There is always a need for quality biographies and the strength of these particular titles is their breadth of coverage. Not only do the McKissacks profile well-known subjects such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and George Washington Carver, but they also address figures who might not be as famous (such as Madam C.J. Walker and Carter G. Woodson). The texts, which were originally published in the early 1990s, are clearly written and presented in a clean design. Captions for the full-color photos and illustrations provide additional information and the further reading and websites have been updated.

Some of the text-heavy pages might present a problem for lower-level readers, but overall, the language is simple and straightforward. Challenging vocabulary is set in a bold font and defined in the glossaries. These introductions will be useful for reports and for independent reading., School Library Journal April 2013.