(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: STEM Smackdown series. These lively narratives investigate controversies surrounding who actually developed widely used STEM advances. Each text traces an invention's history, technology, and development by following the contest between two people, each of whom have claimed to be the true inventor. Well-designed with captioned color and black-and-white photographs, paintings, and diagrams, the books should intrigue readers and encourage further research. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: STEM Smackdown titles: Who Invented the Light Bulb?, Who Invented the Radio?, Who Invented the Telephone?, Who Invented the Airplane?, Who Invented the Movie Camera?, and Who Invented the Television?

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) K-3 Great Idea series. Illustrated by Richard Rudnicki. This picture book biography recounts the story of how a young Italian boy became the father of modern wireless technology. Marconi's love of science and his fascination with Ben Franklin's discoveries in electricity led him, through trial and error, to eventually send a message between England and Newfoundland via his wireless telegraph. Mediocre acrylic paintings accompany the brief but informative text.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Great Scientists series. These biographies cover the lives and accomplishments of some of the world's greatest scientists. Significant events are highlighted, along with major discoveries. Informative sidebars, photographs, and illustrations accompany the texts. Though the writing is choppy, the series is a decent introduction to important scientific figures. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Great Scientists titles: Rosalind Franklin, Guglielmo Marconi, and Louis Pasteur.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(4) 4-6 Inventors Who Changed the World series. This series provides a basic overview of each subject's life and career, including successes as well as mistakes and controversies. The series' design features generally well-reproduced archival photos, stock images of varying usefulness, and distracting, cluttered screen shots. Some less-motivated readers will appreciate the publisher's enhanced website. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Inventors Who Changed the World titles: Alexander Graham Bell, Louis Pasteur, Marconi and Tesla, and Philo T. Farnsworth.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Scientists Who Made History series. The books in this series capably introduce their subjects, including Marconi's experiments with wireless communication and Franklin's discovery of the structure of DNA. Short subdivisions are illustrated with photos--most relevant and some gratuitous--and other art; sidebars offer direct quotations and expanded explanations, many clear and a few insufficient. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Scientists Who Made History titles: Dian Fossey, Guglielmo Marconi, John Logie Baird, Leonardo da Vinci, Michael Faraday, and Rosalind Franklin.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA Giants of Science series. Beginning with an embellished account of a determining moment in the subject's professional life, the books in this series then include short segments expounding on events before and after. Photos and archival illustrations, as well as sidebar quotations and a time line, extend each text. Not all the subjects are scientists, though, and Gutenberg is really a history of printing. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Giants of Science titles: Guglielmo Marconi, Louis Pasteur, Johann Gutenberg, James Watt.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian