Creative readers looking for aesthetic athletic outlets will find some beautiful options in this series. All require a high level of concentration, from the balance and bravery essential in skateboard- ing to the focus and intensity of archery. Each book describes the history of its sport before launching into a rundown of the basic skills and equipment. Some of the gear can be incredibly unique, such as the ball, rope, ribbon, hoop, and club props in Rhythmic Gymnastics or the batons and maces needed for Baton Twirling. Brightly colored photographs demonstrate each sport with grace and energy. Unfamiliar vocabulary terms are in bold and defined in the glossary. A “More Facts” section caps off each work with some interesting tidbits the author couldn’t quite fit into the straightforward informational flow of the introductory text. VERDICT Fine additional purchases for libraries looking for entry- level material about these unique sports.

Large, attractive photos take the lead in this selection from the Artistic Sports series (6 titles), which introduces readers to the competitive-dance world. It begins by describing very generally how a performance is scored (points are earned for choreography, technique, and more) and how dancers are grouped in a competition. Next, a short history of dance competitions is outlined, and a third section touches on core skills needed by dancers (e.g., strength, flexibility, balance). This title will be of most use to those completely new to the idea of competitive dance rather than those looking to get involved, as the book only paints the sport in the broadest of strokes. Nevertheless, library shelves will be grateful for a series that shows kids a much wider range of sports worth exploring.