(3) K-3 Illustrated by Leo Espinosa. Smith introduces African American cycling legend Marshall Walter "Major" Taylor (1878-1932) to a new generation. Beginning with prose and then switching gears to (sometimes-clunky) verse, the story focalizes Taylor's remarkable performance in the grueling Six-Day Bicycle Race at Madison Square Garden when he was eighteen years old. Through chronological flashbacks, readers meet an even younger Taylor performing bicycle stunts in front the bike store where he worked and winning amateur races in jaw-dropping fashion. Smith does not soft-pedal the challenges Taylor faced while breaking the color barrier in sports. Espinosa's cinematic digital illustrations in a palette of largely neutral colors use dynamic visual perspectives to propel the story with drama and charged emotion. Back matter includes a timeline, bibliography, and supplementary profile of Taylor.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(3) 4-6 Trailblazer Biographies series. Brill offers a balanced account of the life of a little-known African American athlete who excelled in competitive bicycling in the 1890s and early 1900s. The narrative discusses the racism Taylor faced as well as the support he received; sidebars provide additional information. Black-and-white photos enhance the biography. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(3) K-3 Illustrated by James E. Ransome. This is the story of a lesser-known African-American athlete breaking down racial barriers. Major Taylor rose to the top of the cycling world in the early 1900s, starting out working in a bike store as a boy and ending up a world champion cyclist. The engaging narrative and rich oil paintings create an impressive portrait of an inspiring man.

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck