Sports fans endlessly debate which athletes and teams are the best, and this series entices young fans to consider and compare great athletes from past eras with current stars. Each title begins with a memorable moment, such as 14-year-old Nadia Comaneci becoming the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 in the 1976 Summer Olympics. Nadia is matched with Simone Biles, and subsequent chapters trace each athlete’s development and career. Each book ends with a summation to determine which athlete was best, but allows readers to make their own decisions. The writing is straightforward, with colorful photos and factoids in sidebars. Soccer fans will relish the comparison of legends Pelé and Lionel Messi, both shorter than average in height. VERDICT The inclusion of four great female athletes is welcome, and this series will be a hit with sports fans.

What would happen if two sports phenoms from different eras went head-to-head? That’s for readers to decide in the All-Star Smackdown series, but each fact-and-stat-packed volume contains the information necessary to draw a well-considered conclusion—and perhaps fuel a lively debate. Each title opens by plunging readers into an epic moment in each of its chosen stars’ careers, always pairing a legend with a current athlete playing the same position. Short chapters peppered with photos and trivia lay out each player’s personal history and path to the pros as well as their greatest moments. The final chapter offers a stats-based recap to help readers crown one player as the GOAT. Aaron Donald vs. Reggie White pits these famous defensive linemen against each other, paying special attention to their prowess in sacking quarterbacks. LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan sees two of basketball’s best scorers tear up the court and repeatedly make history. In Patrick Mahomes vs. Peyton Manning, these NFL quarterbacks make insane passes, nab awards, and excel in “leading their teams to comebacks.” The WNBA gets its due in Tina Charles vs. Lisa Leslie, which follows the many victories of these two centers, who also happen to be scoring machines. Some sports knowledge is assumed as terminologies are casually tossed around, making these conversation-inciting books ideal for established fans.