(4) 4-6 Basic text summarizes the key events in John Glenn's life, leading to his historic flight aboard Friendship 7, while sidebar information (in very small type) provides more details; in some cases, readers are expected to have prior knowledge of historical events they aren't likely to have learned about yet. Bold acrylic paintings effectively capture the excitement of their subject's life.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 This biography of the first American to orbit in space begins with a foreword by Glenn himself. The informative text can be wordy at times, and some sloppy photo placement makes for some bad line- and page breaks. But overall, there is enough worthwhile information (including many quotations by the subject) to make this a good resource for young astro-enthusiasts. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 Just the Facts Biographies series. Although Winfrey suffers from wooden prose, all four of these biographies offer some insight into their subjects' lives, inadvertently giving lie to the series' title. Occasional sidebars share useful historical perspectives, but disruptive "It's a Fact!" boxes contain information that should have been integrated into the texts. Black-and-white photos appear throughout. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Just the Facts Biographies tiles: J. R. R. Tolkien, Oprah Winfrey, Benjamin Franklin, and John Glenn.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Using sources such as Glenn's own memoir and the transcript from the Friendship 7 flight, this dramatized history chronicles Glenn's boyhood through his flight aboard the shuttle Discovery at age seventy-seven. In a dull design, the dutiful text is uninterrupted by art (except for a final ten-page illustrated section), making this fairly slow going. Reading list. Bib.

Reviewer: Connie ANn Kirk

(4) K-3 Explore Space! series. Short paragraphs offer information about the accomplishments of well-known astronauts. Each spread has relevant photos on the left-hand page, while the right-hand page highlights major points in the featured person's life. An abrupt conclusion may feel awkward to early readers. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Explore Space! titles: Christa McAuliffe, John Glenn, Mae Jemison, and Neil Armstrong.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 4-6 Countdown to Space series. These are detailed, readable histories of the U.S. space program. The purposes and personal aspects of the missions are thoroughly covered, and the rewards and the dangers of space exploration are recounted. (Spacechimp contains a few misleading statements). The accessible texts are accompanied by plenty of well-captioned photos and diagrams, though the book design is busy. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(4) YA People to Know series. This biography is revised to include Glenn's return to space--at age seventy-seven--as a payload specialist on the Discovery space shuttle and his later retirement from Congress. The pedestrian prose is accompanied by sometimes dark black-and-white photographs. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA John Glenn was the first American to orbit earth; in 1998 he returned to space at the age of seventy-seven. Although Glenn's first spacecraft capsule is misnamed in part of the text, this book provides an engaging history of both of Glenn's space flights. Black-and-white and color photos and a time line complete the presentation. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) YA A & E Biography series. These biographies examine the lives of four twentieth-century figures who achieved fame in vastly different fields (though two--Glenn and Ventura--both ended up in politics). The books, illustrated with black-and-white and color photographs, provide a broad overview of each individual's achievements in prose that is more serviceable than inspired. Lucas contains a filmography. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta