Wal-Mart

Starred review from October 15, 2011
Grades 6-9 *Starred Review* Business titles may not be the hottest ones on the nonfiction shelves, but the attractive Built for Success series could change that. This quartet of titles serves up information about successful businesses and how they originate, expand, sometimes contract, but always find their way back to success. The books, written in a lively style, yet with a minimum of fuss, pack in plenty of history and tend to focus on the individuals who grew the companies, adding a personal element to the narrative. The Story of Wal-Mart begins with Sam Walton's dreamto buy in bulk and pass the savings on to his customers. In the process he became one of the richest men in the world without losing his common touch. This title does an excellent job of noting the positive aspects of the company while not shying away from the controversies, including union issues and questions of using child labor. The slim, gleaming format, well-chosen photos, and the effort to explore what makes a company successful today make these titles unique.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)