(4) K-3 Zoom In on Trailblazing Athletes series. This biography series features minority and female athletes (four men, two women) who helped shatter glass ceilings in their respective sports (tennis, golf, baseball, and boxing). The simplistic texts, which align to Common Core Standards, often raise more questions than answers but may inspire further reading. Archival photographs add interest, and lists of quick stats and key dates are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Zoom In on Trailblazing Athletes titles: Arthur Ashe, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Billie Jean King, Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, and Roberto Clemente.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) YA Legendary Athletes series. These reasonably comprehensive volumes explore the title athletes' childhoods, early careers, and rise within their sports. Admirable attention is paid to the societal and political constraints facing the men and women, in addition to their own social activism (e.g., King's fight for women's and gay rights, Ashe's work against apartheid in South Africa). A good selection of photographs are included. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Legendary Athletes titles: Billie Jean King, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Arthur Ashe, and Jesse Owens.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Kevin Belford. This picture book biography focuses largely on the difficulties Ashe overcame along the way to achieving his stellar tennis goals. Born in an era of segregated sports facilities, lacking financial support, and often restricted from playing in tournaments, Ashe persevered; the text culminates in his 1975 defeat of Jimmy Connors. Belford's motion-filled acrylic illustrations enhance Hubbard's readable text. Timeline. Bib.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Impact Biography series. The thorough text follows Ashe's progress from child tennis prodigy to Wimbledon champion, detailing his battles with racism, his commitment to social causes, and his eventual grace in dealing with his terminal illness. Illustrated with black-and-white photos, the clearly written prose is well documented with quotes from sports journalism, author interviews, and Ashe's own writings. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta