A Picture Book of Jesse Owens (Picture Book Biography)
Grade 2-4-- Chronicling the life of a famous person such as Owens in approximately 25 pages, some with no text and the others with only a short paragraph or two, is a formidable task. Adler does as well as can be expected with these limitations. The portrait presented, although brief, is accurate and touches on the major events of the track-and-field champion's life. An interesting author note attempts to discern the facts from the fictional stories that exist concerning Owens's experiences during the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Casilla contributes full-page watercolor paintings that nicely complement and expand the writing. Although containing hardly enough information for more than a brief report, this title meets the need of primary-grade children who are assigned or are interested in biographies. --Tom S. Hurlburt, La Crosse Public Library, WICopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.