(3) K-3 Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. On August 28, 1963, as Dr. King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington, Sharon Langley became the first black child to ride the carousel at a previously segregated amusement park near Baltimore. Dialogue keeps the story personal in this well-paced, engaging autobiography. Cooper's warm, vintage-style art homes in on faces and, of course, the colorful carousel. Timeline. Bib.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) 4-6 Sixteen professional dancers talk about how they started, where dance has taken them, and life after dance. Short facts and photos precede each profile, and interesting (although occasionally distracting) sidebars in bold type appear throughout. A lengthy glossary and resource section, including videos featuring the interviewed dancers, is appended. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) 4-6 The nine chapters of this book crisply summarize women's contributions to the U.S. military, from the Revolutionary War to the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. As photos and primary material gradually become more available, Nathan uses them effectively to help tell the story of women's struggle to serve and be treated equally. The overall tone is positive, and the book offers both an overview and individual vignettes. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) 4-6 The "Allowance All-Star Squad," a group of 166 children who served as the book's fiscal consultants, offers practical advice on what kind of allowance, if any, kids should expect; whether the money should be linked to household chores, and how to create a workable allowance plan with one's parents. The breezy text and cartoonlike illustrations make the book a nonintimidating introduction to topics such as budgeting, saving, and spending. Bib.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.