans. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Books: The NFL's Greatest Teams titles: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

Tieck, Sarah
Laura Marano: Famous Actress & Singer

32 pp. | ABDO | January, 2015 | Library ISBN 978-1-62403-570-8 $19.95

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Biographies series. These brief, formulaic biographies introduce young fans to each celebrity's life and career, from "family ties" to fame to a bright future. The plain text is heavily templated (each celebrity, for example, "likes to help others") and light on groundbreaking information (Marano "likes to eat home-cooked meals") but accessible to reluctant readers. The colorful, star-studded layouts showcase clear, full-page stock photos. There are four other spring 2015 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Biographies titles: Daft Punk, Laura Marano, Lorde, and Shakira.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

64 reviews