Big air skateboarding

Bold color photographs of daredevil moves are sure to entice readers to the books in the Extreme Sports series. Using minimal text (two to three sentences per page), each volume introduces readers to what the featured sport is, its history, the necessary protective gear, and how competitions work including point systems and the type of course each sport uses. Big Air Skateboarding describes many of the tricks that can be done on a MegaRamp, on which skaters can go as fast as 55 mph. Each book features relevant sports terms and concludes with an innovator in the sport; however, it is disappointing that no female athletes are represented in the books' text or illustrations. Somewhat surprisingly, the X Games are never explained, though each volume references them. Even with these deficiencies, the books' exciting tone and dynamic illustrations will draw kids into the world of extreme sports.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2016 Booklist

Gr 3-7-This set focuses on extreme sports, covering history, gear, events, and famous athletes. Each book begins with an account of a gold-winning performance. Graphics and color photos help convey each sport's difficulty and appeal. BMX Racing notes that Olympic races usually finish in 40 seconds or less. Motocross Racing mentions Ricky Carmichael, who completed perfect racing seasons in 2002 and 2004. In Skateboarding Street Style, text and photos capture Nyjah Huston's impressive gold medal-winning performance at the 2014 X Games, but the safety-minded caption advises readers to "protect your head!" and explains that though "professionals often wear hats during street style events, helmets are strongly recommended." VERDICT This effective series capably sums up the appeal of these popular sports. © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.