(4) 4-6 Total Sports series. These volumes provide broad overviews of the histories, notable teams and coaches, rivalries, star players, etc., of the title sports; most (not Football) include mention of both men's and women's teams. The texts are easy to read if occasionally vague or overgeneralized. Informative sidebars and copious stock photos enhance the presentations for sports fans. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Total Sports titles: Total Lacrosse, Total Basketball, Total Baseball, Total Hockey, Total Soccer, Total Gymnastics, Total Volleyball, and Total Football.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Total Sports series. These volumes provide broad overviews of the histories, notable teams and coaches, rivalries, star players, etc., of the title sports; most (not Football) include mention of both men's and women's teams. The texts are easy to read if occasionally vague or overgeneralized. Informative sidebars and copious stock photos enhance the presentations for sports fans. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Total Sports titles: Total Lacrosse, Total Basketball, Total Baseball, Total Hockey, Total Soccer, Total Gymnastics, Total Volleyball, and Total Football.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Total Sports series. These volumes provide broad overviews of the histories, notable teams and coaches, rivalries, star players, etc., of the title sports; most (not Football) include mention of both men's and women's teams. The texts are easy to read if occasionally vague or overgeneralized. Informative sidebars and copious stock photos enhance the presentations for sports fans. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Total Sports titles: Total Lacrosse, Total Basketball, Total Baseball, Total Hockey, Total Soccer, Total Gymnastics, Total Volleyball, and Total Football.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Make Me the Best Athlete series. Each of five or six brief chapters (e.g., "Sprint like Usain Bolt" in Track) in these slim volumes focuses on a different outstanding athlete in a particular sport, and provides a few tidbits about his or her skills. Bulleted fact boxes explicate techniques; a "Drill Down!" feature suggests ways readers can improve their own performance, but some necessary supervision isn't suggested. Color photographs appear throughout. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Make Me the Best Athlete titles: Make Me the Best Volleyball Player, Make Me the Best Basketball Player, Make Me the Best Baseball Player, Make Me the Best Hockey Player, Make Me the Best Soccer Player, Make Me the Best Football Player, Make Me the Best Lacrosse Player, and Make Me the Best at Track and Field.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Make Me the Best Athlete series. Each of five or six brief chapters (e.g., "Sprint like Usain Bolt" in Track) in these slim volumes focuses on a different outstanding athlete in a particular sport, and provides a few tidbits about his or her skills. Bulleted fact boxes explicate techniques; a "Drill Down!" feature suggests ways readers can improve their own performance, but some necessary supervision isn't suggested. Color photographs appear throughout. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Make Me the Best Athlete titles: Make Me the Best Volleyball Player, Make Me the Best Basketball Player, Make Me the Best Baseball Player, Make Me the Best Hockey Player, Make Me the Best Soccer Player, Make Me the Best Football Player, Make Me the Best Lacrosse Player, and Make Me the Best at Track and Field.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Make Me the Best Athlete series. Each of five or six brief chapters (e.g., "Sprint like Usain Bolt" in Track) in these slim volumes focuses on a different outstanding athlete in a particular sport, and provides a few tidbits about his or her skills. Bulleted fact boxes explicate techniques; a "Drill Down!" feature suggests ways readers can improve their own performance, but some necessary supervision isn't suggested. Color photographs appear throughout. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Make Me the Best Athlete titles: Make Me the Best Volleyball Player, Make Me the Best Basketball Player, Make Me the Best Baseball Player, Make Me the Best Hockey Player, Make Me the Best Soccer Player, Make Me the Best Football Player, Make Me the Best Lacrosse Player, and Make Me the Best at Track and Field.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Women in Sports series. This series focuses on women's contributions to the sports world, thanks largely to the profound impact of Title IX, the 1972 law mandating gender equality in education (explored in Axon's volume). Other entries highlight the accomplishments of historical and contemporary individuals, including Olympians, professional athletes, and journalists. The writing is accessible if not very exciting; brief chapters include sidebars and captioned action photos. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Women in Sports titles: Title IX Levels the Playing Field, Pioneers in Women's Sports, Greatest Female Athletes of All Time, Greatest Moments in Women's Sports, Women in Sports Media, and Women in the Olympics.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Women in Sports series. This series focuses on women's contributions to the sports world, thanks largely to the profound impact of Title IX, the 1972 law mandating gender equality in education (explored in Axon's volume). Other entries highlight the accomplishments of historical and contemporary individuals, including Olympians, professional athletes, and journalists. The writing is accessible if not very exciting; brief chapters include sidebars and captioned action photos. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Women in Sports titles: Title IX Levels the Playing Field, Pioneers in Women's Sports, Greatest Female Athletes of All Time, Greatest Moments in Women's Sports, Women in Sports Media, and Women in the Olympics.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Edge Books: Pro Sports by the Numbers series. These hi-lo books focus on displays of statistics, percentages, and records. Basketball features such measurements as ball dimensions, player heights, and sneaker sizes. Football includes Super Bowl viewers and game-day wind chills. Busy layouts consist of colorful graphics and photographs that work overtime to present the information. Ardent sports fans will pore over the facts. Critical thinking questions are appended. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Edge Books: Pro Sports by the Numbers titles: Pro Basketball by the Numbers and Pro Football by the Numbers.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Edge Books: Pro Sports by the Numbers series. Incorporating primary source material and photographs of varying quality, this series provides an insider's view of elite sports competitions. After an introductory list of "fast facts," five brief narrative chapters each focus on a real person's particular point of view (coach, athlete, referee, fan, cheerleader, broadcaster, etc.). Overall, these volumes are uneven and slim on substantive information. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Inside Look at Sports Events titles: Inside the Daytona 500, Inside the NBA Finals, Inside the Olympics, Inside the Super Bowl, Inside the World Cup, and Inside the World Series.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan