Cornelia Funke

Gr 4–6—Inspiring budding writers to follow their dreams, this series focuses on the lives of popular children's authors while also giving readers a glimpse at the pitfalls and triumphs of the writing and publishing process. The narratives are smooth, though very text-heavy, and are injected with humor, interesting facts, and quotes from the authors. There are tips (e.g., Paulsen offers "Gary's Tips on Surviving in the Woods") as well as reading lists of the subjects' favorite books. Text boxes, some full page, and captioned color images supplement the texts. "A note to report writers from Sue Corbett" at the end of each book explains the importance of citing sources and not passing off unoriginal work-a crucial point in the Internet age. Though the format leaves something to be desired, this set is an engaging, informative, and interesting resource.