Rick Riordan

July 1, 2013

Gr 2-4-These biographies provide clear and concise information for reports and may inspire aspiring writers by focusing on the authors' childhoods, overcoming obstacles, and dedication to writing. Pilkey will attract readers by his canon alone. Wheeler clearly describes his early struggles in school and diagnosis of ADHD, and how Pilkey incorporates characters with ADHD in his work, often grabbing the attention of reluctant readers. Riordan sets itself apart by aiming at a much younger audience than other biographies currently available. Nearly all of Riordan's works are at a higher reading level than this title, but with the upcoming Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters movie, younger fans might desire a simplified biography. The informative photographs in Morales make it stand out among these books. Through images and text, readers are invited into the work space and culture of this author/illustrator, and the many photos of her childhood in Mexico, and immigration to the United States add to the engagement. This is in stark contrast to Pilkey, which has only cover art and three low-quality photographs (taken at the same event) to fill the image quota per page. All three titles would benefit from a list of works created by the authors or a time line of their lives, but overall they are good additions where similar biographies are in demand.-Jennifer Wolf, Beaverton City Library, OR

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