Gunslingers to Generals

In Howard’s End, E.M. Forster wrote, “Only connect!” How aptly this applies to biographies because connecting with people is, undoubtedly, a crucial part of the human experience. From the Bible to Plutarch’s Lives and from People magazine to collections of published letters, reading about other people’s experiences offers extraordinary insights into the mutually held (or not) motives, beliefs, and events that fill the minutes of existence. Authors and publishers of children’s biographies are in the unique position of connecting their audience with other lives in ways that are at once compelling, accessible in format and writing style, and age-appropriate in content. Because the authors and publishers of many of the biography series reviewed here excel in their craft, many of these titles are ideal for connecting kids with the larger world.

K-Gr 3–This series profiling hip, modern celebrities is too simplistic. The books provide basic biographical information and describe why the subject is famous, in one- to four-page chapters such as “Rising Star” (Faith Hill) and “Award Winner” (Keith Urban). Each page has one or two short, bland sentences. For example, Carrie Underwood describes how “Carrie became very famous. People wanted to hear her sing.” Full-color, full-page photographs appear throughout.

K-Gr 3–This series is identical in format to the publisher’s “Country Music Stars” (see above), but in these volumes the selection of subjects is puzzling. Only musicians and athletes are represented, and only African Americans. The figures are inspiring, but a few might not be of high interest to youth. Also, while material about people who are underrepresented in children’s biographies is useful, these figures deserve more substantial coverage than what this series affords.

Gr 2-3–In creating this unbiased, lively portrait of Barack Obama and his family, von Zumbusch divides content that normally would comprise a single book into four mini-biographies. On each spread, two large-font paragraphs appear on the recto, opposite large, vivid photographs that correspond with the narrative. Captions appear in bright yellow boxes. While fundamental biographical facts are included, the author weaves in facts that relate to history in a larger sense. For instance, Michelle Obama states, “Until 1865, many African Americans were slaves. In fact, some of Michelle Obama’s ancestors were slaves.” A glossary provides awkward phonetic pronunciation guidance, and sources are not cited. All things considered, however, this series about an American whose achievements are compelling and unprecedented is colorful, well designed, and accessible.

Gr 4-8–These authors’ enthusiasm for their subjects is infectious. Packed with upbeat writing and vivid, full-color illustrations, the series integrates straightforward biographical data with lively details of action on and off the field. The books also explore each subject’s professional and personal influence on family members, and frequent sidebars detail relevant sports history. Bold but judicious use of color in chapter and section heads, combined with a clean layout, makes these titles inviting.

Gr 4-6–These books are written with such enthusiasm and authority that they have the feel of ESPN broadcasts. Titles describe the evolution of each athlete’s career and provide a little information about their personal lives. The chapters on charitable giving feel a bit tacked on, but it is refreshing to discover a resource, especially for youth, that plays up the good in athletes. The strength of the series, however, is the powerful descriptions of pivotal game plays. Dynamic action-shots, “Did you know?” fact boxes, and clean layouts add to the appeal.

Gr 7-9–Real events characterized by danger and excitement introduce readers to each individual’s character. The rush of literary adrenalin will hook readers immediately and keep them enthralled until the end. While the authors cover biographical basics like birth, education, marriage, and so on, most of the content revolves around how the subjects met the challenges of military life, especially during times of war. Given the dynamic topic of the series and each volume’s appealing layout (wide margins, short paragraphs, large illustrations), these books are likely to attract reluctant readers. In addition, sources are plentiful and well-documented, making the titles suitable for research projects. Other material is available on these subjects, but this series is noteworthy for its accessible writing, appealing layout, and high-interest history.

Gr 9 Up–This ambitious series corrals world history’s major doers and thinkers whose work challenges and inspires people consistently, or incites change or reform on a large scale. People of many races and nationalities are represented. Careful wording bridges one chronologically arranged article to the next, enhancing the idea that one person’s work builds on an earlier individual’s accomplishments. The style of writing varies some from article to article. Some pieces are written in an accessible, straightforward style, while others are convoluted. Painters and Sculptors states, for example, that “…the complex culture of late Medicean Florence, which was simultaneously infused with the romantic sentiment of courtly love and with the humanist interest for Classical antiquity and its vanished artistic traditions, employed these mythological figures more fully and in more correctly antiquarian fashion.” That aside, this series is a goldmine. A few black-and-white illustrations appear throughout.

Gr 9 Up–Compelling, sometimes controversial, the lives of these high-profile figures have been wellsprings for speculation and rumor. Here, extensive and thoroughly documented research dispels the myths. Each of the 10- to 12-page chronologically arranged chapters contains a few smaller, boldly captioned sections, such as “In Search of a Wife” and “Deceived Again” in the “Courtin’ and Marriage” chapter of Davy Crockett. Though the volumes have several authors, a fluid, straightforward writing style is a series mainstay that makes the figures and the era come alive. The sepia-toned illustrations, most of which are period photographs, corroborate the texts effectively. This is top-notch nonfiction.

The well-written series reviewed above provide something for just about every young reader. ABDO’s “Military Heroes,” Chelsea House’s “Legends of the Wild West,” Britannica Education’s “The Britannica Guide to the World’s Most Influential People” and “Sports Families,” and Enslow’s “Sports Stars Who Give Back” cover a stunning variety of people, from athletes to musicians and from scientists to soldiers, and are ideal for students engaged in research. The other series will possibly find an audience with struggling readers. With so much to choose from, there are plenty of opportunities to “only connect.”