Gr 3-8-The graphic biography portions of each volume are bookended by a table of contents, a visual "Who's Who," and a few pages of background information in the front and some concluding text, a glossary, further-information sources, and an index at the end. In the section on the Vietnam War in Ali, Shone oversimplifies Communism as a system where "everything is shared," which could make it difficult for children to understand why America wanted to stop its spread. The artwork in both books is reminiscent of vibrantly colored woodcuts, with thick black lines that clearly delineate figures and objects. The art in Ali conveys the sense of motion in the ring. Both texts cover their subjects well and have up-to-date details, such as the opening of the Muhammad Ali Center and the death of Rosa Parks. Ali describes several matches, including their violence, while also recounting important events outside the ring like the boxer's refusal to be drafted. Parks makes clear that she was not simply a tired woman who didn't want to give up her seat but an active member of the NAACP who was willing to be arrested in order to fight bus segregation. Because of their visual appeal and popular subjects, these books deserve a place in most collections.-Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.