(4) K-3 Step into Reading series. Illustrated by Cliff Spohn. These revised and updated easy readers, effectively illustrated with both drawings and black-and-white and color photographs, tell the stories of famous sluggers including Babe Ruth, Roberto Clemente, and Barry Bonds (speculation about steroid use is briefly mentioned). Simple stats are included in Hitters. In both books, the vocabulary is accessible but the writing, in distracting present-tense, is choppy. Review covers these Step into Reading titles: Baseball's Best and Baseball's Greatest Hitters.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Step into Reading series. Illustrated by Cliff Spohn. This simple introduction to one of the most influential women of the twentieth century is geared toward more independent readers. The somewhat choppily written text follows Roosevelt's childhood and young adult years, outlines her contributions as First Lady, and discusses her work after her husband's death. A combination of sometimes stiff artwork and archival photographs illustrate this biography.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee