Coal Miner

Gr 3–4—These books are a browser's paradise. The bulk of the photography is impressive, filling the pages with gritty (but not grisly) images of explosions, crashes, and falls, as well as big vehicles and machinery. Rodeo Clown is definitely the best of the set, followed by Coal Miner and Ice Road Trucker. The photos in Stunt Performer are, however, underwhelming, and one of the opening shots in Fighter Pilot shows an (assumed) airman bailing out of a jet in tennis shoes, a rather unfortunate editorial oversight as it clearly suggests the parachutist is not military. That said, Gordon's writing has an edge-of-your-seat tone that undergirds the photos, and all of the books offer interesting, accessible nuggets of information. Bold graphics rendered in red, yellow, and black complete these exciting volumes. While not in-depth enough for reports, these titles will find success in the hands of readers who might daydream about tackling an adrenaline-pumping profession some day.—Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR