(3) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Brundage. A cumulative tale modeled after "The House That Jack Built" depicts the journey of the first three astronauts who traveled to the moon on Apollo 11. Additional bulleted facts accompany the author's lyrical, descriptive verses up to the welcome afforded the heroic travelers upon returning home. Brundage's cool palette enhances a mainly night-set story well-suited to bedtime reading. Reading list. Bib.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Rachel Himes. This smart, lively biography in verse tells the story of Lillian Hardin Armstrong--her talent as a musician and composer, her drive, and her instrumental role in popularizing both the career of husband Louis Armstrong and jazz itself. The black-and-white illustrations' gracefully energetic lines echo and underscore the strength and elegance of the "First Lady of Jazz." Robust back matter complements the concise text. Timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Michele Wood. Rockliff writes in an upbeat, toe-tapping first-person voice to tell the story of lesser-known black jazz pianist Lil Hardin, who was accomplished before she met and married jazz great Louis Armstrong. Wood's bold, naive acrylic paintings nicely match the era and subject. Photos, additional biographical information, and a list of songs complete the volume. Timeline. Bib.

Reviewer:

(2) K-3 Illustrated by James Ransome. The story of Armstrong's childhood and early adulthood is told in two voices and two fonts: a black, sans serif font for the third-person account, and a colorful font for (undocumented) first-person quotations from Satchmo himself. While the illustrations maintain a consistently upbeat mood, the story is one of challenge and optimism. Details in a lengthy author's note are better suited to older readers.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2016

(4) K-3 Zoom In on Pioneering Explorers series. These biographies highlight the groundbreaking accomplishments of three twentieth-century adventurers: astronauts Armstrong and Jemison and oceanographer Cousteau. Aligning to Common Core Standards, the volumes contain scant information in brief, mundane statements. The accompanying archival photos highlight the subjects' bravery. Lists of quick stats and key dates are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Zoom In on Pioneering Explorers titles: Jacques Cousteau, Mae Jemison, and Neil Armstrong.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Fact Finders: Cause and Effect: American Indian History series. By clearly delineating their causes and effects, these books briefly recount two tragic events in U.S./Native American history: Custer's ill-fated attempt to bring Lakota tribes into submission (Last) and the Cherokee Nation's removal from the east to Indian Territory in Oklahoma (Forced). Illustrations, charts, and maps enhance the lackluster texts. Common Core critical thinking prompts are included. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Fact Finders: Cause and Effect: American Indian History titles: Last Stand and Forced Removal.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Adventures in Space series. Organized chronologically, these slender space-flight-oriented biographies discuss their subjects' training and give step-by-step accounts of their groundbreaking missions: Armstrong as the first human on the moon and Ride as the first American woman in space. Plentiful photos, sidebars, diagrams, and details on astronauts' routines convey a you-are-there feeling, while later chapters cover the astronauts' lives back on Earth. Reading list, timeline, Glos., ind. Review covers these Adventures in Space titles: Neil Armstrong and Traveling to the Moon and Sally Ride and the Shuttle Missions.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) YA Remember series. This book recounts the controversial battle between the U.S. Cavalry and the Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Indians at the Little Bighorn River in 1876. Details of significant events are drawn from first-person accounts of both soldiers and Native Americans who witnessed the bloody struggle. Paintings, drawings, maps, and archival photos enhance and enliven the well-written, well-documented, and balanced text. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA In United States History series. In these informative volumes, originally published under slightly different titles in the In American History series, four seminal events in United States history are recounted in detailed but never dull prose. Unfortunately, the black-and-white photos have been removed from these new editions, making for dense packages. There are four other fall 2014 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Ind. Review covers these In United States History titles: The Battle of the Little Bighorn in United States History, The Watergate Scandal in United States History, The Industrial Revolution in United States History, and The Reconstruction of the South After the Civil War in United States History.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) YA With her sister and parents absorbed in their own issues, Scarlett, sixteen, takes on the care of her autistic younger brother, Cliff. It is 1969, and after the moon landing, Cliff decides to build a rocket to fly to Jupiter, an ambition Scarlett spends her summer supporting. Christian readers will relate to Scarlett's unwavering faith, but this novel by a teen author is unevenly plotted.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 In austere yet vivid prose, a fictional fifteen-year-old Sioux participant tells of the tragic battle. Linking the personal narrative are objective explanatory passages providing historical and military details. Brilliant stylized pictures, full of color and movement, are influenced by Plains Indians illustrative art. This revised and updated edition of Goble's first book includes a new author's introduction. Reading list. Bib.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc. | Horn Book Magazine Issue: February, 1971

(4) K-3 Famous African Americans series. Each simply written title in this updated series (originally published in 1991 and 1992) provides an adequate introduction to a notable African American. Archival photographs, mostly black and white, and mediocre color illustrations appear on every spread. Large type and short sentences make these books suitable for use with reluctant readers. There are six other spring 2013 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Famous African Americans titles: Carter G. Woodson, George Washington Carver, Louis Armstrong, Marian Anderson, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Paul Robeson.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) 4-6 Famous Lives series. This readable volume is chock-full of trivia about cycling champion Armstrong (minus doping allegations and divorce). Section headings help organize the information--and will help readers navigate the crowded spreads--while sidebars provide additional information. The "A Day in the Life" section and "Do You Have What It Takes?" personality quiz may engage readers. The many photographs are generally relevant. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Frank Morrison. Louis Armstrong's first trumpet narrates this story of Satchmo's boyhood. From his playing a toy horn around his New Orleans neighborhood to leading the Colored Waif's Home band to his days under bandleader King Oliver's tutelage, Armstrong's soon-to-be-illustrious career develops. The accessible text is filled with noteworthy facts and details. An afterword provides additional information. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) 4-6 Ten-year-old Tammy is left lonely--and angry--when best friend Kebsie, a foster child, suddenly moves away. Scrawny Douglas McGinty, the new whopper-telling foster kid Tammy dubs "Muscle Man," becomes the object of her ire. This poignant story, set against a well-realized backdrop of the Vietnam War and the first moon walk, looks at how loss can both isolate people and bring them together.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) 1-3 Magic Tree House series. Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. Siblings Jack and Annie time travel to 1915 New Orleans in search of the young Louis Armstrong: they must get him on track to share his musical gift with the world. This is one of the better--smoother, more compelling--recent books in the series (a superfluous run-in with a ghost notwithstanding). The well-composed black-and-white illustrations occasionally span two pages.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. After dancing to Louis Armstrong's music with her mom, the narrator dreams that he teaches her to scat about her subject of choice: bubble gum. This commendable effort to introduce young readers to Armstrong could use some shaping, and scat on paper ("Dooo-bleee-ooo-DIP-DOP") just doesn't swing, but Christie's acrylics inject the printed soundtrack with as much music as possible.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Sterling Biographies series. Attractive layouts and numerous images of photos, paintings, documents, etc., (e.g., Armstrong's high school yearbook entry) make for engaging, easy-to-approach biographies. Each volume begins by detailing a significant moment (Alamo for Crockett, moon landing for Armstrong, underwater anniversary party for Cousteau) then backtracks to the subject's birth to continue the detail-rich narrative. Sidebars flesh out historical contexts and important contemporaries. Source notes. Timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Sterling Biographies titles: Neil Armstrong, Jacques Cousteau, and Davy Crockett.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 People to Know Today series. Hill chronicles Armstrong's battle with cancer and seven Tour de France wins. Containing basic information about Armstrong's life and the world of professional cycling, this book will appeal to his fans but may also find an audience in those curious about the sport or looking for a story about overcoming adversity. Stock photos accompany the generally positive but dry text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer:

(4) YA African-American Biography Library series. These entries in the competent series trace the lives and contributions of outstanding personalities in the performing arts. Information in each title includes a well-balanced presentation of the trials and triumphs of the subject, fostered by social attitudes during his time. The text, though uninspired, is useful. Formulaic design includes photos, sidebars, and boxed quotes throughout each book. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these African-American Biography Library titles: Duke Ellington, Paul Robeson, and Louis Armstrong.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith