April 1, 2017
Gr 5-8-Thorough overviews make this series an ideal starting point for middle school research projects. The origins and histories of each sport are detailed and include descriptions of major past and present stars. The wide variety of authors has positives and negatives; their expertise is obvious, but there isn't much cohesiveness from one book to the next. For example, Total Lacrosse includes detailed how-to's for several of the game's skills, but the majority of the other volumes focus much more on history. Also one bit of weird wording in Total Basketball will leave readers confused, as both LeBron James and Stephen Curry are said to have won a 2016 title but neither is specified in the text (James won the NBA championship with the Cavaliers, Curry won the MVP). VERDICT As the titles do not overlap or have much in common, purchasing them a la carte for your community's needs makes sense.
Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2017
These volumes provide broad overviews of the histories, notable teams and coaches, rivalries, star players, etc., of the title sports; most (not Football) include mention of both men's and women's teams. The texts are easy to read if occasionally vague or overgeneralized. Informative sidebars and copious stock photos enhance the presentations for sports fans. Reading list. Glos., ind.
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