(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lorraine Nam. Introduction by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Berne's upbeat text describes the famous astrophysicist's life from childhood (when he discovered his love of outer space at the planetarium) to adulthood (when he became director of the Hayden Planetarium). She encourages readers to maintain a sense of wonder about the universe and their place in it. Colorful cut-paper and digital collage illustrations enhance the excitement and feeling of infinite possibilities. Reading list, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Frank Morrison. This biography of astrophysicist Tyson concentrates on his precocious early years, during which support from his parents and opportunities in his New York City environs outweighed his encounters with racism. The authors' enthusiastic account outlines a clear trajectory to his becoming the science popularizer we know today. Morrison's illustrations use exaggeration to underscore Tyson's curiosity and enthusiasm and frequently incorporate starry skies.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 Brief descriptions of Tyson and his path to becoming an astronomer and public science advocate are combined with dry informational chapters on planetary science, including historical discoveries, astrophysics, and the tools used to observe the universe. Photographs of Tyson at different times in his life and the objects of his scientific field are found throughout the book. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 STEM Trailblazer Bios series. These volumes give brief, superficial overviews of the lives and accomplishments of "trailblazers" in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. (From McGonigal: "Just before they left for college, they finally beat the game! They treated themselves to frozen yogurt to celebrate.") "Tech Talk" sidebars provide more information. Photos of the subjects (and some awkward stock images) break up the texts. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these STEM Trailblazer Bios titles: Alternate Reality Game Designer Jane McGonigal, iPod and Electronics Visionary Tony Fadell, Astrophysicist and Space Advocate Neil Degrasse Tyson, Google Glass and Robotics Innovator Sebastian Thrun, Flickr Cofounder and Web Community Creator Caterina Fake, and YouTube Founders Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz