(3) 4-6 Magnificent Book Of series. Illustrated by Simon Mendez & Val Walerczuk. After a brief introduction, double-page spreads portray thirty-six breeds of horses from the well-known (Thoroughbred) to the relatively obscure (Konik). Along with a large, realistic color portrait of each breed, the spreads contain chatty bullet points detailing the breed's history and a few other facts, usually emphasizing how tough and well-adapted to their environment the horses are; a "Fact file" gives further information on the breed's height, color, character, origin, and use (e.g., driving, riding, hauling, etc.). This browsable volume includes a world map pictorially indicating where each breed originated.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) K-3 Meet the Author series. These autobiographical slices of life describe the creative processes and experiences of three children's authors: nature writer/illustrator Arnosky; poetry and picture book writer Wong; and dance, art, and Latino culture author/photographer Ancona. The texts are brief, simply written, and informative. The many photos (some taken by the authors) give readers a view into the subjects' lives and interests. Review covers these Meet the Author titles: Self Portrait, Whole Days Outdoors, and Before It Wriggles Away.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) K-3 Meet the Author series. Photographs by Deanna L. Arnosky. These autobiographical slices of life describe the creative processes and experiences of three children's authors: nature writer/illustrator Arnosky; poetry and picture book writer Wong; and dance, art, and Latino culture author/photographer Ancona. The texts are brief, simply written, and informative. The many photos (some taken by the authors) give readers a view into the subjects' lives and interests. Review covers these Meet the Author titles: Self Portrait, Whole Days Outdoors, and Before It Wriggles Away.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) K-3 Meet the Author series. Photographs by Anne Lindsay. These autobiographical slices of life describe the creative processes and experiences of three children's authors: nature writer/illustrator Arnosky; poetry and picture book writer Wong; and dance, art, and Latino culture author/photographer Ancona. The texts are brief, simply written, and informative. The many photos (some taken by the authors) give readers a view into the subjects' lives and interests. Review covers these Meet the Author titles: Self Portrait, Whole Days Outdoors, and Before It Wriggles Away.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Meet the Author series. Photographs by Karen Bowers. Three popular children's book authors discuss how they became writers and illustrators; their families' role in shaping their destinies; and their artistic process, such as how to do pulp painting. This generally excellent series is distinguished by the authors' humility (Fleming shows readers her less-than-stellar grade-school report card) and by candid snapshots and archival images (regrettably lacking captions). [Review covers these Meet the Author titles: Maker of Things, If You Give an Author a Pencil, and Imagination.]

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Meet the Author series. Photographs by Sherry Shahan. Three popular children's book authors discuss how they became writers and illustrators; their families' role in shaping their destinies; and their artistic process, such as how to do pulp painting. This generally excellent series is distinguished by the authors' humility (Fleming shows readers her less-than-stellar grade-school report card) and by candid snapshots and archival images (regrettably lacking captions). [Review covers these Meet the Author titles: Maker of Things, If You Give an Author a Pencil, and Imagination.]

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Meet the Author series. Photographs by Sherry Shahan. Three popular children's book authors discuss how they became writers and illustrators; their families' role in shaping their destinies; and their artistic process, such as how to do pulp painting. This generally excellent series is distinguished by the authors' humility (Fleming shows readers her less-than-stellar grade-school report card) and by candid snapshots and archival images (regrettably lacking captions). [Review covers these Meet the Author titles: Maker of Things, If You Give an Author a Pencil, and Imagination.]

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Meet the Author series. Photographs by John Christopher Fine. A preoccupation with the natural world links these autobiographies by two successful children's book writers. Simon focuses on the writing process, while Cherry talks more about her environmental activism. Both authors effectively convey the challenges and rewards of their chosen career. Photographs, as well as reproductions of some of Cherry's earliest illustrations, reinforce the books' feeling of intimacy.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Meet the Author series. Photographs by Nina Crews. A preoccupation with the natural world links these autobiographies by two successful children's book writers. Simon focuses on the writing process, while Cherry talks more about her environmental activism. Both authors effectively convey the challenges and rewards of their chosen career. Photographs, as well as reproductions of some of Cherry's earliest illustrations, reinforce the books' feeling of intimacy.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Meet the Author series. Photographs by Nina Crews. These autobiographies place special emphasis on motivation: Adler's own interests and those of his family provide the creative spark for his fiction and nonfiction; Bruchac's pride in his Native American heritage informs his writing; and painter/author Locker's respect for nature inspires his stories. Recent and archival photographs and simple but artful prose convey everything from these writers' childhood dilemmas to their artistic frustrations.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Meet the Author series. Photographs by John Christopher Fine. These autobiographies place special emphasis on motivation: Adler's own interests and those of his family provide the creative spark for his fiction and nonfiction; Bruchac's pride in his Native American heritage informs his writing; and painter/author Locker's respect for nature inspires his stories. Recent and archival photographs and simple but artful prose convey everything from these writers' childhood dilemmas to their artistic frustrations.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Meet the Author series. Photographs by Tim Holmstrom. These autobiographies place special emphasis on motivation: Adler's own interests and those of his family provide the creative spark for his fiction and nonfiction; Bruchac's pride in his Native American heritage informs his writing; and painter/author Locker's respect for nature inspires his stories. Recent and archival photographs and simple but artful prose convey everything from these writers' childhood dilemmas to their artistic frustrations.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Meet the Author series. Photographs by Michael Craine. Published spring 1998.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(3) K-3 Meet the Author series. Photographs by Sherry Shahan. Published spring 1998.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(3) K-3 Meet the Author series. Photographs by David Gavril. Published spring 1998. Using the first person, three authors speak directly to their child readers, describing what drew them initially to writing, how they broke into the field, and what their daily writing routines are like. As with previous books in this accessible, engaging series, each volume is heavily illustrated with color photographs and, occasionally, by illustrations from each author's books.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne