(3) K-3 Illustrated by Laura Freeman. Elijah Cummings's parents, who worked as sharecroppers in South Carolina, moved north to Baltimore to raise their children. "Although the Cummingses struggled to feed their family," the seven siblings were taught to value education, hard work, faith, and service. At eleven years old, the future congressman embarked upon his lifelong quest for justice when he helped to desegregate a city swimming pool. Each spread features a quotation from Cummings ("The librarians and books...helped me define myself as a human being"); the key point is expanded in a paragraph or two of text. Accompanied by strikingly vivid illustrations, this biography of the iconic social justice activist and political leader is sure to inspire readers of all ages. Statements by Nancy Pelosi and the Congressional Black Caucus are included. A timeline and bibliography are appended.

Reviewer: Monique Harris

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo. This lyrical biography emphasizes the poet's formative years and keen observation of the world around him. Clever design choices, homey mixed-media art, and well-chosen quotes and sample poems offer a compelling representation of cummings's experimentation with language, imagery, and style. However, the flat presentation of connective details creates neither narrative momentum nor adequate report material, and biographical sourcing is vague. Author's note. Timeline.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) YA Voices in Poetry series. Illustrated by Stasys Eidrigevicius. In these revised editions, excerpts from each poet's work alternate with biographical passages describing major influences or periods in the artist's life. The arty design calls attention to itself; every page is decorated with a photograph (in Shakespeare's case, a drawing) or a themed illustration: flowers for Dickinson, historical postal stamps for Hughes, leaves for Whitman, etc. The tiny type may put off some readers. Ind. Review covers these Voices in Poetry titles: E. E. Cummings, Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, and Walt Whitman.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(2) YA Reef explores the interaction of events and poetry to portray a man whose story would not be complete without an understanding of both. She makes clear that the king of experimental poetry was deeply grounded in the very structure he subverted. Black-and-white photographs vivify the facts, while the spacious format gives Cummings's words room to spread out. List of major works, source notes. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Betsy Hearne | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2006