Famous contemporary people are presented in these brief, introductory volumes. Amanda Gorman is a Harvard graduate and poet who read at President Biden’s inauguration, Anthony Fauci is a doctor who leads the White House Coronavirus Task Force, Jill Biden is a working first lady, John Lewis was a congressman for 30 years, Kamala Harris is the first female vice president, and Tom Brady is a star NFL quarterback. Little information is disseminated; the primary focus is on what these individuals are famous for. Nice color photographs of the subjects accompany the simple text. Given that all these people are currently in the news, these titles are very timely. VERDICT Because of the currency of the subjects, very young people will have their basic curiosity satisfied, and perhaps even piqued, with these up-to-date volumes on people frequently in the news. Selectors should consider.

The latest set in the History Makers Biographies series (6 new titles) adds an outstanding group of individuals to the fold, many of whom youngsters will recognize from TV and the news. Geared toward a primary-school audience, these simple introductions outline each person’s childhood, education, career, and accomplishments, using short sentences that incorporate some challenging vocabulary and that are always accompanied by crisp, full-page photos. Following the main text, a time line reviews key dates from the person’s life and a glossary thoroughly defines the book’s bolded terms. A QR code sends young learners to age-appropriate, online resources, as well as a related video, craft, and downloadable activities. Solid stepping-stones into nonfiction reading and research.