(4) 4-6 African-American Collective Biographies series. These volumes profile eminent African American figures from various cultural fields. Each icon has his or her own chapter offering basic biographical information, archival photographs (some appear doctored), career highlights, and a timeline. This series is suitable for introductions but not in-depth research. Readers may be distracted by a hodgepodge of graphics and borders. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these African-American Collective Biographies titles: Awesome African-American Rock and Soul Musicians, Incredible African-American Jazz Musicians, Inspring African-American Civil Rights Leaders, Celebrated African-American Novelists, Extraordinary African-American Poets, and Amazing African-American Actors.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) 4-6 African-American Collective Biographies series. These volumes profile eminent African American figures from various cultural fields. Each icon has his or her own chapter offering basic biographical information, archival photographs (some appear doctored), career highlights, and a timeline. This series is suitable for introductions but not in-depth research. Readers may be distracted by a hodgepodge of graphics and borders. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these African-American Collective Biographies titles: Awesome African-American Rock and Soul Musicians, Incredible African-American Jazz Musicians, Inspring African-American Civil Rights Leaders, Celebrated African-American Novelists, Extraordinary African-American Poets, and Amazing African-American Actors.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) 4-6 African-American Collective Biographies series. These volumes profile eminent African American figures from various cultural fields. Each icon has his or her own chapter offering basic biographical information, archival photographs (some appear doctored), career highlights, and a timeline. This series is suitable for introductions but not in-depth research. Readers may be distracted by a hodgepodge of graphics and borders. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these African-American Collective Biographies titles: Awesome African-American Rock and Soul Musicians, Incredible African-American Jazz Musicians, Inspring African-American Civil Rights Leaders, Celebrated African-American Novelists, Extraordinary African-American Poets, and Amazing African-American Actors.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) 4-6 African-American Collective Biographies series. These volumes profile eminent African American figures from various cultural fields. Each icon has his or her own chapter offering basic biographical information, archival photographs (some appear doctored), career highlights, and a timeline. This series is suitable for introductions but not in-depth research. Readers may be distracted by a hodgepodge of graphics and borders. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these African-American Collective Biographies titles: Awesome African-American Rock and Soul Musicians, Incredible African-American Jazz Musicians, Inspring African-American Civil Rights Leaders, Celebrated African-American Novelists, Extraordinary African-American Poets, and Amazing African-American Actors.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) 4-6 African-American Collective Biographies series. These volumes profile eminent African American figures from various cultural fields. Each icon has his or her own chapter offering basic biographical information, archival photographs (some appear doctored), career highlights, and a timeline. This series is suitable for introductions but not in-depth research. Readers may be distracted by a hodgepodge of graphics and borders. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these African-American Collective Biographies titles: Awesome African-American Rock and Soul Musicians, Incredible African-American Jazz Musicians, Inspring African-American Civil Rights Leaders, Celebrated African-American Novelists, Extraordinary African-American Poets, and Amazing African-American Actors.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) 4-6 African-American Collective Biographies series. These volumes profile eminent African American figures from various cultural fields. Each icon has his or her own chapter offering basic biographical information, archival photographs (some appear doctored), career highlights, and a timeline. This series is suitable for introductions but not in-depth research. Readers may be distracted by a hodgepodge of graphics and borders. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these African-American Collective Biographies titles: Awesome African-American Rock and Soul Musicians, Incredible African-American Jazz Musicians, Inspring African-American Civil Rights Leaders, Celebrated African-American Novelists, Extraordinary African-American Poets, and Amazing African-American Actors.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(3) 4-6 African-American Biographies series. This balanced biography of the dance icon describes the events that influenced his work, including such masterpieces as Revelations and Cry. Cruz discusses Ailey's pioneering efforts to form a dance company that showcased African-American experiences and concludes with a chapter on his legacy. Black-and-white photographs accompany the accessible text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto

(4) 4-6 African-American Biographies series. After overcoming double pneumonia, scarlet fever, and polio--all at the same time--Rudolph was left with a crippled leg. Years of physical therapy paid off, and Rudolph went on to win three gold medals at the 1960 Olympics. This biography, though sometimes adulatory, covers both her personal and professional life. Black-and-white photos illustrate the text. Timeline, reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 African-American Biographies series. This biography follows Garvey's life from his childhood in Jamaica to his work for black equity and his belief that the races needed to be separate. Though Garvey is an intriguing character, lack of sufficient details and a dry text detract from this otherwise useful book. Black-and-white reproductions illustrate the text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 African-American Biographies series. Bethune, born to former slaves in 1875, became one of the most influential African-American women in the country. This biography details her struggles for racial equality, her establishment of a school for black children, and her leadership in a number of national organizations. Black-and-white photos accompany the choppy text. Chronology, reading list, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 African-American Biographies series. These books provide overviews of the lives of prominent African Americans. The readable text superficially covers each subject's childhood, mentors he or she encountered, struggles through adversity, and contributions to society. The accompanying photographs don't always match the text, but the books are sufficient introductions for report writers. There are ten other new books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these African-American Biographies titles: Zora Neale Hurston, Marcus Garvey, Robert Parris Moses, Paul Robeson, Bessie Smith, and Medgar Evers.]

Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto

(4) 4-6 African-American Biographies series. These books provide overviews of the lives of prominent African Americans. The readable text superficially covers each subject's childhood, mentors he or she encountered, struggles through adversity, and contributions to society. The accompanying photographs don't always match the text, but the books are sufficient introductions for report writers. There are ten other new books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these African-American Biographies titles: Zora Neale Hurston, Marcus Garvey, Robert Parris Moses, Paul Robeson, Bessie Smith, and Medgar Evers.]

Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto

(4) 4-6 African-American Biographies series. These books provide overviews of the lives of prominent African Americans. The readable text superficially covers each subject's childhood, mentors he or she encountered, struggles through adversity, and contributions to society. The accompanying photographs don't always match the text, but the books are sufficient introductions for report writers. There are ten other new books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these African-American Biographies titles: Zora Neale Hurston, Marcus Garvey, Robert Parris Moses, Paul Robeson, Bessie Smith, and Medgar Evers.]

Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto

(4) 4-6 African-American Biographies series. These books provide overviews of the lives of prominent African Americans. The readable text superficially covers each subject's childhood, mentors he or she encountered, struggles through adversity, and contributions to society. The accompanying photographs don't always match the text, but the books are sufficient introductions for report writers. There are ten other new books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these African-American Biographies titles: Zora Neale Hurston, Marcus Garvey, Robert Parris Moses, Paul Robeson, Bessie Smith, and Medgar Evers.]

Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto

(4) YA African-American Biographies series. These books chronicle the obstacles and accomplishments of the individuals and their contributions to America. All four provide adequate background information to establish an appropriate context; those of Drew and Terrell include frequent parenthetical definitions. The black-and-white illustrations enhance the easy-to-follow text (which may seem condescending to more accomplished readers). Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these African-American Biographies titles: Mahalia Jackson, Mary Church Terrell, Dr. Charles Drew, and Denzel Washington.]

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) YA African-American Biographies series. These books chronicle the obstacles and accomplishments of the individuals and their contributions to America. All four provide adequate background information to establish an appropriate context; those of Drew and Terrell include frequent parenthetical definitions. The black-and-white illustrations enhance the easy-to-follow text (which may seem condescending to more accomplished readers). Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these African-American Biographies titles: Mahalia Jackson, Mary Church Terrell, Dr. Charles Drew, and Denzel Washington.]

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) 4-6 African-American Biographies series. These books provide overviews of the lives of prominent African Americans. The readable text superficially covers each subject's childhood, mentors he or she encountered, struggles through adversity, and contributions to society. The accompanying photographs don't always match the text, but the books are sufficient introductions for report writers. There are ten other new books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these African-American Biographies titles: Zora Neale Hurston, Marcus Garvey, Robert Parris Moses, Paul Robeson, Bessie Smith, and Medgar Evers.]

Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto

(4) YA African-American Biographies series. These books chronicle the obstacles and accomplishments of the individuals and their contributions to America. All four provide adequate background information to establish an appropriate context; those of Drew and Terrell include frequent parenthetical definitions. The black-and-white illustrations enhance the easy-to-follow text (which may seem condescending to more accomplished readers). Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these African-American Biographies titles: Mahalia Jackson, Mary Church Terrell, Dr. Charles Drew, and Denzel Washington.]

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) 4-6 African-American Biographies series. These books provide overviews of the lives of prominent African Americans. The readable text superficially covers each subject's childhood, mentors he or she encountered, struggles through adversity, and contributions to society. The accompanying photographs don't always match the text, but the books are sufficient introductions for report writers. There are ten other new books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these African-American Biographies titles: Zora Neale Hurston, Marcus Garvey, Robert Parris Moses, Paul Robeson, Bessie Smith, and Medgar Evers.]

Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto

(4) YA African-American Biographies series. These books chronicle the obstacles and accomplishments of the individuals and their contributions to America. All four provide adequate background information to establish an appropriate context; those of Drew and Terrell include frequent parenthetical definitions. The black-and-white illustrations enhance the easy-to-follow text (which may seem condescending to more accomplished readers). Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these African-American Biographies titles: Mahalia Jackson, Mary Church Terrell, Dr. Charles Drew, and Denzel Washington.]

Reviewer: Christina Dorr