(4) YA Superstars of Pro Football series. Each volume covers the career of a current professional football player. This series reveals more personal details than most, including a photograph of Roethlisberger's damaged motorcycle and Ware's neck injury (but no mention of Favre's "sexting"). The cramped pages are packed with action photos, highlighted pull-quotes, and "Cross-Currents" sidebars that direct readers to more detailed information on related football facts, coaches, and players. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Superstars of Pro Football titles: Ben Roethlisberger, DeMarcus Ware, Jason Witten, Brett Favre, DeSean Jackson, and Drew Brees.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) K-3 Football Heroes Making a Difference series. Each short biography begins with the player's career highlights and concludes by showcasing his charitable works (e.g., Urlacher's commitment to the Special Olympics, McNabb's work with the American Diabetes Association). Large, bright action shots and a smattering of family photographs add interest to the well-intentioned but information-sparse volumes. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Football Heroes Making a Difference titles: Ben Roethlisberger, Brett Favre, Brian Urlacher, Donovan McNabb, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Matt Hasselbeck.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) YA Football Superstars series. Readers will find this series a good resource for information about the NFL, including background and player stats. Photographs and text also reveal the human side of professional athletes: their personalities, fears, and successes. Readers learn of Walter Payton's serious liver illness, Dan Marino's son's struggles with autism, and Brett Favre's addiction to and recovery from prescription drugs. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Football Superstars titles: Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Tom Brady, Dan Marino, and Walter Payton.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. Each of these superficial biographies presents an NFL star's accomplishments on the field. The text touches on the subject's personal life and mentions the importance of working hard, but the focus is on exciting game details and statistics. The large print and color action photos may attract young fans and reluctant readers. Directory, reading list, stats, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Super Sports Star titles: Super Sports Star Jerome Bettis, Super Sports Star Brett Favre, Super Sports Star Daunte Culpepper, Super Sports Star Eddie George, and Super Sports Star Randy Moss.]

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) 4-6 Sports Reports series. Profiles of Kidd, a rising basketball star, and Favre, a reigning star of football, emphasize athletic achievements but reveal little about each player's personal life and character. Fact boxes highlight additional snippets of information, and large typeface and wide margins lend appeal for reluctant readers. Black-and-white photos appear throughout, and stats and chapter notes conclude each volume. Ind.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) 4-6 Sports Stars series. Bright color photographs, large type, and easy-to-read narratives create a reader-friendly introduction to five contemporary sport stars. The biographies are brief, and the fast-paced texts, filled with impressive athletic accomplishments, should entice young fans. Chronologies are included.

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck