Biographies are the perfect tools with which educators can engage students and ask them to think critically about how important figures affected the past and the world today. The Common Core State Standards mean that children and teens need strong options from which to choose when faced with having to write reports or research papers. This season’s crop of biographies offers variety in terms of subject matter and presentation, but not all of the series are quite up to par. With shrinking budgets and limited shelf space, librarians face the difficult task of choosing between the strictly educational series and those geared more toward entertainment. Luckily, many of the series below present information in such a way that they are both fun and informative.

Preschool-Grade 4

ALLEN , Kathy. Drew Brees. ISBN 978-1-61772-716-0; ISBN 978-1-61772-765-8. LC 2012037977. ––––. Tom Brady. ISBN 978-1-61772-717-7; ISBN 978-1-61772-766-5. LC 2012035408. ––––. Tony Romo. ISBN 978-1-61772-719-1; ISBN 978-1-61772-768-9. LC 2012038165. SCHUH , Mari. Aaron Rodgers. ISBN 978-1-61772-714-6; ISBN 978-1-61772-763-4. LC 2012039651. ––––. Adrian Peterson . ISBN 978-1-61772-718-4; ISBN 978-1-61772-767-2. LC 2012035406. ––––. Troy Polamalu. ISBN 978-1-61772-715-3; ISBN 978-1-61772-764-1. LC 2012037978. ea vol: 24p. (Football Stars Up Close Series). bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Bearport. 2013. PLB $23.93; ebook $23.93. Gr 2-5–This set delivers a solid performance. Clear writing, full-page color photographs, and text boxes (or, rather, text footballs) of information allow young readers to learn about six of their favorite players in an accessible and visually appealing way. The titles examine their subjects’ childhoods, families, and current careers, emphasizing the players’ struggles and inspirational feats, making this series stand apart from similar sets, which can read like laundry lists of statistics and accomplishments. An established football writer is used as a consultant, giving the information credibility. Although a lot of sports jargon is used, even those not familiar with the game will be able to understand and appreciate the texts. Vocabulary words are presented in bold text and defined in a glossary.

BENNETT , Doraine. Frank Lloyd Wright. ISBN 978-1-61810-157-0; ISBN 978-1-61810-290-4. LC 2011945882. ––––. Laura Ingalls Wilder. maps. reprods. ISBN 978-1-61810-160-0; ISBN 978-1-61810-293-5. LC 2011945885. HORD , Colleen. Joe Acaba. maps. ISBN 978-1-61810-151-8; ISBN 978-1-61810-284-3. LC 2011945877. ––––. Michael J. Fox. ISBN 978-1-61810-154-9; ISBN 978-1-61810-287-4. LC 2011945880. ––––. Muhammad Ali. maps. ISBN 978-1-61810-152-5; ISBN 978-1-61810-285-0. LC 2011945878. MCKENZIE , Precious. Condoleezza Rice. ISBN 978-1-62169-277-5; ISBN 978-1-62169-234-8. LC 2012953418. ea vol: 24p. (Little World Biographies Series). chron. glossary. index. photos. websites. Rourke. 2013. PLB $23.57; pap. $7.95. K-Gr 2–The description of this series indicates that it will teach children about “inspiring individuals who have overcome many obstacles.” While is it true that some of the subjects faced problems, not all of them are apparent. For example, the book on Frank Lloyd Wright doesn’t have the same emotional resonance as the one about Michael J. Fox. Subsequently, there doesn’t seem to be a common theme linking the titles in the series together. The narratives are sparse, making them suitable for young or struggling readers, but they don’t always flow well, and they don’t have a lot of biographical content. The captioned photos are sometimes grainy and seem randomly placed. While there is obviously a teaching focus in these books (there are tips for “reading with children” and extension recommendations), kids might find better information elsewhere.

DOAK , Robin S. Barack Obama. ISBN 978-0-531-21904-1; ISBN 978-0-531-23875-2. LC 2012036050. DOAK , Robin S. Hilary Clinton. ISBN 978-0-531-21906-5; ISBN 978-0-531-23877-6. LC 2012036004. GREGORY , Josh. Bill and Melinda Gates. ISBN 978-0-531-21905-8; ISBN 978-0-531-23876-9. LC 2012036002. ––––. Steve Jobs. ISBN 978-0-531-21907-2; ISBN 978-0-531-23878-3. LC 2012036049. ea vol: 48p. (A True Book: Biographies Series). chron. further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Children’s Press. 2013. PLB $29; pap. $6.95. Gr 3-6–Information abounds in these glossy, colorful, engaging volumes. Each book starts with a “Find the Truth!” section, which presents readers with two statements and encourages them to figure out which one is true by the end of the book (a great way to interest them). Facts boxes pop up everywhere–even on the covers and in the tables of contents. The narratives are interesting, accessible, and divided into clearly labeled sections. While highlighting achievements, the books also candidly touch on negative aspects of the subjects’ lives, such as Bill Clinton’s “relationship with another woman” and the fact that Steve Jobs “usually smelled bad” in the 1970s because he didn’t shower.  Colorful and black-and-white captioned photos, time lines, a “True Statistics” section, and other helpful features supplement the texts. A solid, entertaining, and informative series.

EDISON , Erin. Clara Barton. reprods. ISBN 978-1-62065-076-9; ISBN 978-1-62065-857-4. LC 2012033472. ––––. Harriet Tubman. reprods. ISBN 978-1-62065-072-1; ISBN 978-1-62065-859-8. LC 2012033623. ––––. Jane Goodall. ISBN 978-1-4765-0143-7; ISBN 978-1-4765-0144-4. LC 2012033471. ––––. Pocahontas . reprods. ISBN 978-1-62065-074-5; ISBN 978-1-62065-861-1. LC 2012033473. ––––. Rosa Parks. ISBN 978-1-62065-071-4; ISBN 978-1-62065-863-5. LC 2012033474. ––––. Susan B. Anthony. reprods. ISBN 978-1-62065-075-2; ISBN 978-1-62065-865-9. LC 2012033475. ea vol: 24p. (Pebble Books: Great Women in History Series). chron. further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Capstone. 2013. PLB $21.32; pap. $5.95. Gr 1-2–The books in this basic, yet useful series are small in stature and light on text. Each slim volume presents its subject’s life from birth to death, discussing her contribution to history and highlighting why she was indeed “great.” On each spread, the text faces a full-page, uncaptioned black-and-white or color photograph or reproduction. A time line runs across the bottom of the pages. The texts are straightforward and informative, but can be rather dry, and the series title is located on the back of the volumes instead of the front, which might be confusing for some kids. Vocabulary words are not set apart by bold text, but they are defined in a helpful glossary at the back of each book. Solid choices for beginning and/or struggling readers.

FRISCH , Aaron. Aaron Rodgers. ISBN 978-1-60818-334-0. LC 2012013473 . ––––. Adrian Peterson . ISBN 978-1-60818-335-7. LC 2012013475. ––––. Albert Pujols. ISBN 978-1-60818-336-4. LC 2012013476. ––––. Justin Bieber. ISBN 978-1-60818-330-2. LC 2012013644 . ––––. Katy Perry. ISBN 978-1-60818-331-9. LC 2012013470. ––––. Lady Gaga. ISBN 978-1-60818-332-6. LC 2012013471. ––––. LeBron James. ISBN 978-1-60818-337-1. LC 2012013478. ––––. Taylor Swift. ISBN 978-1-60818-333-3. LC 2012013472. ea vol: 24p. (The Big Time Series). further reading. glossary. index. maps. photos. websites. Creative Education. 2013. PLB $25.65. Gr 2-4–Capitalizing on current levels of fame and popularity, this high-interest series profiles four pro-athletes and four singers, providing information about their backgrounds, their achievements and challenges, how they shot to fame, and their outside interests. Each book starts off with an opening scene that introduces the star doing what he or she does best: performing, playing football, etc. The large-font text is spare but informative, and chapters are divided logically. Each spread contains a full-color photograph that complements the narrative, which is clearly written and accessible for new and struggling readers. Glossary words are set apart in an italic, colored font throughout the texts. A solid, basic pop-culture biography set for younger readers. MARA , Wil. George Washington. reprods. ISBN 978-0-531-24736-5; ISBN 978-0-531-24702-0. LC 2012035027. ––––. Harriet Tubman. reprods. ISBN 978-0-531-24737-2; ISBN 978-0-531-24703-7. LC 2012035026. ––––. Martin Luther King Jr. ISBN 978-0-531-24738-9; ISBN 978-0-531-24704-4. LC 2012035023. MATTERN , Joanne. Barack Obama. ISBN 978-0-531-24735-8; ISBN 978-0-531-24701-3. LC 2012035025. ––––. Steve Jobs. ISBN 978-0-531-24739-6; ISBN 978-0-531-24705-1. LC 2012035024. ––––. Walt Disney. ISBN 978-0-531-24740-2; ISBN 978-0-531-24706-8. LC 2012035022. ea vol: 32p. (Rookie Biographies Series). chron. glossary. index. maps. photos. websites. Children’s Press. 2013. PLB $23; pap. $5.95. Gr 1-2–With simple text and colorful captioned images, these small-sized, introductions manage to pack in a lot of information about six people who have influenced history in very different ways. Short sentences, clear maps and time lines, “Fast Fact!” text boxes, and other nonfiction book features, such as glossaries with pronunciation guides, assist kids in learning facts without being overwhelmed. Large full-color and black-and-white photos and reproductions illustrate every spread. Each book also includes a poem about the subject and an inspirational section that encourages readers to think about helping others, becoming innovators, and getting involved in a handful of other pursuits that echo the achievements of the featured person.

MILLER , Connie Colwell. Carl Edwards . ISBN 978-1-61783-662-6; ISBN 978-1-61480-781-0. LC 2012946245. ––––. Dale Earnhardt Jr. ISBN 978-1-61783-661-9; ISBN 978-1-61480-780-3. LC 2012946251. ––––. Danica Patrick. ISBN 978-1-61783-666-4; ISBN 978-1-61480-785-8. LC 2012946334. ––––. Jimmie Johnson. ISBN 978-1-61783-664-0; ISBN 978-1-61480-783-4. LC 2012946321. ––––. Matt Kenseth. ISBN 978-1-61783-665-7; ISBN 978-1-61480-784-1. LC 2012946322. SCHEFF , Matt. Jeff Gordon. ISBN 978-1-61783-663-3; ISBN 978-1-61480-782-7. LC 2012946250. ––––. Kyle Busch. ISBN 978-1-61783-660-2; ISBN 978-1-61480-779-7. LC 20129463249. ––––. Tony Stewart. ISBN 978-1-61783-667-1; ISBN 978-1-61480-786-5. LC 2012946315. ea vol: 32p. (NASCAR Heroes Series). chron. glossary. index. photos. ABDO. 2013. PLB $27.07; ebook $27.07. Gr 2-5–Using a combination of basic biographical information and lots of career analysis, these biographies profile eight drivers. The splashy, chaotic design is sometimes distracting, and the white text on black background on some of the pages can be hard to read. In addition, paragraph blocks are used to present information, so it’s often difficult to differentiate between the “Fast Fact” text boxes and the actual narrative. The large, full-color photos will please fans, but also sometimes take up a lot of space without necessarily adding anything to the narratives. Readers might get lost in the racecar jargon–the fact that the glossary words are not differentiated throughout the texts does not help. With sentences such as “Then Busch wrecked another driver on purpose at a truck race,” it’s hard to understand why some of these stars are considered “heroes.” This one’s only for libraries with truly committed racing fans.

RIDLEY , Sarah. Anne Frank...and Her Diary. diags. ISBN 978-1-59771-391-7. LC 2011049890. ––––. Florence Nightingale...and A New Age of Nursing. reprods. ISBN 978-1-59771-392-4. LC 2011049889. ––––. Martin Luther King...and the Fight for Equality. ISBN 978-1-59771-389-4. LC 2011049888. ––––. Nelson Mandela...and His Struggle For Freedom. ISBN 978-1-59771-390-0. LC 2011049887. ––––. Winston Churchill...and World War II. reprods. ISBN 978-1-59771-393-1. LC 2011049886. ea vol: 24p. (History Makers Series). chron. glossary. index. photos. Sea-to-Sea. 2013. PLB $25.65. Gr 2-4–This series profiles five influential people, chronicling their achievements and highlighting the circumstances that led them to become “history makers.” The text is large, making it easy on the eyes. While the narratives are not especially exciting, they are straightforward, flow well, and have clear language and short sentences. The captioned color and black-and-white photographs are set against a muted color palette, and the design is clean. A time line travels on the bottom of each page, providing a quick reference. The words in the glossary are not set apart in the text, which might be problematic for vocabulary building. Nonetheless, these books provide solid basic biographical information, giving historical context for the subjects’ lives while adding enough personal details to make the famous figures interesting and accessible to a young audience.

WOOD, Alix. Claude Monet. ISBN 978-1-61533-620-3; ISBN 978-1-61533-638-8. LC 2012025842. ––––. Francisco Goya. ISBN 978-1-61533-624-1; ISBN 978-1-61533-642-5. LC 2012030049. ––––. J ohannes Vermeer. ISBN 978-1-61533-623-4; ISBN 978-1-61533-641-8. LC 2012025843. ––––. Leonardo da Vinci. ISBN 978-1-61533-621-0; ISBN 978-1-61533639-5. LC 2012025841. ––––. Paul Cézanne. ISBN 978-1-61533-619-7; ISBN 978-1-61533-637-1. LC 2012020269. ––––. Vincent van Gogh. ISBN 978-1-61533-622-7; ISBN 978-1-61533-640-1. LC 2012028071. Ages ea vol: 32p. (Artists Through the Ages Series). further reading. glossary. index. maps. photos. reprods. websites. Windmill. 2013. PLB $25.25; ebook $25.25. Gr 2-5–This series introduces students to the lives and works of famous artists in an engaging and educational manner. By presenting biographical information and an explanation of the subjects’ artwork (including facts about the historical context in which they were created), the books cover six painters in a well-rounded manner. The large-font text is appropriately geared toward the target age group, and the content will be interesting even to those who know little about art. Sidebars occasionally engage readers with the text by asking them to ponder questions such as whether or not da Vinci purposefully made a flaw in a design for a tank or what he left out of the Mona Lisa. While there are maps, captioned photos, and/or text boxes on most spreads, the real visual treats are the reproductions of the artists’ works (e.g., Monet’s The Japanese Footbridge and Van Gogh’s The Starry Night). The bright design adds to the visual appeal, and the information is clearly and logically presented. A worthy addition to any art collection.

Grades 5 & Up

Chris Brown . ISBN 978-1-62250-017-8; ISBN 978-1-61247-698-8. Drake. ISBN 978-1-62250-013-0; ISBN 978-1-61247-694-0. 50 Cent. ISBN 978-1-62250-008-6; ISBN 978-1-61247-689-6. Jay-Z. ISBN 978-1-62250-012-3; ISBN 978-1-61247-693-3. Kanye West. ISBN 978-1-62250-016-1; ISBN 978-1-61247-697-1. Lil Wayne. ISBN 978-1-62250-014-7; ISBN 978-1-61247-695-7. Nicki Minaj. ISBN 978-1-62250-010-9; ISBN 978-1-61247-691-9. Pitbull. ISBN 978-1-62250-015-4; ISBN 978-1-61247-696-4. Rihanna. ISBN 978-1-62250-011-6; ISBN 978-1-61247-692-6. Usher. ISBN 978-1-62250-009-3; ISBN 978-1-61247-690-2. ea vol: 48p. (Hip-Hop Biographies Series). chron. glossary. photos. Saddleback. 2013. pap. $10.95; ebook $13.95. Gr 6 Up–Geared toward hi/lo and reluctant readers, this series profiles several famous hip-hop and rap artists, providing information about their childhoods, struggles and achievements, and eventual stardom. While the subjects might be high-interest, the causal writing is generally stilted, with awkward sentence structure and transitions. In addition, many of the photos are of poor quality, and some even border on inappropriate (although, realistically, they are nothing worse than what readers might see on TV). The vocabulary sections in the back of each volume are not particular helpful. While this set highlights that these artists have overcome difficult circumstances and many of them give back to their communities, it also seems to glorify some of their violent backgrounds and/or illegal actions. For example, Chris Brown discusses the star’s physical assault against his girlfriend, noting that, “…many of Chris’s fans supported him, especially young girls.” Readers and music fans deserve quality literature about their heroes. Unfortunately, this series does not provide it. DONOVAN , Sandy. Zoë Kravitz: X-Men’s Amazing Angel. ISBN 978-1-4677-0747-3; ISBN 978-1-4677-1016-9. HIGGINS , Nadia. Jennifer Lawrence: The Hunger Games’ Girl on Fire. ISBN 978-1-4677-0743-5; ISBN 978-1-4677-1012-1. ––––. Taylor Lautner: Twilight’s Fearless Werewolf. ISBN 978-1-4677-0745-9; ISBN 978-1-4677-1015-2. LUSTED , Marica Amidon. Booboo Stewart: Twilight’s Breakout Idol. ISBN 978-1-4677-0746-6; ISBN 978-1-4677-1011-4. SHAFFER , Jody Jensen. Josh Hutcherson: The Hunger Games’ Hot Hero. ISBN 978-1-4677-0744-2; ISBN 978-1-4677-1013-8. ––––. Liam Hemsworth: The Hunger Games’ Strong Survivor . ISBN 978-1-4677-0742-8; ISBN 978-1-4677-1014-5. ea vol: 32p. (Pop Culture Bios: Action Movie Stars Series). further reading. index. notes. photos. websites. Lerner. 2013. PLB $26.60; ebook $19.95. Gr 6 Up –Like similar celebrity-centered series, this one presents high-interest material in a splashy way. Profiling six popular action stars, a plethora of information is given about their childhoods, careers, interests, and even their romantic lives. Unfortunately, most of the books read more like teen gossip magazines than biographies. The frequent use of slang such as “yummers” and “nutso” and abbreviated words such as “sibs” and “favs” smacks of talking down to the audience and does nothing to aid with vocabulary building. Text boxes contain both biographical and superfluous information (e.g., “Feed him sushi for dinner, show him an action flick, and he’s yours!”). Each volume contains myriad color photos from the subjects’ movies and personal lives, with captions such as “Taylor’s rockin’ bod makes its debut in New Moon.” Unless you have pop-culture fans pleading for this type of series in your library, it’s probably to their advantage that you pass on this one. GARCIA , Tracy J. Eli Whitney. ISBN 978-1-4777-0075-4; ISBN 978-1-4777-0174-4. LC 2012019319. ––––. Thomas Edison. ISBN 978-1-4777-0076-1; ISBN 978-1-4777-0175-1. LC 2012018690. GOULD , Jane. George Washington Carver. ISBN 978-1-4777-0078-5; ISBN 978-1-4777-0177-5. LC 2012018689. ––––. Steve Jobs. ISBN 978-1-4777-0080-8; ISBN 978-1-4777-0179-9. LC 2012020633. ROBERTS , Steven. Henry Ford. ISBN 978-1-4777-0079-2; ISBN 978-1-4777-0178-2. LC 2012020485. ––––. Robert Fulton. ISBN 978-1-4777-0077-8; ISBN 978-1-4777-0176-8. LC 2012020630. ea vol: illus. by Planman Technologies. 24p. (Jr. Graphic American Inventors Series). chron. glossary. index. websites. Rosen/PowerKids Pr. 2013. PLB $25.25; ebook $25.25. Gr 3-6 –With their user-friendly nonfiction features and smooth narrative style, these biographies in a graphic-novel format are a fantastic way to introduce reluctant (and enthusiastic) readers to the lives of important historical figures. From Robert Fulton to Steve Jobs, they profile six inventors, highlighting their accomplishments, struggles, and contributions to the world (e.g., Steve Jobs “changed the way people live”). The table of contents, brief introductions, and helpful lists of main characters are all presented on one page, giving readers helpful context for the pages that follow. Narrative text and dialogue boxes float above and in the illustrations, which are attractive and engaging. With clear, interesting, and accessible language, the volumes are easy to read. These biographies flow just like conventional graphic novels–a plus when trying to engage students with nonfiction material.

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Although some of these series are perhaps more “high-interest” than others, the respective levels of quality are not as high as they need to be in order to adhere to the new standards being implemented by schools. When choosing biographies, librarians should, ideally, aim for a balance of the interesting and the educational. The most effective choices from this particular group fill collection gaps and supplement curricula while also maintaining readers’ interest. PowerKids’s “Jr. Graphic American Inventors” is the only graphic-novel series presented this time around, and it’s a strong selection for reluctant readers. Windmill’s “Artists Through the Ages” is one of the more visually appealing offerings; it provides compelling information. Children’s Press’s “A True Book: Biographies” delivers a complete picture of each subject and a plethora of information in an easily digestible way. Finally, Capstone’s “Pebble Books: Great Women in History” is well written and may fill a gap that some of the other male-centric series do not. If you want books that focus on entertainment or sports, Creative Education’s “The Big Time” or Bearport’s “Football Stars Up Close” are the best way to go.