(4) 4-6 Sports Star Champions series. These formulaic biographies feature accessible texts describing the careers of famous athletes and plenty of full-page color photographs. The open, non-intimidating pages and information that should satisfy book-report requirements recommend the titles for purchase. Difficulties some of the athletes have had (such as "personal problems" for Bryant and steroid use for Rodriguez) are acknowledged but not sensationalized. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Star Champions titles: Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Payton Manning, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Sports Stars with Heart series. Though they're a bit idealized, professional athletes in baseball, basketball, and football are honored here for their personal and professional role-model status. The bulk of each book details the athlete's impressive career; the subject's childhood, community service, and charitable works are also highlighted. Many photographs, sidebars, and career stats are included. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Stars with Heart titles: LaDainian Tomlinson, Peyton Manning, LeBron James, Derek Jeter, Shaquille O'Neal, and Tim Duncan.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Sports Great Books series. The formulaic, adulatory books in this series adequately profile a superstar athlete, briefly covering the subject's childhood and college (or early) career before focusing on professional success. The text features lots of important game (or race) highlights and is accompanied by repetitive black-and-white action shots. Fans and report writers will be satisfied. A chart of career stats is appended. Ind. [Review covers these titles: Sports Great Alex Rodriguez, Sports Great Jeff Gordon, Sports Great Vince Carter, Sports Great Tim Duncan.]

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. The large print and readable text will encourage young fans to read about professional basketball player Tim Duncan. Play-by-play game details make up most of this formulaic sports biography, but some basic personal anecdotes (fear of sharks, childhood dream of swimming in the Olympics) are incorporated. Stock photos and career statistics are included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) 4-6 Sports Reports series. Super Bowl MVP Davis, Caribbean-born basketball player Duncan, and longtime NASCAR driver Earnhardt are the subjects of these biographies that provide detailed coverage of their achievements on sports but only sketchy information about their personal lives. The black-and-white photographs are unexceptional, but the big print, wide margins, and boxed facts will draw kids who may ordinarily be more interested in sports than reading. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 New Wave series. Profiling young athletes who have risen quickly in their sports, these biographies of three admirable young men discuss how each one overcame adversity in childhood to reach the pinnacle of his career: Rodriguez in baseball, Davis in football, and Duncan in basketball. The photographs aren't always engaging, but the texts offer much to interest fans. Ind.

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck