Pocket Bios--Blackbeard

September 1, 2018
Grades K-3 These petite biographies in the Pocket Bios series, first published in France, have a quirky, international feel. Each two-page spread consists of a short paragraph or two of text, surrounded by plenty of white space, and a page of cartoonish illustration. The choice of figures to profile is eclectic, spanning varied historical eras and areas of fame or achievement. Each life story is told clearly and chronologically, with an abundance of exclamation marks. Dates covered are noted in color at the bottom of each page. The text is generally informative but awkwardly written (or perhaps translated) at times. In Blackbeard, Berenger helpfully introduces the concept of wartime privateers before delving into the dramatic story of the pirate Edward Teach. Back matter features a time line, map, and Did you know? facts. Readers will enjoy the dramatic, storybook feel of these books as they become acquainted with their fascinating subjects.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)