April 1, 2023
Gr 3-5-The brightest stars in sports are profiled in this visually appealing series. Each athlete is given a fairly thorough biographical treatment, such as NFL quarterbacks Joe Burrow, Dak Prescott, and Patrick Mahomes. All considered role models, their accomplishments are lauded before their future potential is assessed. Notably, Simone Biles's gymnastics prowess and her advocacy for mental health and victims of abuse are praised. Toward the back of each book, maps show the professional travels of each athlete, which is more interesting for stars of international renown like Lionel Messi, Serena Williams, and Shohei Ohtani than for homebodies like Steph Curry and Diana Taurasi. Leaning heavily on the energetic, brightly colored photos, the short blocks of text and factoid callouts are highlighted with graffiti-like graphics. The overall aesthetic is a bit busy, but for reluctant readers, there is much to draw the eye and the concise writing delivers the appropriate level of detail for browsers. VERDICT A first-purchase series full of flair.
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