(3) K-3 Illustrated by Leo Espinosa. Smith introduces African American cycling legend Marshall Walter "Major" Taylor (1878-1932) to a new generation. Beginning with prose and then switching gears to (sometimes-clunky) verse, the story focalizes Taylor's remarkable performance in the grueling Six-Day Bicycle Race at Madison Square Garden when he was eighteen years old. Through chronological flashbacks, readers meet an even younger Taylor performing bicycle stunts in front the bike store where he worked and winning amateur races in jaw-dropping fashion. Smith does not soft-pedal the challenges Taylor faced while breaking the color barrier in sports. Espinosa's cinematic digital illustrations in a palette of largely neutral colors use dynamic visual perspectives to propel the story with drama and charged emotion. Back matter includes a timeline, bibliography, and supplementary profile of Taylor.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shane W. Evans. A big-hearted, wide-ranging compilation intended to bring Black History Month alive, this volume highlights twenty-eight notable people or events (one for each day of February), starting with Attucks and ending with Obama, then a look to the future. Poems and brief informational paragraphs (in small italicized type) are complemented by bold mixed-media illustrations in a busy design. A good starting place for children. Bib.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith

(3) YA Nineteen-year-old Kevin's suicide prompts nine teens to reflect on intersections between their lives and Kevin's. Nine popular YA authors (including Rita Williams-Garcia, A. S. King, Ellen Hopkins, and Will Weaver) contribute short stories, each focusing on one of Kevin's loved ones or acquaintances. The multiplicity of perspectives within these interrelated stories produces an unusually nuanced characterization of a complex boy.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. In powerful verse that emphasizes the subjects' dedication and hard work, Smith relates slaves' contributions to the building of the White House in 1792; their labor provided many with trade skills, which then allowed them to "purchase freedom / earned brick by brick." Cooper's soft-focus sepia-toned art showing "black hands / white hands" working together on the historic project bolsters the inspirational story.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 "I am the spirit of generations gone." Often-striking photos of a diverse group of young people are accompanied by declarative statements, some of which are more effective than others, signifying their ethnic roots: a beautiful young lady wearing a traditional embroidered cheongsam is "a stitch of Chinese silk"; a boy eating a sausage is "the bite in bratwurst." Glos.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Frank Morrison. The historic East-West Classic of the Negro League (when African Americans were not allowed in the Major Leagues), is reported in play-by-play detail by a radio sportscaster. Awkward rhyming and uneven rhythm hamper the flow of an otherwise riveting narrative; the text, nicely accompanied by black-and-white graphite drawings, allows readers to become acquainted with early baseball greats.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Nine short stories by young adult authors including Robert Lipstyte, Rita Williams-Garcia, Joseph Bruchac, and Walter Dean Myers capture the activity of an urban New York City basketball court in a single day. The volume is less one cohesive whole than vignettes of a place and time. Poems and black-and-white photographs by Smith as well as an afterword by Aronson enhance the work.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Shane W. Evans. Smith tells the heavyweight champ's story in ballad form, which suits the larger-than-life feel of this dramatic tale. Johnson's quest to be champion was hampered by white title-holders; his persistence was eventually rewarded. The poetry is interspersed with quotes of the time. Evans uses oil paint and ink to depict the determined fighter, with newspapers, maps, and crowds in the backgrounds. Bib.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2010

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by P. Craig Russell. This book is about the twelve Olympian gods (not Greek heroes as the title suggests). Written in singsongy rhyme, each vignette gives an overview of the god or goddess, explaining his or her role in the pantheon and associated activities and legends. The digitally colored illustrations and fonts used are in the style of comic books.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) PS Illustrated by Noah Z. Jones. Two children go running, twirling, and twisting down the street gathering items for a party, accompanied by the text's rhythmic refrain: "Shake, shake, shake it, baby! / Come and dance with me!" The spirited watercolor, pencil, charcoal, and digital illustrations using simple shapes are full of movement. Sturdy pages are appropriate for a very young audience.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) YA Shawn spends the summer playing basketball and trying to stay out of gang territory in Compton. While considering whether to enroll in a high school outside Compton, he weighs the freedoms of a new school against the security of his old friendships. The gritty, urban setting comes alive through Smith's dialogue and descriptions of the hood.

Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor

(4) 4-6 Six short stories highlighting different sports share one message: to be a great athlete, mind and body must work together. A young gymnast overcomes her fear of doing a back handspring; a soccer team finds success when the girls function as a unit. The book is handsome, with a jazzy layout that forefronts photographs and typography, but it can't disguise the stories' sameness.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Bryan Collier. This book provides insight into the nuances of Ali's personality and the racism he fought with words and fists. Smith's extensive rhyming text mimics the cadence of the boxer's own poetic bravado; oversize quotes are interspersed. Collier's glowing, dignified mixed-media art captures the intensity of Ali's facial expressions and the explosive athleticism of the fighters. Timeline.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2008

(3) 4-6 In this companion to Hoop Queens, Smith catches the energy of twelve NBA stars, including Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, and Jason Kidd. The dynamic raplike rhythms ("crooked cornrows / cause chaotic / and catastrophic collisions / with precision") and a colorful design enhance the black-and-white action photos. Endnotes explore Smith's inspirations for the poems.

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) K-3 In his eclectic paean to America's favorite pastime, Smith has not so much written about baseball as he has attempted to capture the poetry inherent in the game. His uneven but thoughtfully varied collection includes a play-by-play, a baseball player's superstitions, and a selection of standard advice, all accompanied by nostalgic color photos of young (male) players.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) K-3 "I am almond eyes. I am a proud nose. I am cheeks freckled the color of a rose." This rhymed salute to the cultural variety found in the United States would be tiresomely sanctimonious if not for the images illustrating the text: color headshots of racially and ethnically diverse elementary-school-age kids who seem to genuinely enjoy mugging for the camera.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Twelve professional women's basketball players, including Chamique Holdsclaw, Tina Thompson, and Nikki McCray, are presented through the rhythmic beat of Smith's poetry. Alliterative phrases and well-paced rhymes capture the impressive women and energetic game. Sepia-toned action photos are enhanced by splashes of color and playful type. Notes at the back explore Smith's inspirations for the poems.

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) K-3 Thirteen varied poems explore musical terms, as in "Tempo" and "Alto Haiku," and musical performance, from "Deep Breaths" to "Harmony." Photographs of uneven quality capture the energy, intensity, and joy of members of the Boys Choir of Harlem as they study, practice, and "belt out a tune." Glos.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(3) 4-6 The swift rhythm of these poems matches the fast pace of basketball. Text and color photos are artfully placed on double-page spreads, conveying the movement of the game and the energetic tone of the poems. Each poem captures a pure moment in basketball--the beauty of a pass, a spin, a shot. A glossary of poetry terms is appended.

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(3) K-3 Text and photos describe a day of fun for Alex and his dog Loki. Color photos and text in a clear, rounded typeface follow events from Alex's point of view; on alternating pages, black-and-white photos and text in a scratchy, rough typeface show the same events through Loki's eyes. Kids will laugh at the different, often opposing perspectives and the dog's-eye-view pictures.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden