(4) 4-6 Sports Star Champions series. These formulaic biographies feature accessible texts describing the careers of famous athletes and plenty of full-page color photographs. The open, non-intimidating pages and information that should satisfy book-report requirements recommend the titles for purchase. Difficulties some of the athletes have had (such as "personal problems" for Bryant and steroid use for Rodriguez) are acknowledged but not sensationalized. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Star Champions titles: Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Payton Manning, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Sports Star Champions series. These formulaic biographies feature accessible texts describing the careers of famous athletes and plenty of full-page color photographs. The open, non-intimidating pages and information that should satisfy book-report requirements recommend the titles for purchase. Difficulties some of the athletes have had (such as "personal problems" for Bryant and steroid use for Rodriguez) are acknowledged but not sensationalized. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Star Champions titles: Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Payton Manning, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Sports Star Champions series. These formulaic biographies feature accessible texts describing the careers of famous athletes and plenty of full-page color photographs. The open, non-intimidating pages and information that should satisfy book-report requirements recommend the titles for purchase. Difficulties some of the athletes have had (such as "personal problems" for Bryant and steroid use for Rodriguez) are acknowledged but not sensationalized. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Star Champions titles: Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Payton Manning, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) K-3 Funny Bone Jokes series. Each volume presents mostly familiar (along with some that are fresher) jokes, tongue twisters, and limericks; "Fun Facts" text boxes provide a little nonfiction alongside the zaniness. The books are divided into short, topic-based chapters (e.g., "Cats," "Ocean Animals," and "Insects" in Animal Jokes). Over-the-top black-and-white caricatures illustrate the jokes. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Funny Bone Jokes titles: Food Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone, Gross Body Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone, Animal Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone, Ha-Ha Holiday Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone, Weird Science Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone, and Sports Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. Six contemporary baseball stars are honored in serviceable biographies, all generously illustrated with color photos, intended for reluctant readers. The books' basic, unremarkable writing focuses primarily on key moments in the players' major-league careers. Rodriguez, currently playing for the Yankees, is pictured in his Rangers uniform; the other titles are also outdated. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Super Sports Star titles: Super Sports Star Mike Piazza, Super Sports Star Alex Rodriguez, Super Sports Star Ichiro Suzuki, Super Sports Star Barry Bonds, Super Sports Star Chipper Jones, and Super Sports Star Ken Griffey, Jr.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. Six contemporary baseball stars are honored in serviceable biographies, all generously illustrated with color photos, intended for reluctant readers. The books' basic, unremarkable writing focuses primarily on key moments in the players' major-league careers. Rodriguez, currently playing for the Yankees, is pictured in his Rangers uniform; the other titles are also outdated. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Super Sports Star titles: Super Sports Star Mike Piazza, Super Sports Star Alex Rodriguez, Super Sports Star Ichiro Suzuki, Super Sports Star Barry Bonds, Super Sports Star Chipper Jones, and Super Sports Star Ken Griffey, Jr.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. Six contemporary baseball stars are honored in serviceable biographies, all generously illustrated with color photos, intended for reluctant readers. The books' basic, unremarkable writing focuses primarily on key moments in the players' major-league careers. Rodriguez, currently playing for the Yankees, is pictured in his Rangers uniform; the other titles are also outdated. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Super Sports Star titles: Super Sports Star Mike Piazza, Super Sports Star Alex Rodriguez, Super Sports Star Ichiro Suzuki, Super Sports Star Barry Bonds, Super Sports Star Chipper Jones, and Super Sports Star Ken Griffey, Jr.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. Each of these superficial biographies presents an NFL star's accomplishments on the field. The text touches on the subject's personal life and mentions the importance of working hard, but the focus is on exciting game details and statistics. The large print and color action photos may attract young fans and reluctant readers. Directory, reading list, stats, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Super Sports Star titles: Super Sports Star Jerome Bettis, Super Sports Star Brett Favre, Super Sports Star Daunte Culpepper, Super Sports Star Eddie George, and Super Sports Star Randy Moss.]

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. Each of these superficial biographies presents an NFL star's accomplishments on the field. The text touches on the subject's personal life and mentions the importance of working hard, but the focus is on exciting game details and statistics. The large print and color action photos may attract young fans and reluctant readers. Directory, reading list, stats, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Super Sports Star titles: Super Sports Star Jerome Bettis, Super Sports Star Brett Favre, Super Sports Star Daunte Culpepper, Super Sports Star Eddie George, and Super Sports Star Randy Moss.]

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. Each of these superficial biographies presents an NFL star's accomplishments on the field. The text touches on the subject's personal life and mentions the importance of working hard, but the focus is on exciting game details and statistics. The large print and color action photos may attract young fans and reluctant readers. Directory, reading list, stats, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Super Sports Star titles: Super Sports Star Jerome Bettis, Super Sports Star Brett Favre, Super Sports Star Daunte Culpepper, Super Sports Star Eddie George, and Super Sports Star Randy Moss.]

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. Each of these superficial biographies presents an NFL star's accomplishments on the field. The text touches on the subject's personal life and mentions the importance of working hard, but the focus is on exciting game details and statistics. The large print and color action photos may attract young fans and reluctant readers. Directory, reading list, stats, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Super Sports Star titles: Super Sports Star Jerome Bettis, Super Sports Star Brett Favre, Super Sports Star Daunte Culpepper, Super Sports Star Eddie George, and Super Sports Star Randy Moss.]

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. Each book in this series provides a superficial introduction to a contemporary standout in the NBA. The portraits highlight exciting game details and statistics, yet contain little personal background. The large print and the stock photographs of each player's professional team may appeal to young fans. Career statistics and contact information are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these titles: Super Sports Star Grant Hill, Super Sports Star Glen Rice, Super Sports Star Chris Webber, Super Sports Star Jason Kidd, Super Sports Star Vince Carter.]

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. Each book in this series provides a superficial introduction to a contemporary standout in the NBA. The portraits highlight exciting game details and statistics, yet contain little personal background. The large print and the stock photographs of each player's professional team may appeal to young fans. Career statistics and contact information are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these titles: Super Sports Star Grant Hill, Super Sports Star Glen Rice, Super Sports Star Chris Webber, Super Sports Star Jason Kidd, Super Sports Star Vince Carter.]

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. Each book in this series provides a superficial introduction to a contemporary standout in the NBA. The portraits highlight exciting game details and statistics, yet contain little personal background. The large print and the stock photographs of each player's professional team may appeal to young fans. Career statistics and contact information are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these titles: Super Sports Star Grant Hill, Super Sports Star Glen Rice, Super Sports Star Chris Webber, Super Sports Star Jason Kidd, Super Sports Star Vince Carter.]

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) 4-6 Sports Reports series. Most of this laudatory biography is guided by play-by-play details of several of Iverson's momentous games. Thornley discusses Iverson's struggles with poverty and the law while growing up in Virginia, but the basketball player's exceptional athletic skills remain the highlight. The black-and-white action photos and portraits are unexceptional, but the wide-margin format and reader-friendly design may draw fans. Ind.

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. The large print and readable text will encourage young fans to read about professional basketball player Tim Duncan. Play-by-play game details make up most of this formulaic sports biography, but some basic personal anecdotes (fear of sharks, childhood dream of swimming in the Olympics) are incorporated. Stock photos and career statistics are included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. These formulaic biographies outline the athletic careers of four professional basketball players. With only stock photographs from each player's professional team and a brief chapter on his childhood, the books offer little depth. The large print, readable text, and color photographs, however, may encourage young fans. Career statistics and contact information are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Super Sports titles: Super Sports Star Gary Payton, Super Sports Star Penny Hardaway, Super Sports Star Kevin Garnett, Super Sports Star Kobe Bryant.]

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. These formulaic biographies outline the athletic careers of four professional basketball players. With only stock photographs from each player's professional team and a brief chapter on his childhood, the books offer little depth. The large print, readable text, and color photographs, however, may encourage young fans. Career statistics and contact information are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Super Sports titles: Super Sports Star Gary Payton, Super Sports Star Penny Hardaway, Super Sports Star Kevin Garnett, Super Sports Star Kobe Bryant.]

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) 4-6 Sports Reports series. Athletes from football, basketball, hockey, and baseball are profiled in books that emphasize professional achievements but reveal limited information about each sportsman's personality. The accessible format, which includes a large typeface, wide margins, and fact boxes, will lure reluctant readers; the accompanying black-and-white photos all look the same and are frequently dark. A list of stats is included in each volume. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Sports Reports series. Athletes from football, basketball, hockey, and baseball are profiled in books that emphasize professional achievements but reveal limited information about each sportsman's personality. The accessible format, which includes a large typeface, wide margins, and fact boxes, will lure reluctant readers; the accompanying black-and-white photos all look the same and are frequently dark. A list of stats is included in each volume. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta