Derek Jeter.

Gatto, Kimberly.  Derek Jeter.  Enslow    2014  48p  $23.93  ISBN 978-0-7660-4298-0  elem   series: Sports Stars Who Care  Sports biography  VG   

Sports books are always popular, particularly with male readers, even reluctant ones, and this book in particular recognizes Derek Jeter for more than his statistics as a player, which gives it greater classroom applicability.  Not that his statistics are not an important part of the work, since there is an entire page devoted to them, but the focus of the book is on how Jeter earned his fame and how he is using it to give back to the community through the Turn 2 Foundation he established to help kids avoid drugs and alcohol and live all-around healthier lives. As captain of the Yankees, Jeter is considered one of the greatest leaders in the history of professional sports.  This elementary-level profile of the star shortstop will help readers get to know this superstar athlete and celebrity.  The photographs are typical baseball fare, but they coordinate well with the text, which is not only readable, but accessible to fans and non-fans alike.  The book includes a glossary, index, and a list of additional resources for curious readers, as well as the aforementioned statistics page and an address for Jeter.  The only major concern with this book is that it was published too soon to include final statistics from the 2013 season or to make mention of Jeter’s announcement in February 2014 that the 2014 season would be his last.  

The Sports Stars Who Care series so far contains four books geared toward elementary readers.  Each describes a different athlete involved in a different sport who is using his fame to give back to others.

Summary: As captain of the Yankees, Jeter is considered one of the greatest leaders in the history of professional sports.  This elementary-level profile of the star shortstop will help readers get to know this superstar athlete and celebrity.         

Derek Jeter.                                          -- Bethany Geleskie

Gatto, Kimberly. LeBron James.

Gatto, Kimberly. LeBron James.
Enslow 2011 48p 23.93
978-0-7660-3776-2
Sports Stars Who Care(Enslow) VG

LeBron’s name is well-known to all fans of pro basketball, but young readers learn so much more about his career and community service in this short biography about James, current star of the Miami Heat and former star of the Cleveland Cavaliers. When compared to Barry Wilner’s book about Tom Brady of the same series, this book does not offer the same level of complexity with regard to author’s style. That does not diminish the quality of the information within the pages, yet to appeal to the middle school literacy teacher, more complex and compound sentences would add to its readability level. Instead, if one can reconcile the short, simple sentences and a general flatness to the writing, Kimberly Gatto offers a solid, short biography about a major star. LeBron’s transition from poverty in Akron, Ohio, to fame in Miami was cemented when LeBron’s mother made the sacrifice of a lifetime by allowing LeBron to live with his coach, Frankie Walker, where he was given the chance to lead a normal childhood and learn the sport at the same time. His high school career was simply put, stellar, and this led him directly to the pros after graduation. “King James” largely led the Cavaliers to the NBA finals in 2007, but the team lost against the Spurs. In 2010, he made a controversial career change to become a member of the Miami Heat where he plays today. His contributions do not only shine on the court but also in the area of community service. In 2004, he created the LeBron James Family Foundation to help children in many ways. The foundation builds playgrounds, provides bikes to needy children and serves turkeys to needy families.
The strength of this series lies in the combination of career information and charitable contributions thereby making the series informational, entertaining and rewarding. The photographs are exciting and relevant to the text. The book ends with a listing of career statistics, a glossary of vocabulary, a list of sources to consult for more information & an index.
This series focuses on the careers of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Kevin Garnett, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, David Wright, & others. The first 5 chapters deal with the star’s contribution on the playing field and are followed by a chapter on the charities of focus of each star. A good choice for the elementary school and middle school libraries, this series combines two topics that are of high interest value to young readers, sports information and community service.
Squaresky, Martha

Gatto, Kimberly. Kevin Garnett: A Basketball Star Who Cares

Gatto, Kimberly. Kevin Garnett: A Basketball Star Who Cares
Enslow 2011 48p 23.93 978-0-7660-3772-4
Sports Stars Who Care(Enslow) VG-BNS
This is an easy-to-read biography for the child who loves basketball. The book is easy-to-read, it has great photos, and it has detailed information about Kevin Garnett’s basketball career, especially in the past few seasons. The value of Garnett to his team is described in detail, and his warm personality and charitable nature shine through. Included are a chart of his career statistics, a short glossary, and books and websites for further information.
Others included in the Sports Stars Who Care series are David Wright, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Tom Brady. This is recommended for elementary sports fans or high-low collections at the middle-school or even high-school level.
Kennedy, Carol