(4) 4-6 Sports Star Champions series. These formulaic biographies feature accessible texts describing the careers of famous athletes and plenty of full-page color photographs. The open, non-intimidating pages and information that should satisfy book-report requirements recommend the titles for purchase. Difficulties some of the athletes have had (such as "personal problems" for Bryant and steroid use for Rodriguez) are acknowledged but not sensationalized. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Star Champions titles: Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Payton Manning, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) K-3 Football Heroes Making a Difference series. Beginning with career anecdotes and brief personal histories, these books then highlight the athletes' impressive on-field statistics and finish with their off-field charity work (e.g., "Troy also likes helping soldiers who have served in America's wars"). The laudatory volumes are well intentioned but information-sparse. Plenty of photographs will appease fans. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Football Heroes Making a Difference titles: Mark Sanchez, Peyton Manning, and Troy Polamalu.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) K-3 Sports Stars Who Care series. This series ostensibly highlights professional athletes' good works. The majority of each text is actually biographical information which, while not inaccurate, is nothing really new. Philanthropic work is usually touched upon at the end. Reluctant readers will appreciate the accessible writing style and sports photographs. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Stars Who care titles: Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., David Wright, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Biographies series. This series offers biographical information about popular sports stars. The texts, though bland and very light on content, are easy to read, and their subjects will be of interest to young sports fans. Many photographs appear throughout the volumes; captions and brief "Did you know..." sidebars give additional information on the athletes' family lives, schooling, and professional careers. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Biographies titles: Derek Jeter and Peyton Manning.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) YA Football Superstars series. Readers will find this series a good resource for information about the NFL, including background and player stats. Photographs and text also reveal the human side of professional athletes: their personalities, fears, and successes. Readers learn of Walter Payton's serious liver illness, Dan Marino's son's struggles with autism, and Brett Favre's addiction to and recovery from prescription drugs. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Football Superstars titles: Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Tom Brady, Dan Marino, and Walter Payton.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) K-3 Super Bowl Superstars series. This series highlights Super Bowl MVPs. Each title provides a synopsis of the athlete's story, from childhood through college to Super Bowl glory. With their surface-level descriptions and analysis ("As team leader, Tom got blamed when things went wrong"), the books are better for casual readers than avid football fans. Large glossy photographs will draw readers into the action. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Super Bowl Superstars title: Dexter Jackson and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hines Ward and the Pittsburgh Steelers, John Elway and the Denver Broncos, Kurt Warner and the St. Louis Rams, Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, and Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Sports Stars with Heart series. Though they're a bit idealized, professional athletes in baseball, basketball, and football are honored here for their personal and professional role-model status. The bulk of each book details the athlete's impressive career; the subject's childhood, community service, and charitable works are also highlighted. Many photographs, sidebars, and career stats are included. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Stars with Heart titles: LaDainian Tomlinson, Peyton Manning, LeBron James, Derek Jeter, Shaquille O'Neal, and Tim Duncan.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) 4-6 Benchmark All-Stars series. These sports biographies feature large color photographs and readable texts. While plenty of books about the profiled athletes already exist, these books are noteworthy for their interesting anecdotes and well-balanced accounts of the stars' lives. Photos and stories from childhood through current competitions are included. Kobe doesn't mention his recent legal troubles. Reading list, stats, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Benchmark All-Stars titles: Derek Jeter, Jeff Gordon, Kobe Bryant, Peyton Manning, Tiger Woods, and Venus Williams.]

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. Manning, quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, has become one of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League since his debut with the NFL in 1998. This conversational biography covers Manning's high school, college, and professional career superficially, but it will probably appeal to young sports fans anyway. Color photos are included, but the design is uninteresting. Directory, reading list, stats, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Sports Great Books series. These formulaic books provide adequate introductions to each athlete's professional career. The format, which includes repetitive black-and-white action shots, is dull, but the text captures game details. The adulatory books touch on controversial issues, but they tend to be glossed over. Directory, stats, websites. Ind. [Review covers these Sports Great Books titles: Sports Great Allen Iverson, Sports Great Kurt Warner, Sports Great Sammy Sosa, and Sports Great Peyton Manning.]

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(3) K-3 Dorling Kindersley Readers series. Manning introduces readers to one of football's most talented young quarterbacks. Rumbling introduces some of the sport's most famous running backs, past and present. With its singular focus, Manning provides a bit more detail than Running Backs and is targeted for kids at a slightly lower reading level. Lots of color photos add appeal to the books, sure to interest young fans. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Dorling Kindersley Readers titles: Peyton Manning and Rumbling Running Backs.]

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 This slim biography focuses on Manning's professional football career as a starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. The conversational text chronicles the development of Manning's talent in high school and college; the influence of his father, sports legend Archie Manning; and the importance Peyton places on being a role model. Color photos, some of poor quality, illustrate the volume. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 New Wave series. Each laudatory profile traces a gifted child-athlete's rise to top-notch sports star. Most chapters are devoted to play-by-play descriptions of crucial games, which will satisfy many fans, but readers interested in a glimpse of the athletes' lives off the field will have to look elsewhere. Statistics and quotes from coaches and teammates are sprinkled throughout each book. Black-and-white and color photos are included. Ind.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger