(4) K-3 Olympic Biographies series. In these simple, adulatory biographies, exclamation point–heavy writing describes the accomplishments of well-known Olympians: "Her team went home with a gold medal!" "He was going for the triple-triple!" "He wanted to make a splash!" There's some useful information in the main texts and in the brief bulleted "More Facts" appended. Glossy stock photos show the athletes in action. Glos., ind. Review covers these Olympic Biographies titles: Aly Raisman, Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, and Usain Bolt.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Olympic Stars series. These biographies explore the lives and accomplishments of Olympic champions (five Americans and Bolt from Jamaica). The straightforward if superficial texts include quotes by the athletes and touch on many high points and some low points ("Phelps was back in the headlines for the wrong reasons...He was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol"). Photographs, captions, and "Fast Facts" appear throughout. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Olympic Stars titles: Aly Raisman, Katie Ledecky, Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, Simone Manuel, and Usain Bolt.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(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

(4) YA People in the News series. These mainly laudatory volumes examine the sports powerhouses' obstacles and successes. Phelps focuses on his struggles with ADHD, his growth as an athlete, and how he has transformed the sport of swimming. For basketball star Rose, the emphasis is on his strength of character and the development of his skills from high school player to the NBA. Copious photos illustrate the texts. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these People in the News titles: Michael Phelps and Derrick Rose.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Defining Moments: Super Athletes series. Powered by high-action captioned photos filling a large portion of every page, these books highlight the athletic accomplishments of two sports stars, culminating in their gold medal performances in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The high-interest, low-level, superficially written narratives also briefly describe childhood difficulties overcome by each athlete. Occasional quotes help enliven the texts. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Defining Moments: Super Athletes titles: Michael Phelps and LeBron James.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ward Jenkins. With Alan Abrahamson. Phelps enthusiastically explains his hard work: "My legs could press three hundred pounds sixty times in one workout...I could leg-press a Tyrannosaurus Rex and ten velociraptors!" It's a creative approach, though the multitude of numbers and examples can be more confusing than illuminating. Cartoony digital illustrations of Michael (and bulldog Herman) accomplishing incredible things give readers plenty to look at.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Biographies series. This book provides very basic biographical information about the Olympic swimmer. The text, though light on content, is easy to read, and the subject will be of interest to kids. Many photographs appear throughout the volume; captions and brief "Did you know..." sidebars give additional facts about Phelps's family life, schooling, and professional career. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Alissa C. Salamone

(4) 4-6 Hot Celebrity Biographies series. This mostly adulatory biography uses simple writing to present a positive overview of Phelps's personal life and career. Despite some of his negative publicity, briefly noted in the text, Phelps is generally shown to be a worthy role model for young readers to admire. Quotes, sidebars, and captioned photos are also included. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(3) YA Xtreme Athletes series. Patrick focuses on Danica's drive and determination to excel in a male-dominated sport. Phelps provides a look at a young man's swift rise to Olympic gold. The volumes don't shy away from their subjects' personal struggles and public mistakes but are ultimately concerned with detailing their impressive ascents to the top of their sports. Photographs and informative sidebars support the texts. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Xtreme Athletes titles: Danica Patrick and Michael Phelps.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) K-3 Amazing Athletes series. Each of these books begins in the middle of one of the athlete's most important performances and from there backtracks to an outline of his or her childhood and athletic accomplishments. The text is dry and choppy and the layout is textbook-like, but the subjects are of interest to the intended audience. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Amazing Athletes titles: Lance Armstrong, Annika Sorenstam, Carly Patterson, Yao Ming, and Michael Phelps.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth