900s: Legends in Their Own Time: Series Nonfiction Biographies

Reviewed by Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School, Lancaster, PA -- School Library Journal, 11/1/2008

Also in this article: The Bottom Line

This bevy of biographies includes short books, with eye-catching, full-color pictures the norm. Gone is the fictionalized dialogue so prevalent in biographies of yore. Many attribute quotes by providing endnotes and include Web links to further information. The best of the titles will supply information for those oft-assigned “heroes reports,” and the visually appealing volumes will hook some students, particularly nonfiction aficionados, on the biography genre.

COSSON, M. J. George Washington: 1st U.S. President illus. by Reed Sprunger. map. ISBN 978-1-60270-253-0. LC 2008002891.
COSSON, M. J.. Sacagawea: Indian Guide illus. by Reed Sprunger. map. ISBN 978-1-60270-252-3. LC 2008002897.
HALL, M.C. Abraham Lincoln: 16th U.S. President illus. by Marty Martinez. map. ISBN 978-1-60270-250-9. LC 2008002893.
HALL, M.C.. Martin Luther King Jr.: Civil Rights Leader illus. by Marty Martinez. ISBN 978-1-60270-251-6. LC 2008002892.
LINDEEN, Mary. Jane Goodall: Friend of the Apes illus. by Marty Martinez. map. ISBN 978-1-60270-249-3. LC 2008002895.
LINDEEN, Mary. Marie Curie: Scientist illus. by Reed Sprunger. ISBN 978-1-60270-248-6. LC 2008002898. ea vol: 32p. (Beginner Biographies Series). illus. appendix. chron. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. ABDO/Magic Wagon 2008. PLB $18.95.

Gr 1-3–This aptly named set has a consistent, clean layout: spreads feature brief text on one page, with a full-color illustration opposite. Each subject’s childhood through major accomplishments and later life are related in a concise narrative, ending with how the person is honored and remembered today. Martin Luther King’s and Abraham Lincoln’s assassinations are handled with age-appropriate text and illustrations that are somber, but not scary, and include no weapons or violence. “Fun Facts” at the end of each book include additional information; in Washington, for example, the cherry tree myth is dispelled. The texts are large and easy to read, and unfamiliar words, though not highlighted in the text, are explained in the short glossaries. Though the simple illustrations are rather pedestrian, the set will fit the bill for students who are reading independently.

TIECK, Sarah. Beyoncé: Famous Singer & Actress ISBN 978-1-60453-117-6. LC 2008010462.
TIECK, Sarah. Bindi Irwin: Star of Bindi the Jungle Girl ISBN 978-1-60453-122-0. LC 2008009357.
TIECK, Sarah.Carrie Underwood: American Idol Winner ISBN 978-1-60453-125-1. LC 2008010464.
TIECK, Sarah. David Beckham: Soccer Superstar ISBN 978-1-60453-116-9. LC 2008009361.
TIECK, Sarah. Eli Manning: Football Star ISBN 978-1-60453-124-4. LC 2008009362.
TIECK, Sarah. Miley Cyrus: Star of Hannah Montana ISBN 978-1-60453-119-0. LC 2008010465.
TIECK, Sarah. Nat & Alex Wolff: Stars of the Naked Brothers Band ISBN 978-1-60453-126-8. LC 2008010634.
TIECK, Sarah. Shia LaBeouf: Star of Transformers ISBN 978-1-60543-123-7. LC 2008009363.
TIECK, Sarah. Tiger Woods: Famous Golfer ISBN 978-1-60453-127-5. LC 2008009364.
TIECK, Sarah. Tom Brady: Football Star ISBN 978-1-60453-118-3. LC 2008009365.
TIECK, Sarah. Vanessa Hudgens: High School Musical Star ISBN 978-1-60453-121-3. LC 2008011383.
TIECK, Sarah. Zac Efron: High School Musical Star ISBN 978-1-60453-120-6. LC 2008011384. ea vol: 32p. (Big Buddy Biographies Series). maps. photos. reprods. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. ABDO 2008. PLB $17.95.

Gr 2-5–These brief profiles of popular celebrities are visual feasts similar to glossy pop-culture magazines. The color photos on each page and attractive layouts will encourage browsing. Though the texts are minimal, they offer some interesting information about the stars and their families. The glossaries explain five to seven difficult words per book, such as music industry-related terms in Beyoncé. While these titles may make a library appear hip, and perhaps encourage reluctant readers, they are apt to become passé quickly.

VENEZIA, Mike. Albert Einstein: Universal Genius ISBN 978-0-531-14975-1; ISBN 978-0-531-22206-5. LC 2008002307.
VENEZIA, Mike. Alexander Graham Bell: Setting the Tone for Communication reprods. ISBN 978-0-531-14976-8; ISBN 978-0-531-22207-2. LC 2008002296.
VENEZIA, Mike. Marie Curie: Scientist Who Made Glowing Discoveries reprods. ISBN 978-0-531-14977-5; ISBN 978-0-531-22208-9. LC 2008002301.
VENEZIA, Mike. Thomas Edison: Inventor with a Lot of Bright Ideas reprods. Web sites. ISBN 978-0-531-14978-2; ISBN 978-0-531-22209-6. LC 2008002306. ea vol: illus. by author. 32p. (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Inventors and Scientists Series). illus. photos. glossary. index. CIP. Children’s Press 2008. PLB $28; pap. $6.95.

Gr 2-5– These books are super skinny and heavily illustrated, have jumbo-sized font and plenty of white space, and include only three-to-five sentences per page. Even so, there’s a satisfactory amount of substantive and accessible information contained in the standard overview of each subject’s life and accomplishments. Grasping all of the scientific principles presented may be a bit of a stretch, however. The text is enhanced by the period photographs and their helpful captions, but unfortunately, Venezia’s trademark cartoons do little to increase understanding. Most fall flat, many are puzzling, and some trivialize the seriousness of the subject (a cartoon in Einstein depicts the man flying through space and observing that it beats doing laundry). Still, Venezia is no stranger to series nonfiction, and in libraries where his other “Getting to Know…” books circulate, these will also.

AMOROSO, Cynthia. Ronald Reagan: Our Fortieth President ISBN 978-1-60253-068-3. LC 2008001163.
AMOROSO, Cynthia. William McKinley: Our Twenty-Fifth President ISBN 978-1-60253-053-9. LC 2008002298.
BRUNELLI, Carol. Chester A. Arthur: Our Twenty-First President map. ISBN 978-1-60253-050-8. LC 2008000523.
BRUNELLI, Carol. James A. Garfield: Our Twentieth President ISBN 978-1-60253-049-2. LC 2008004370.
BRUNELLI, Carol. Woodrow Wilson: Our Twenty-Eighth President ISBN 978-1-60253-056-0. LC 2007042614.
BRUNELLI, Carol. Zachary Taylor: Our Twelfth President map. ISBN 978-1-60253-041-6. LC 2008004371.
BURGAN, Michael. George W. Bush: Our Forty-Third President ISBN 978-1-60253-071-3. LC 2008004374.
FERRY, Steven. Franklin Pierce: Our Fourteenth President ISBN 978-1-60253-043-0. LC 2007049064.
FERRY, Steven. John Tyler: Our Tenth President ISBN 978-1-60253-039-3. LC 2007049062.
FERRY, Steven. Martin Van Buren: Our Eighth President ISBN 978-1-60253-037-9. LC 2007049061.
FRANCIS, Sandra. Benjamin Harrison: Our Twenty-Third President ISBN 978-1-60253-052-2. LC 2007042603.
FRANCIS, Sandra. George Bush: Our Forty-First President ISBN 978-1-60253-069-0. LC 2008002303.
FRANCIS, Sandra. Gerald R. Ford: Our Thirty-Eighth President ISBN 978-1-60253-066-9. LC 2007049070.
FRANCIS, Sandra. Rutherford B. Hayes: Our Nineteenth President ISBN 978-1-60253-048-5. LC 2007042605.
GAINES, Ann Graham. Andrew Jackson: Our Seventh President ISBN 978-1-60253-036-2. LC 2007042607.
GAINES, Ann Graham. George Washington: Our First President ISBN 978-1-60253-030-0. LC 2007042704.
GAINES, Ann Graham. Grover Cleveland: Our Twenty-Second and Twenty-Fourth President ISBN 978-1-60253-051-5. LC 2007049066.
GAINES, Ann Graham. Harry S. Truman: Our Thirty-Third President ISBN 978-1-60253-061-4. LC 2008000524.
GAINES, Ann Graham. James K. Polk: Our Eleventh President maps. ISBN 978-1-60253-040-9. LC 2007042611.
GAINES, Ann Graham. James Madison: Our Fourth President ISBN 978-1-60253-033-1. LC 2007042599.
GAINES, Ann Graham. James Monroe: Our Fifth President maps. ISBN 978-1-60253-034-8. LC 2007042610.
GAINES, Ann Graham. John Adams: Our Second President ISBN 978-1-60253-031-7. LC 2007042601.
GAINES, Ann Graham. Richard M. Nixon: Our Thirty-Seventh President ISBN 978-1-60253-065-2. LC 2008002304.
GAINES, Ann Graham. Theodore Roosevelt: Our Twenty-Sixth President ISBN 978-1-60253-054-6. LC 2008004367.
GAINES, Ann Graham. Ulysses S. Grant: Our Eighteenth President ISBN 978-1-60253-047-8. LC 2007049065.
GAINES, Ann Graham. William Clinton: Our Forty-Second President. ISBN 978-1-60253-070-6. LC 2008004373.
GAINES, Ann Graham. William Henry Harrison: Our Ninth President map. ISBN 978-1-60253-038-6. LC 2007042604.
HANSEN, Sarah. Abraham Lincoln: Our Sixteenth President ISBN 978-1-60253-045-4. LC 2008001164.
HANSEN, Sarah. Dwight D. Eisenhower: Our Thirty-Fourth President ISBN 978-1-60253-062-1. LC 2007042602.
HARPER, Judith E. Andrew Johnson: Our Seventh President maps. ISBN 978-1-60253-046-1. LC 2007042609.
HARPER, Judith E.. John F. Kennedy: Our Thirty-Fifth President ISBN 978-1-60253-063-8. LC 2007049069.
HOBKIRK, Lori. James Earl Carter: Our Thirty-Ninth President ISBN 978-1-60253-067-6. LC 2007049025.
MAUPIN, Melissa. Calvin Coolidge: Our Thirteenth President ISBN 978-1-60253-058-4. LC 2007042600.
MAUPIN, Melissa. Franklin D. Roosevelt: Our Thirty-Second President ISBN 978-1-60253-060-7. LC 2008004368.
MAUPIN, Melissa. Lyndon Baines Johnson: Our Thirty-Sixth President ISBN 978-1-60253-064-5. LC 2008000615.
MAUPIN, Melissa. William Howard Taft: Our Twenty-Seventh President ISBN 978-1-60253-055-3. LC 2007049067.
SIRIMARCO, Elizabeth. Thomas Jefferson: Our Third President ISBN 978-1-60253-032-4. LC 2008002295.
SOUTER, Gerry & Janet Souter. Herbert Hoover: Our Thirty-First President ISBN 978-1-60253-059-1. LC 2007049068.
SOUTER, Gerry & Janet Souter. James Buchanan: Our Fifteenth President ISBN 978-1-60253-044-7. LC 2008002297.
SOUTER, Gerry & Janet Souter. John Quincy Adams: Our Sixth President map. ISBN 978-1-60253-035-3. LC 2008004369.
SOUTER, Gerry & Janet Souter. Millard Fillmore: Our Thirteenth President ISBN 978-1-60253-042-3. LC 2007049063.
SOUTER, Gerry & Janet Souter. Warren G. Harding: Our Twenty-Ninth President ISBN 978-1-60253-057-7. LC 2008002302. ea vol: 48p. (Presidents of the U.S.A. Series). photos. reprods. chron. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. The Child’s World. Fall 2008. PLB $20.95.

Gr 4-7–These attractive biographies present overviews of the leaders’ accomplishments and failings. Their lives are chronicled in an impartial manner, from childhood to how they are remembered today. The focus is positive, and foibles such as the Lewinsky affair are delicately handled. While the books are not accepting of wrongs, as in the case of Jefferson’s ownership of slaves, controversial decisions are put in historical context. There are no endnotes, but quotes are attributed within the text. The information has minor errors (such as the statement that Hillary Clinton was the first woman to run for president). Included on each spread are photographs (mostly in color) or reproductions of relevant documents, including age-appropriate political cartoons. These serviceable biographies will make the lives of the presidents accessible to young readers. Libraries already owning the “Our Presidents” series (Child’s World) will note many similarities between the two sets and may only want to purchase Clinton and George W. Bush, which include significant additions.

BURLINGAME, Jeff. Edgar Allan Poe: “Deep Into That Darkness Peering” illus. map. ISBN 978-0-7660-3020-6. LC 2007041343.
JUDSON, Karen. Abraham Lincoln: “This Nation Shall Have a New Birth of Freedom” rev. ed. illus. map. ISBN 978-0-7660-3170-8. LC 2007023383.
NARDO, Don. Clara Barton: “Face Danger, But Never Fear It” illus. maps. ISBN 978-0-7660-3024-4. LC 2007023378.
NARDO, Don. Matthew Brady: “The Camera is the Eye of History” map. ISBN 978-0-7660-3023-7. LC 2007044886. ea vol: 128p. (Americans: The Spirit of a Nation Series). photos. reprods. chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Enslow 2008. PLB $31.93.

Gr 6-9–These books open with an overview of a central event in the subject’s life. Events from this section are then placed in context in the chronological account that follows. Chapters are divided into manageable sub-sections and interspersed with period photographs, quotes from and reproductions of primary-source documents, and maps. These functional biographies provide ample material for reports. The information is accurate and balanced, and chapter notes document all direct quotes. Barton, Brady, and Lincoln have interesting accounts of their subjects and relevant supplemental information. In Barton, the focus is on the woman’s positive contributions, but mistakes in Red Cross record keeping and the surrounding controversy are also addressed. Brady is fair in noting that many Civil War photographs credited to the man were actually taken by his assistants, and that some of the war photos were posed shots. Poe is less engaging and struggles to fill the required number of pages. Poe was not a graduate of West Point–he attended the academy for only seven months–yet an insert listing famous West Point graduates takes up half of a page, and five pages are devoted to a reprint of “The Raven.” There are too many examples of Poe’s writing, and the literary interpretations are too dense for the intended audience, who do not usually read Poe anyway.

CREGAN, Elizabeth R. Marie Curie: Pioneering Physicist map. ISBN 978-0-7565-3960-3. LC 2008007727.
HERWECK, Don. Robert Fulton: Engineer of the Steamboat diag. ISBN 978-0-7565-3961-0. LC 2008007728.
VAN GORP, Lynn. Antoine Lavoisier and His Impact on Modern Chemistry ISBN 978-0-7565-3959-7. LC 2008007283.
VAN GORP, Lynn. Gregor Mendel: Genetics Pioneer charts. ISBN 978-0-7565-3963-4. LC 2008007725.
ZAMOSKY, Lisa. Louis Pasteur: Founder of Microbiology map. ISBN 978-0-7565-3962-7. LC 2008007726. ea vol: 40p. (Mission: Science: Biographies Series). photos. reprods. chron. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Compass Point 2008. PLB $26.60.

Gr 4-6–Color photographs, reproductions, diagrams, and maps are liberally sprinkled throughout these attractive books. Numerous sidebars offer tangential information. Unfortunately, the narrative flow is often interrupted by all of this ancillary material, the usefulness of which is questionable. In Fulton, for example, a full-page diagram of “Savery’s pump” is unlabeled, confusing, and does nothing to extend learning. It is a stretch to even classify Mendel as a biography when only five pages are biographical–the rest of the book discusses everything from monasteries to microscopes, with quite a bit on genetics. The format works best with the information presented in Pasteur. While these titles may not foster sustained reading, they may spark an interest in science.

KROHN, Katherine. Oprah Winfrey: Global Media Leader ISBN 978-1-58013-571-9. LC 2008016951.
KROHN, Katherine. Vera Wang: Enduring Style ISBN 978-1-58013-572-6. LC 2008009198.
LESINSKI, Jeanne M. Bill Gates: Entrepreneur and Philanthropist ISBN 978-1-58013-570-2. LC 2008008565.
ROBERTS, Jeremy. Tiger Woods: Golf’s Master ISBN 978-1-58013-569-6. LC 2008003098. ea vol: 112p. (USA Today Lifeline Biographies Series). photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. 21st Century Bks. 2008. PLB $33.26.

Gr 5-9–This series boasts lively, credible writing and a compelling layout. Particularly interesting are the reprints of USA Today articles found throughout, which flesh out the narratives in a unique and appealing manner. Endnotes acknowledge the sources of quotes and other information. Full-color and black-and-white photos appear on almost every spread; while some are excellent, others are of lesser quality, though their content is consistently relevant. Tiger Woods includes information on the game itself and has diagrams of famous golf holes. No holds are barred in Oprah’s biography; that she was a victim of sexual abuse and gave birth at age 14 are mentioned in a matter-of-fact manner. These uplifting books focus on the passion that these individuals feel for their life’s work. The subjects, format, and engaging writing style make this a series that kids will read for fun.

The Bottom Line

Students who read engaging, substantive biographies should come away feeling they know more than just facts. Ideally they will have encountered the heart and soul of a character and made a real-life connection. Some of these series will achieve that goal, but others fall short in balancing factual accuracy with engaging storylines. “USA Today Lifeline Biographies,” with its entertaining and inspiring stories, is one of the successes. Unlike many of the biography series, its purpose is not simply to fill the bill for report writing. There’s plenty of information for assignments, but these are contemporary biographies that students will want to read for fun. The lively “Big Buddy Biographies” features more up-to-the-minute celebrities, though it is unsubstantive and will date quickly. Only select titles should be purchased from the other series. The best books in “Mission: Science: Biographies” are the engaging Pasteur (which has highly relevant sidebars) and Lavoisier. Though the “Americans: The Spirit of a Nation” titles are somewhat textbook-like, Brady, Barton, and Lincoln will be ideal for reports. The only books in the “Presidents of the USA” series with enough new material to warrant purchase are Clinton and George W. Bush.

Famous Figures Old and New: Series Nonfiction Biographies (Spring 2009)

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