Gr 3-6--Fifteen riddle poems from Native America, dominated by eight from Mexican tribes and four from Alaskan sources, tease with simple, accessible rhythms. Placement of the words on the pages plays a part in the poetry. Source references for the riddles appear with answers on the last page. Rendon's stunning "mixed-media constructions" shimmer on each right-side page. The artist uses wood carving, stones, fabrics, etchings, metal, pepper seeds, egg shells, and intensely bright colors of paint to create marvels that appear to be three dimensional and achieve whimsical harmony with the text as they subtlely reveal the answers. The riddles offer children a unique literary challenge, particularly if used in conjunction with Swann's A Basket Full of White Eggs (Orchard, 1988; o.p.) and The House with No Door (Harcourt, 1997). Paired here with Rendon's equally clever and penetrating collages, everyone wins.--Jacqueline Elsner, Athens Regional Library, GA

Krull profiles twenty legendary athletes of the twentieth century who broke new ground in their sports and often broke through racial or gender barriers as well. As in other 'Lives of the . . .' titles, the brief biographies are enhanced by unusual details of personality and Hewitt's lively caricatures of the subjects. Jim Thorpe, Sonja Henie, Bruce Lee, and Flo Hyman are among the athletes profiled. Bib.

The newest addition to Krull and Hewitt's series of offbeat collective biographies, this lively book discusses the public feats and private lives of 20 athletes. Each section begins with a colorful, full-page portrait of the person with significant objects or surroundings: clad in a one-shoulder leopard skin and an Olympic gold medal, Johnny Weissmuller swings on a tree branch over a swimming pool with the Hollywood hills in the distance. His character, career, and athletic feats are covered in a few pages of data, descriptions, and anecdotes. Other athletes profiled include Jim Thorpe, Babe Ruth, Red Grange, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Sonja Henie, Jessie Owens, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Wilma Rudolph, Arthur Ashe, and Bruce Lee. Hewitt's watercolor-and-colored-pencil artwork combines fact and fancy to create a series of entertaining and meaningful illustrations. Another winner in a consistently fine series. (Reviewed March 15, 1997)