Inside the Daytona 500

April 1, 2016

Gr 5-8-This immersive series will make students experts at major sporting events in no time. Each volume is prefaced by effectively answering the five W's (who, what, where, when, why) in a "Fast Facts" section. The volumes are slim, but they pack a lot of information. As these titles can occasionally be a bit dry, this set is for ardent readers who want to focus on learning minute details on the series topics. The text employs multiple perspectives (typically from the sports creator, a fan, an on-field observer, and an athlete) with lots of primary source quotes. World Cup disappointingly makes little mention of the women's league, a real missed opportunity considering that the U.S. Women's national team won the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. VERDICT Very informative with good notes for research purposes, but not the most exciting or gender-inclusive books on the roster.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2016
Grades 3-6 Rather than presenting the facts historically or analytically, each volume in the Inside Look at Sports Events series leads off with a two-page informational section in a Q&A format, and then offers five narrative chapters, each from a different point of view. The result is a book that complements more traditional treatments of the subject while engaging superfans as well as newbies to each sport. Source notes are provided for the many quotes from participants. Daytona 500 features 20-year-old Trevor Bayne as the youngest winner of the race, in 2011, and Kim Lopez as the first woman and the first Hispanic chief starter, in 2015. Many color photos, including action scenes, illustrate the text. Using a narrative approach and multiple perspectives, this appealing series offers a different slant on championships and other major sporting events.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2016
Incorporating primary source material and photographs of varying quality, this series provides an insider's view of elite sports competitions. After an introductory list of "fast facts," five brief narrative chapters each focus on a real person's particular point of view (coach, athlete, referee, fan, cheerleader, broadcaster, etc.). Overall, these volumes are uneven and slim on substantive information. Reading list. Glos., ind.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

April 1, 2023

Gr 4-6-This series views big events from a variety of perspectives, offering a unique and comprehensive view not often provided in sports nonfiction. The Daytona 500 shares perspectives from the founder, a chief starter, a fan, a driver, and a broadcaster. The NBA Finals view the event through the eyes of LeBron James, coach Steve Kerr, a Laker Girl Cheerleader, Mavs owner Mark Cuban, and a Milwaukee Bucks fan. The Super Bowl includes perspectives from a fan, referee, and coach, as well as from QB Patrick Mahomes and half-time performer The Weeknd. Direct quotes, cited in bibliographies, and excellent writing make this a fantastic resource series for researchers. While the Olympics include measured coverage of female- and male-identifying athletes, The World Cup focuses almost exclusively on the men's World Cup, which is disappointing as the USWNT is more successful internationally than the USMNT. VERDICT Recommended for general purchase, despite reservations about the World Cup book.

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.