You've Got Spirit!

March 1, 2013

Gr 5-8-Hunt tries to cover a lot of ground, from training tips to tryouts and a balanced diet to instructions for the perfect high ponytail. Several pages are devoted to crafts to make for other members of the squad. Colorful photographs and illustrations highlight the energetic tone of the book. Readers will need to look elsewhere, however, for specific arm motions; Perrett's "Arm Motion ABCs" are limited to the letters "V," "T," "K," and "L," and a few commonly used gestures, such as the one for "touchdown." A brief but strong list of recommended reading and websites is included. Youngsters would enjoy this guide, although it has a limited reach.-Sarah Knutson, American Canyon Middle School, CA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2013
Grades 3-6 Cheerleading holds a certain natural appeal for some young girls who like the uniforms and sparkly pom-poms, but Hunt's crisp, well-designed book supplies further information about this popular sport. She defines and describes gear, exercises, and cheer moves, and gives constructive pointers on preparing for tryouts, eating healthy snacks, and creating hair bows and hairstyles. From the verso of the title page, she cautions readers always to put safety first. The bright background colors of most pages (reminiscent of many school colors), photographs of cheerleaders in action, and numerous cute cartoon drawings make this an attractive package. For the novice, the book is a good guide; for more seasoned cheerleaders, it is a good refresher. Back matter includes the usual, plus a reading list that features both fiction and nonfiction. Sara Green's Cheerleading Basics (2011) mirrors this book's contents and appeals to a similar audience.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)