Gymnastics

This entry in the I Love Sports series introduces early readers to this individual sport. Simple text (“Get on the map. Jump. Roll. And flip. Let’s do gymnastics!”) combines with crisp full-color photographs to depict multiethnic children involved in this activity. Several events are described, including tumbling, balance beam, rings, vault, and floor exercise. Subject specific words are clarified with captioned photos (vault, balance beam, mats, rings), while a separate picture glossary defines other terms (cartwheel, compete, floor exercise, judge, medal, meet). The book succeeds at introducing this sport to beginning-reader audience, but the appended website, which links to other gymnastics information, is problematic: several sites are commerical, and non present information at a level accessible to this book’s intended audience. Purchase where demand is high. -Kay Weisman

These titles offer emergent readers brief overviews of different sports and encourage them to participate (“Do you want to try? Dive in. Swimming is fun!”). Colorful photos depict boys and girls enjoying themselves at the pool, ice rink, and ball parks; Football opens with a girl suited up in shoulder pads, ready to play. The books make use of simple sentences, supplemented by photographs and diagrams, while picture glossaries and indexes are used effectively. For example, the colorful diagram in Basketball delineates the three-point line, free-throw line, and other key parts of the court. Each helpful picture glossary defines six words or phrases, such as cleats, dribble, and goalie. VERDICT These concise introductions effectively convey the appeal of each sport.