Dwight Howard

February 1, 2014

Gr 3-5-Each of these biographies describes the early years of the athlete and their eventual breakthroughs. The general intent of the series is to highlight the men's charitable contributions; all four started their own foundations. The books are nicely balanced with cogent texts and a plethora of action-packed, full-color photographs. Messi is a must-have, as there is very little available for children on the world's most-popular soccer player. The book on Howard is well done, but he's wearing the jersey of a team for which he no longer plays (the Los Angeles Lakers). The text fails to mention that he now plays for the Houston Rockets. Each biography devotes a good deal of space to the athletes' younger years, which will appeal to children. The titles conclude with career statistics, a glossary, a bibliography with both print and electronic sources, and a mailing address for those who want to write to their favorite player. In a world in which sports stars are not always good role models, these books show that some of them are making a difference outside the sports arena.-Keith Klang, Port Washington Public Library, NY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.