(3) K-3 Bookish Edward loves Tarzan stories, and one day, while absorbed in his reading, he discovers himself in the middle of a jungle adventure. After being rescued by the ape man himself, Edward emulates his hero and saves a crocodile from capture. The acrylic artwork transforms Edward's ordinary backyard into a believable jungle. The story has a comforting circular twist at the end.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) YA World Writers series. Though factually sound, this biography never goes beneath the surface. Illustrated with adequate black-and-white photos, the text traces Burroughs's life through his many vocations, touches on his lifelong interest in the military, and discusses his literary fame, but doesn't capture the restless spirit that informed his life choices nor explain the enduring popularity of his work. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Bill Cigliano. In this pleasant diversion for middle readers, Dorothy recognizes the role of a lifetime when she nabs the part of Tarzan in her class play. From the moment she auditions, Dorothy unleashes a wildness inside her, a primitive power that "made her feel she was not only in the jungle, she was master of it." Byars's laid-back narrative sets the tone in this slight, sitcom-ish novel that addresses small dilemmas rather than earth-shattering concerns.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2000