What's Your Story, Amelia Earhart?

Gr 2–4—A whimsical approach to biographies sure to appeal to young readers. While promoting inquiry-inspired learning, the question-and-answer format also invites confusion by juxtaposing a cartoon with a real person's story that might leave children wondering what's real. Then there's the "time-difference factor": Cub asks questions in the present tense, and "respondents," all dead, answer thus—and compare their lives to today. Finally, a disclaimer in each title concedes the "interviews" aren't each subject's actual spoken words but comprise accurate, researched facts about his/her life. Younger students won't get the distinction. Other missteps: Earhart's disappearance is mentioned only in her time line; Douglass includes the question "What did you think about being a slave?". Still, these overviews give a sense of who these people were and are filled with color and high-quality contemporary photos and other visuals.