(4) YA African-American Icons series. These accessible, simplistic biographies trace the lives of contemporary African American leaders in the arts. The uncomplicated prose may appeal to report writers who are also reluctant readers. While the books' original design was uninspired, it did include plenty of photos--which these new editions have oddly omitted. Discography (Smith), filmography (Berry; Smith). Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these African-American Icons titles: Maya Angelou, Walter Dean Myers, Toni Morrison, Halle Berry, Will Smith, and Oprah Winfrey.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) K-3 Holiday Histories series. This updated series presents brief, easy-to-read introductions to specific holidays. Each book reports on the holiday's history and how it's celebrated today. The clean design is easy to follow and makes effective use of historical illustrations, but many of the stock photos are dull. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Holiday Histories titles: Cinco de Mayo, Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, and Juneteenth.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(4) YA Artists in Profile series. Following a six-page introduction to its subject, each book in this series offers occasionally clunky two- and four-page biographies of artists, both familiar and relatively obscure, associated with the featured movement. Photos of the artists and vivid color reproductions of their work illustrate each biographical sketch. A final section, "The Next Generation," places the movement in historical context. Timeline. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Artists in Profile titles: Abstract Expressionists, Post-impressionists, Surrealists, Harlem Renaissance Artists, and Cubists.]

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) K-3 Meeting Famous People series. Ali is a larger than life character, and this series biography with its strong photos manages to capture the excitement surrounding the well-known athlete. Although the last twenty years are given short shrift, the book provides an account of some of Ali's controversial actions in his earlier years when he joined the Nation of Islam and became a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA African-American Biographies series. Writing styles of individual authors affect the readability of each volume in this series, ranging from enthusiastic to plodding and prosaic. The books will be useful where other material on each subject is limited. Unexceptional black-and-white photos are included as are websites and chronologies. Bib., ind. [Review covers these African-American Biographies titles: Julian Bond, Matthew Henson, Kweisi Mfume, Bessie Coleman, Harriet Tubman.]

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(3) YA African-American Biographies series. Four clearly written biographies cover major figures--two historical, two contemporary--who, despite some early difficulties, achieved major personal and professional success. Winfrey, Du Bois, and Banneker have been featured in numerous biographies, but this full-length work on Myers, which includes discussions of his books and how they came to be written, is particularly welcome. Black-and-white photos accompany the texts. Time lines are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta