(4) K-3 Zoom In on Trailblazing Athletes series. This biography series features minority and female athletes (four men, two women) who helped shatter glass ceilings in their respective sports (tennis, golf, baseball, and boxing). The simplistic texts, which align to Common Core Standards, often raise more questions than answers but may inspire further reading. Archival photographs add interest, and lists of quick stats and key dates are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Zoom In on Trailblazing Athletes titles: Arthur Ashe, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Billie Jean King, Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, and Roberto Clemente.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) YA Ten riveting "rounds" profile Babe Didrikson Zaharias, one of the world's most remarkable athletes. Born in 1911, Babe excelled at basketball, track and field, baseball, and (most notably) golf, setting world records and playing professionally at a time when women athletes were rare. Her lasting legacy includes co-founding today's Ladies Professional Golf Association. Plentiful archival photos show Babe in action. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) YA Legendary Athletes series. These reasonably comprehensive volumes explore the title athletes' childhoods, early careers, and rise within their sports. Admirable attention is paid to the societal and political constraints facing the men and women, in addition to their own social activism (e.g., King's fight for women's and gay rights, Ashe's work against apartheid in South Africa). A good selection of photographs are included. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Legendary Athletes titles: Billie Jean King, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Arthur Ashe, and Jesse Owens.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) K-3 Carolrhoda On My Own Books series. Illustrated by Jeni Reeves. This simply written book focuses on three periods in Babe's life: her childhood in Beaumont, Texas, her years as a high school basketball star and budding all-around athlete, and her accomplishments at the 1932 Olympics. Her later golf career is discussed in the brief afterword. The flatly written prose is accompanied by effective colored pencil illustrations. A time line is included.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA Coming on the heels of Russell Freedman's recent biography, this book provides an adequate, if unexceptional, overview of the sportswoman's life. The somewhat repetitive prose covers Babe's athletic triumphs in track and field, her later career in golf, her marriage and personal life, and her competitive spirit. Standard black-and-white photographs illustrate the volume. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(2) YA Freedman's measured yet lively style captures the spirit of the great athlete. The book is at its best in the chapters about Babe's track-and-field triumphs; the later account of her golf career drags a bit. Freedman's enthusiastic admiration, however, provides enough reason to read. Plenty of black-and-white photos capture Babe's spirit and dashing good looks, and the documentation is impeccable. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 1999