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134 pp.
| Chelsea
| November, 2007
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7910-9440-2$30.00
(3)
YA
Baseball Superstars series.
These baseball biographies are unusually sophisticated in their analysis of each player within the context of his time and the state of Major League Baseball. Nuanced discussions of the player's strengths and personal failings round out the portraits. Judicious use of quotations and many photos, sidebars, and stats are included. There are eight other new books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Baseball Superstars titles: Jackie Robinson, Ichiro Suzuki, Mariano Rivera, Hank Aaron, and Ted Williams.
32 pp.
| ABDO
| January, 2004
|
LibraryISBN 1-59197-483-6$$22.78
(4)
4-6
Checkerboard: Awesome Athletes series.
These books for reluctant readers briefly cover each subject's early years before focusing on his or her athletic career. The coverage is superficial and adulatory but accessible; controversy and adversity are ignored. Action photos, a timeline, and stats help break up the text. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard: Awesome Athletes titles: Alex Rodriguez, Ichiro Suzuki, Tony Hawk, Kobe Bryant, Venus & Serena Williams, and Yao Ming.
48 pp.
| Enslow
| January, 2004
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-2137-8$$18.95
(4)
K-3
Super Sports Star series.
Six contemporary baseball stars are honored in serviceable biographies, all generously illustrated with color photos, intended for reluctant readers. The books' basic, unremarkable writing focuses primarily on key moments in the players' major-league careers. Rodriguez, currently playing for the Yankees, is pictured in his Rangers uniform; the other titles are also outdated. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Super Sports Star titles: Super Sports Star Mike Piazza, Super Sports Star Alex Rodriguez, Super Sports Star Ichiro Suzuki, Super Sports Star Barry Bonds, Super Sports Star Chipper Jones, and Super Sports Star Ken Griffey, Jr.
(4)
4-6
Amazing Athletes series.
After an introductory chapter, each of these formulaic profiles cover an athlete's childhood and early career. The remaining sections focus on professional accomplishments and highlights. Despite the perfunctory nature of these brief treatments, a colorful page design, crisp photographs, and large print should appeal to younger and reluctant readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Amazing Athletes titles: Venus & Serena Williams, Ichiro Suzuki, Jeff Gordon, and Tiger Woods.]