(4) 4-6 Gateway Biography series. A coding prodigy, Karp, compelled by the vision of a blog format that is clean-looking and simple to use, launched Tumblr in 2007 at age twenty-one. Dull writing detracts from it slightly, but overall the presentation of Karp's self-propelled career is inspiring. Screenshots and contemporary photos add context but vary in relevance. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Allison Cole

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biography series. Doeden touches on the Duke and Duchess of Wales's backgrounds and childhoods (including an explanation of Britain's monarchy) before describing their college friendship, subsequent (rocky) romance, and fairy-tale engagement and wedding. Stock photos of the couple accompany the cursory text; some images are unexpected: "Here [Kate] is in the middle of a shaving cream fight." Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biography series. These standard biographies offer sanitized facts about each subject's life, beginning with childhood and ending with present day (which in Sotomayor focuses on her Supreme Court achievements, and in Jackson his legacy after death). The simple, uncluttered design includes appealing captioned photos. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Gateway Biography titles: Michael Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biography series. These standard biographies offer sanitized facts about each subject's life, beginning with childhood and ending with present day (which in Sotomayor focuses on her Supreme Court achievements, and in Jackson his legacy after death). The simple, uncluttered design includes appealing captioned photos. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Gateway Biography titles: Michael Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biography series. The forty-fourth U.S. president, the longtime Massachusetts senator, and the supermodel-turned-entrepreneur are all given cursory biographical treatments. These books effectively describe the subjects' political or business successes and philanthropic work. However, anything negative is often oversimplified or omitted, especially in Kennedy. Banks includes a glossary and bibliography; Kennedy lists "Fun Facts" and other notable Kennedys. Obama has been updated through 2008. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these Gateway Biography titles: Barack Obama, Tyra Banks, and Ted Kennedy.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) K-3 Gateway Biography series. In this adulatory biography, readers learn about the First Lady's childhood, work ethic, courtship with the "guy with the funny name" (first date: a Spike Lee movie), and support of her husband's political career. A variety of photographs illustrate the text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biography series. The forty-fourth U.S. president, the longtime Massachusetts senator, and the supermodel-turned-entrepreneur are all given cursory biographical treatments. These books effectively describe the subjects' political or business successes and philanthropic work. However, anything negative is often oversimplified or omitted, especially in Kennedy. Banks includes a glossary and bibliography; Kennedy lists "Fun Facts" and other notable Kennedys. Obama has been updated through 2008. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these Gateway Biography titles: Barack Obama, Tyra Banks, and Ted Kennedy.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biography series. The forty-fourth U.S. president, the longtime Massachusetts senator, and the supermodel-turned-entrepreneur are all given cursory biographical treatments. These books effectively describe the subjects' political or business successes and philanthropic work. However, anything negative is often oversimplified or omitted, especially in Kennedy. Banks includes a glossary and bibliography; Kennedy lists "Fun Facts" and other notable Kennedys. Obama has been updated through 2008. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these Gateway Biography titles: Barack Obama, Tyra Banks, and Ted Kennedy.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biography series. This upbeat, laudatory biography gives young readers a brief look at Pelosi as a politician and first female speaker of the House of Representatives in addition to being a wife, mother, and grandmother. Though the text's details can be superficial ("Pelosi loves chocolate"), readers will come away with some general information about women in American politics. Many photographs illustrate the text. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 Gateway Biography series. This biography of the first woman Supreme Court Justice follows a straightforward chronology and recitation of accomplishments, avoiding talk of political affiliations or controversial decisions; at times the book reads like a chatty gossip column ("She plays a mean game of bridge!"). Black-and-white and color photos illustrate this pleasant-enough, quickly digested volume. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Gateway Green Biography series. Written in simple prose, this biography tells the story of Julia Hill, who spent 738 days sitting in a redwood to prevent it from being cut down. Briefly discussed are the environmental impact of clear-cutting and Hill's childhood. However, no context is given for the sometimes controversial eco-terrorist environmentalist groups and practices. The book is illustrated with color photos and includes a timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 Gateway Biography series. This laudatory biography of Clara Barton presents her life in a friendly tone, highlighting her work as a teacher, (untrained) nurse, and founder of the American Red Cross. Numerous asides give further insight into the history and background of the times in which she lived, helping to put her story into perspective. The book is illustrated with photos and often colorized historical drawings and includes a timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 Gateway Green Biography series. This account of the scientist discusses her motivation and experience studying gorillas in the Virunga Mountain region of Africa. Though brief, the text does give a basic sense of Fossey's personality, and clear photos of Fossey and the mountain gorillas provide context. Additional information describes the habits and physiology of this largest of primates. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) K-3 Gateway Biography series. In this readable, informative biography, Parks introduces the life of Pope John Paul II, including his childhood in Poland, the influence of his experiences in World War II, and his many travels and efforts to end long-held religious conflicts around the world. The tone is respectful and at times laudatory, but Parks mentions some of the criticisms of the Pope's teachings. Ind.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Gateway Green Biography series. This short, laudatory biography, illustrated with color and black-and-white photos of varying quality, depicts a quietly determined life dedicated to the preservation of America's natural lands and wildlife. The blandly written text discusses Leopold's childhood, career, family life, and legacy. A chronology and list of resources are appended. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biography series. These biographies of major players in the last, contested presidential election present their subjects' lives as a series of activities and accomplishments, highlighting the positives and downplaying any controversies. The result is bland and uninspiring, but the books in this series may be useful for report writers. All have color and black-and-white photos and time lines; Bush contains a bibliography. Ind. [Review covers these Gateway Biography titles: Dick Cheney, Joseph Lieberman, Laura Welch Bush.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biography series. Illustrated with archival photos and drawings, this serviceable, somewhat dull biography recounts the life of "America's first black man of science." Banneker's family history, childhood, and schooling, both formal and self-taught, are discussed, as well as his late-in-life accomplishments of helping to survey the site for the new federal capital and becoming the first African-American man to be published. A time line is included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biography series. These biographies of major players in the last, contested presidential election present their subjects' lives as a series of activities and accomplishments, highlighting the positives and downplaying any controversies. The result is bland and uninspiring, but the books in this series may be useful for report writers. All have color and black-and-white photos and time lines; Bush contains a bibliography. Ind. [Review covers these Gateway Biography titles: Dick Cheney, Joseph Lieberman, Laura Welch Bush.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) K-3 Gateway Biography series. Toni Morrison's life from her childhood through her acceptance of the Nobel Prize for literature in 1993 is chronicled in four brief chapters. Background information on the civil rights movement and the history of African-American women writers allows readers to place Morrison's life in a meaningful historical context. Black-and-white and color photos are included. Ind.

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire

(4) K-3 Gateway Biography series. In readable prose, the authors discuss Salk's life with focus on his most important achievement, the vaccine for the polio virus. They also tell of his difficult personality, his family relationships, and the competition between him and Albert Sabin, who advocated a live virus vaccine. Black-and-white and color photos, as well as a time line and direct, though undocumented, quotations add valuable context. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian