Each book in the inviting Make Me the Best Athlete series features five or six athletes who excel at a specific sport. Besides presenting the person's story and achievements as well as, more briefly, those of sports heroes from the past, the chapters offer several useful drills for players and tips on good form and fundamentals. Each presentation provides good insights and helpful information, emphasizing "what it takes to become the best of the best." The writing is straightforward, journalistic, and very accessible. Clearly reproduced, the color photos usually show the athletes in action or in triumph. Profiling an equal number of women and men, Track and Field looks at sprinter Usain Bolt, hurdler Aries Merritt, and pole-vaulter Jenn Suhr. Most sports books for young readers concentrate on either superstars or how to play. This attractive series includes both, and the combination will please young athletes as well as sports fans.

Each of five or six brief chapters (e.g., "Sprint like Usain Bolt" in Track) in these slim volumes focuses on a different outstanding athlete in a particular sport, and provides a few tidbits about his or her skills. Bulleted fact boxes explicate techniques; a "Drill Down!" feature suggests ways readers can improve their own performance, but some necessary supervision isn't suggested. Color photographs appear throughout. Bib., glos., ind.