(4) K-3 Illustrated by Melanie Rose. Each letter is matched with a short, awkward poem ("C is one man's Courage. / Jackie Robinson did his part / by showing skin color doesn't matter. / What counts is in your heart") and longer, more sophisticated--and more interesting--sidebars about various sports figures. Though some of the accompanying oil paintings are muddy, they effectively display each sport's action and thrills.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Melanie Rose. Each letter is matched with a short, awkward poem ("X is for the X Games. / Go for bronze, silver or gold / in the summer heat / or the winter cold") and longer, more sophisticated--and more interesting--sidebars about various extreme sports. Though some of the accompanying oil paintings are muddy, they effectively display each sport's action and thrills.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Melanie Rose. Inuksuit are figures made of stones, that have stood for centuries in the Canadian north. In a rather contrived story about how these figures were first created, an Inuit girl makes them to show her family's hunters the way home. Expansive double-page oil paintings show the majesty of the Arctic setting.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Melanie Rose-Popp. From A to Z, a playful though stiff rhyming text introduces the history, rules, and notable players of soccer. Lengthy, detailed sidebars offer additional information geared toward more sophisticated readers. Bold, action-filled illustrations accompany the mismatched texts in this unremarkable but adequate title for the hardcore soccer fan.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale