(3) K-3 Illustrated by Erin K. Robinson. Descended from generations of dressmakers in the Deep South, Ann Lowe attended a segregated design school in 1917 NYC--and was "best in her class"; her genius remained underrecognized until she designed gowns for "the wedding of the year" (Jaqueline Bouvier to JFK). The narrative varies its tone to echo both talent and tenacity: flowery descriptions of Lowe's couture (silk roses "soft as dew") trade with tighter passages on process ("Measure, snip, pin up the hems"). The digital illustrations can look slick but do justice to the rich colors and textures.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Andrea Pippins. From childhood in segregated Georgia to millinery school in Chicago during the Great Migration to small-business success in mid-century Philadelphia: hatmaker Mae Reeves's biography also conveys much about Black American history writ large. Rhuday-Perkovich's sonorous language ("Hats were a way for these queens to be SEEN") is further strengthened by repetition of the titular theme: "Mae, like so many, made a way out of no way." Pippins's digital art has an abstract design aesthetic befitting the fabulous hats and accessories. Material from the related Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture exhibit is appended, along with a bibliography.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Toy Trailblazers series. Each of these engaging biographies introduces readers to the creator of a popular classic kids' toy or game. The texts are generally positive (and overuse exclamation points) but don't ignore difficulties and hardship, both personal and business-related. Captioned photos, archival reproductions, and "Fun Fact" boxes liven up the pages. The topics have ready-made kid-appeal; readers will glean insight into product development and the challenges of running a business. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Toy Trailblazers titles: Hot Wheels Developer, Lincoln Logs Creator, My Little Pony Pioneer, Nerf Genius, Nintendo Innovator, and The Slime Queen.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) YA Pham, founder/CEO of women-centered online platform Mogul, dishes on her success in this pep-talky self-help book for teens. The workbook-like volume includes lists, activities, and writing prompts. Pham's tone is chatty and infectiously positive as chapters ranging from fashion to finance to failure mix personal anecdote, practical business skills, inspiration, and feminism. "Mogul mentor" inserts offer additional advice. Young women will learn to set their sights high.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Toy Trailblazers series. Each of these engaging biographies introduces readers to the creator of a popular classic kids' toy or game. The texts are generally positive (and overuse exclamation points) but don't ignore difficulties and hardship, both personal and business-related. Captioned photos, archival reproductions, and "Fun Fact" boxes liven up the pages. The topics have ready-made kid-appeal; readers will glean insight into product development and the challenges of running a business. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Toy Trailblazers titles: Hot Wheels Developer, Lincoln Logs Creator, My Little Pony Pioneer, Nerf Genius, Nintendo Innovator, and The Slime Queen.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Katy Wu. The famous Paris bookstore Shakespeare and Company narrates its own story and stresses the value of books in text unevenly rhymed but with offbeat appeal. The free-spirited American store proprietor, Sylvia Beach, stocks the building with "...books, from ceiling to floor!" Soon, early-twentieth-century literary luminaries (of whom brief biographies are appended) come for tea, readings, and lively conversation. Colorful digital illustrations capture the bookstore's bohemian spirit.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Female Foodies series. Short chapters present straightforward biographies of inspiring female food entrepreneurs and cover the evolution, growth, and success of their empires. Each volume's second-person-perspective introduction provides a you-are-there connection for readers. Captioned color photographs, "Food Bite" sidebars of additional facts, and an appended "By the Numbers" statistics section are included in every book. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Female Foodies titles: Angie Bastian, Debbi Fields, Marie Callender, Peggy Cherng, Rose Totino, and Ruth Fertel.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Female Foodies series. Short chapters present straightforward biographies of inspiring female food entrepreneurs and cover the evolution, growth, and success of their empires. Each volume's second-person-perspective introduction provides a you-are-there connection for readers. Captioned color photographs, "Food Bite" sidebars of additional facts, and an appended "By the Numbers" statistics section are included in every book. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Female Foodies titles: Angie Bastian, Debbi Fields, Marie Callender, Peggy Cherng, Rose Totino, and Ruth Fertel.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Female Foodies series. Short chapters present straightforward biographies of inspiring female food entrepreneurs and cover the evolution, growth, and success of their empires. Each volume's second-person-perspective introduction provides a you-are-there connection for readers. Captioned color photographs, "Food Bite" sidebars of additional facts, and an appended "By the Numbers" statistics section are included in every book. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Female Foodies titles: Angie Bastian, Debbi Fields, Marie Callender, Peggy Cherng, Rose Totino, and Ruth Fertel.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Female Foodies series. Short chapters present straightforward biographies of inspiring female food entrepreneurs and cover the evolution, growth, and success of their empires. Each volume's second-person-perspective introduction provides a you-are-there connection for readers. Captioned color photographs, "Food Bite" sidebars of additional facts, and an appended "By the Numbers" statistics section are included in every book. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Female Foodies titles: Angie Bastian, Debbi Fields, Marie Callender, Peggy Cherng, Rose Totino, and Ruth Fertel.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Female Foodies series. Short chapters present straightforward biographies of inspiring female food entrepreneurs and cover the evolution, growth, and success of their empires. Each volume's second-person-perspective introduction provides a you-are-there connection for readers. Captioned color photographs, "Food Bite" sidebars of additional facts, and an appended "By the Numbers" statistics section are included in every book. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Female Foodies titles: Angie Bastian, Debbi Fields, Marie Callender, Peggy Cherng, Rose Totino, and Ruth Fertel.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Female Foodies series. Short chapters present straightforward biographies of inspiring female food entrepreneurs and cover the evolution, growth, and success of their empires. Each volume's second-person-perspective introduction provides a you-are-there connection for readers. Captioned color photographs, "Food Bite" sidebars of additional facts, and an appended "By the Numbers" statistics section are included in every book. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Female Foodies titles: Angie Bastian, Debbi Fields, Marie Callender, Peggy Cherng, Rose Totino, and Ruth Fertel.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 The trajectory of the French fashion designer's life and successful career is outlined in a well-researched, highly readable biography. Rubin addresses the darker parts of Chanel's history--her childhood in an orphanage, her relationship with a Nazi intelligence officer--as well as her iconic industry "firsts," including women's suits and the little black dress. The elegantly designed volume includes plenty of photographs. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biographies series. While staying politically neutral, this adulatory look at the current first daughter's life, upbringing, views, and ambitions under the shadow of her father (before, during, and after his presidential campaign) will leave readers with a positive personal impression of the real-estate and fashion businesswoman. Photographs accompany a wordy text on bland page layouts. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Amy June Bates. Eagan's rosy picture-book biography focuses on Ruth Handler's persistence in the face of naysayers and her desire to create dolls that would "encourage girls to be anything they want to be." However, the girl-power message feels forced, and the book lacks resources and back matter for reference. Bates's appealing pastel-colored illustrations exude nostalgia, featuring plenty of iconic Barbie styles and outfits from 1959 to today.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Toy Trailblazers series. Each of these engaging biographies introduces readers to the creator of a popular classic kids' toy or game. The texts are generally positive (and overuse exclamation points) but don't ignore difficulties and hardship, both personal and business-related. Captioned photos, archival reproductions, and "Fun Fact" boxes liven up the pages. The topics have ready-made kid-appeal; readers will glean insight into product development and the challenges of running a business. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Toy Trailblazers titles: American Girl Entrepreneur, Mr. Potato Head Inventor, Monopoly Mastermind, Pokémon Designer, Rubik's Cube Creator, and Yo-Yo Maker.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Toy Trailblazers series. Each of these engaging biographies introduces readers to the creator(s) of a popular classic kids' product. The texts are generally positive (and overuse exclamation points) but don't ignore difficulties and hardship, both personal and business-related. Captioned photos, archival reproductions, and "Fun Fact" boxes liven up the pages. The topics have ready-made kid-appeal; readers will glean insight into product development and the challenges of running a business. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Toy Trailblazers titles: Barbie Developer Ruth Handler, Board Game Builder Milton Bradley, Crayola Creators Edward Binney and C. Harold Smith, Lego Manufacturers the Kristiansen Family, Play-Doh Pioneer Joseph McVicker, and Slinky Innovators The James Family.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Toy Trailblazers series. Each of these engaging biographies introduces readers to the creator(s) of a popular classic kids' product. The texts are generally positive (and overuse exclamation points) but don't ignore difficulties and hardship, both personal and business-related. Captioned photos, archival reproductions, and "Fun Fact" boxes liven up the pages. The topics have ready-made kid-appeal; readers will glean insight into product development and the challenges of running a business. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Toy Trailblazers titles: Barbie Developer Ruth Handler, Board Game Builder Milton Bradley, Crayola Creators Edward Binney and C. Harold Smith, Lego Manufacturers the Kristiansen Family, Play-Doh Pioneer Joseph McVicker, and Slinky Innovators The James Family.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) YA Essential Lives series. Though sometimes repetitive (Estée) or awkwardly written (Malcolm X), these standard-issue biographies, illustrated with stock photographs, do offer balanced portraits of their subjects and will be useful for report writers. With fewer years to cover, Malala includes chapters on Pakistan, Islam, and the Taliban. The many sidebars are informative if somewhat distracting. Reading list, timelime. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Lives titles: Estée Lauder, Jonas Salk, Malcolm X, and Malala Yousafzai.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(3) 4-6 Candlewick Biographies series. Illustrated by Nneka Bennett. This well-written and informative biography captures the entrepreneurial character of America's first woman millionaire. Frustrated by the lack of hair care products for African American women, Walker founded her own cosmetics company in 1905, becoming one of the most successful business owners of her day and a role model for black women. The spacious illustrations evoke the time period in this "reformatted edition."

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.