(3) YA This young reader's edition of the Supreme Court justice's memoir recounts her lifelong determination and ambition. Beginning with her childhood in the Bronx, Sotomayor thoughtfully traces her personal and intellectual development as she attended Princeton and Yale and eventually landed her first appointment as a judge. The book's density and maturity recommend it for teen readers, who should find Sotomayor's warmth and honesty inspiring. Glos.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lulu Delacre. The Associate Justice accessibly narrates her own story, highlighting the power of books and reading throughout her life. Mixed-media illustrations enhance Sotomayor's metaphorical approach ("I felt like a deep-sea diver... Books were my snorkel and flippers") and her emphasis on the written word by incorporating text into the art. Timeline.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 Living History series. A readable biography of the first Latino and third woman to be appointed a Supreme Court Justice. Beginning with her childhood poverty and early diagnosis of diabetes, the book shows how Justice Sotomayor's early experiences have shaped her adult life. Well researched, with detailed chapter notes and quotations from the Justice's autobiography.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 STEM Trailblazer Bios series. This set of the continuing series features both contemporary and historical science and technology innovators. The inspiring profiles, which touch on childhood, education, and the subjects' breakthrough accomplishments, will tie in well with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum objectives. A colorful, easy-to-read format features photos and "tech talk" sidebars with quotes, mostly from the "trailblazers" themselves. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these STEM Trailblazer Bios titles: Space Engineer and Scientist Margaret Hamilton, Genius Physicist Albert Einstein, Inventor, Engineer, and Physicist Nikola Tesla, Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson, and Super Soaker Inventor Lonnie Johnson.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 4-6 STEM Trailblazer Bios series. Six more (two are women) contemporary scientists, engineers, and inventors are featured in this continuation of the series that capitalizes on the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics objective of today's curriculums. Adulatory profiles touch on childhood, education, and the subjects' breakthrough accomplishments. A colorful, easy-to-read format features photos and "tech talk" sidebars with quotes from the "trailblazers." Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following STEM Trailblazer Bios titles: Facebook Founder and Internet Entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg, Mars Science Lab Engineer Diana Trujillo, Minecraft Creator Markus "Notch" Persson, Nintendo Video Game Designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Theoretical Physicist Stephen Hawking, and Urban Biologist Danielle Lee.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) K-3 Pebble Books: Great Hispanic and Latino Americans series. The goals and achievements of prominent Latino and Hispanic Americans are highlighted in this accessible series, though this heritage is mentioned in passing if at all. Well-chosen photographs combine with a level-appropriate amount of information focusing on each subject's early education and the influences that led to careers and accomplishments. The simple, pointed prose will appeal to new readers. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Pebble Books: Great Hispanic and Latino Americans titles: Cesar Chavez, Ellen Ochoa, and Sonia Sotomayor.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Olympic Biographies series. As each book states, these professional football teams "have had good seasons and bad. But time and again, they've proven themselves." The volumes focus on the good, highlighting the teams' Super Bowl victories, winning coaches, and star players. Accompanying the choppy texts are plenty of color and archival photographs showcasing players, stadiums, and fans. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Books: The NFL's Greatest Teams titles: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Pebble Books: Great Hispanic and Latino Americans series. The goals and achievements of prominent Latino and Hispanic Americans are highlighted in this accessible series, though this heritage is mentioned in passing if at all. Well-chosen photographs combine with a level-appropriate amount of information focusing on each subject's early education and the influences that led to careers and accomplishments. The simple, pointed prose will appeal to new readers. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Pebble Books: Great Hispanic and Latino Americans titles: Cesar Chavez, Ellen Ochoa, and Sonia Sotomayor.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Zoom In on Amazing Authors series. This series, which aligns to Common Core Standards, offers beginning readers brief, humdrum introductions to the lives of five well-known children's book creators and one cartoonist (Schulz). While archival photographs add interest, generic stock photos unrelated to the authors or their work (especially in Mayer and Ryan) are less successful. Lists of quick stats and key dates are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Zoom In on Amazing Authors titles: Charles Schulz, Dr. Seuss, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Maurice Sendak, Mercer Mayer, and Pam Muñoz Ryan.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) 4-6 Women Who Broke the Rules series. Illustrated by Angela Dominguez. Using the theme of rule-breaking to introduce a variety of women, Krull crafts informative and readable biographies. While Krull strives to tell the whole story, certain elements feel out of place or casually thrown in. But the various illustration styles are well matched to their subjects, and for young readers looking for facts about fascinating women, this series fits the bill. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Women Who Broke the Rules titles: Dolley Madison, Judy Blume, and Sonia Sotomayor.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Biography Library: Women in Science series. Beginning with a brief introduction and summary of accomplishments, each blandly written title presents a chronological biography of an influential female scientist. Captioned archival and stock photographs complement the superficial if accessible texts; challenges and controversies as well as successes are included. Reluctant readers may benefit from the high-interest, low-vocabulary approach. A follow-up activity encourages further study. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Biography Library: Women in Science titles: Rachel Carson, Joanne Simpson, Mae Jemison, and Antonia Novello.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) K-3 Checkerboard Biography Library: Children's Authors series. These accessible but dry biographies provide introductory overviews of the lives and works of popular children's authors. Many engaging photos of the writers (along with some stock images) are included. There are some interesting facts, but a tighter structure (along with lists of the authors' works) would have helped organize the information. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Biography Library: Children's Authors titles: Julia Alvarez, Christopher Paul Curtis, Nikki Grimes, and Jeff Kinney.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biography series. These standard biographies offer sanitized facts about each subject's life, beginning with childhood and ending with present day (which in Sotomayor focuses on her Supreme Court achievements, and in Jackson his legacy after death). The simple, uncluttered design includes appealing captioned photos. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Gateway Biography titles: Michael Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) 4-6 Transcending Race in America: Biographies of Biracial Achievers series. These biracial (or multiracial) achievers are revealed through their backgrounds, goals, accomplishments, and obstacles overcome. Parks and Du Bois are examined against the historical context of racial inequality and injustice, the others in light of contemporary struggles. The pages, jam-packed with pull-quotes, sidebars, and crisp photographs, are difficult to navigate. There are seven other fall 2009 books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Transcending Race in America: Biographies of Biracial Achievers titles: David Blaine, Rosa Parks, Alicia Keys, Prince, Soledad O'Brien, and W. E. B. Du Bois.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) YA 20th Century's Most Influential Hispanics series. The subjects are here presented within the context of culture and identity. García Márquez explores political themes in the author's work. Alvarez emphasizes her determination to develop an authentic female voice that reflects her multicultural experience. In Lopez, fact and fluff blur in the manner of the book's celebrity magazine primary sources. Text and photos vary greatly in style and quality. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these 20th Century's Most Influential Hispanics titles: Julia Alvarez, Jennifer Lopez, and Gabriel García Márquez.

Reviewer: Pamela Mishkin

(4) 4-6 Young Heroes series. These biographies profile young adults who embody the spirit of community service, charity, and overcoming adversity. Most have founded their own charitable organizations, and all have won awards and recognition for their efforts. The writing is accessible, though it can be choppy. Photographs of the subjects at work clearly illustrate how kids can make a difference. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Young Heroes titles: Brittany and Robbie Bergquist, Mattie Stepanek, Lindsey Williams, and Ana Dodson.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby