(4) 4-6 Sports Illustrated Kids: Know the Stats series. These slim volumes demonstrate how statistics drive decision-making for professional basketball and football teams, aiding players, coaches, and fans to better understand wins and losses. References to specific athletes and their performances abound. The book design is uninteresting, but color photographs, tables, and graphs appear throughout, helping to clarify the information. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Illustrated Kids: Know the Stats titles: Basketball Is a Numbers Game and Football Is a Numbers Game.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Sports Illustrated Kids: Record Breakers series. Each book features thirteen two-page chapters that highlight remarkable achievements by athletes in the title sport. Aimed at young middle-grade sports enthusiasts, the volumes are best used for browsing; there's no particular organization to the material, but the combination of main texts, informative sidebars, and action photos produces a decent amount of engaging sports facts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Illustrated Kids: Record Breakers titles: Basketball's Record Breakers and Baseball's Record Breakers.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) 4-6 Sports Illustrated Kids: Sports Stats and Stories series. For young sports enthusiasts with an interest in numbers, these two books identify old and new statistical concepts in each sport; explain their potential importance; and personalize this analysis with vignettes of pro athletes who have set game, season, and career records. The numbers-focused narratives are supplemented by action photos and many charts with stats. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Sports Illustrated Kids: Sports Stats and Stories titles: Basketball Stats and the Stories Behind Them and Football Stats and the Stories Behind Them.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Sports Illustrated Kids: Everything Super Bowl series. Third- and fourth-grade sports fans will likely embrace these slim books about one of American sports' biggest events. Stars gives brief vignettes of Super Bowl powerhouses including Tom Brady, Joe Namath, and Jerry Rice. Records centers on statistical information, such as passing performances, yards gained, longest runs, receptions, and interceptions. Football buffs will appreciate the action photographs of legendary performers. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Sports Illustrated Kids: Everything Super Bowl titles: Super Bowl Records and Stars of the Super Bowl.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Sports Illustrated Kids: Hockey Superstars series. Glossy action photographs, brightly colored sidebars, and "Fast Facts" combine with game-detailed, statistics-filled texts to superficially profile two of hockey's most popular players. Ovechkin hails from Russia, where the breakup of the Soviet Union allowed him to play in the NHL. Crosby's narrative begins with his "Golden Goal" to win the 2010 Winter Olympics for Team Canada. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Illustrated Kids: Hockey Superstars titles: Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 NBA: A History of Hoops series. These books offer brief histories of NBA teams, covering notable seasons and legendary individuals. The accessible texts are printed in a small-size type that may frustrate some readers. Six chatty "Courtside Stories" and six player/coach profiles in each volume enhance the main texts. The draw for fans will be the large color photographs featuring lots of on-court action and excitement. Ind. Review covers these NBA: A History of Hoops titles: The Story of the Miami Heat, The Story of the San Antonio Spurs, The Story of the Indiana Pacers, The Story of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and The Story of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 NBA: A History of Hoops series. These books offer brief histories of NBA teams, covering notable seasons and legendary individuals. The accessible texts are printed in a small-size type that may frustrate some readers. Six chatty "Courtside Stories" and six player/coach profiles in each volume enhance the main texts. The draw for fans will be the large color photographs featuring lots of on-court action and excitement. Ind. Review covers these NBA: A History of Hoops titles: The Story of the Miami Heat, The Story of the San Antonio Spurs, The Story of the Indiana Pacers, The Story of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and The Story of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Sports Illustrated Kids: SI Kids' Guide Books series. These randomly organized books discuss different aspects of ethics in and media coverage of sports. Ethics analyzes examples of ethical dilemmas drawn from sports history or hypothetical scenarios and considers sports etiquette. Media covers print and online media as well as PR specialists. Busy graphics, color photos, brief sidebars, and keyword definitions supplement the straightforward texts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Illustrated Kids: SI Kids' Guide Books titles: Sports Ethics and Sports Media.

Reviewer: Jack Forman