Gr 5 Up—From the familiar names of Elizabeth I and George Washington to lesser-known individuals such as jazz pioneer Buddy Bolden and designer Coco Chanel, this set presents biographies of a wide range of historical figures. Women and minorities are fairly well represented, as are many nationalities, though North American and European subjects feature heavily. Most articles range from 6 to 10 pages, allowing room for some depth. "Alexander the Great," for instance, includes a quite detailed look at the siege of Tyre. The clear and accessible writing includes sufficient historical context without straying too far from the subject. Quotes appear within the articles only occasionally, but a notable statement by the subject is highlighted at the head of one of the pages. Brief sections of text stand out in larger, bold font. These selected passages are not always significant: some serve as captions to illustrations, while others seem to be chosen randomly. Plentiful black-and-white illustrations, including many graphic-novel-style renderings as well as photographs and maps, and an attractive layout make this set less intimidating than some reference works. Each article starts with a large-print overview opposite a full-page photograph or other illustration and includes a time line. Indexes by field of endeavor and era offer useful access points. With its variety of subjects and a generally attractive look and style, this set will serve well for assignments.

Steven Engelfried
School Library Journal, October 1, 2008

"This set offers multipage biographies of 101 individuals who, in the opinion of the editors, have exerted profound influence on contemporary society. Coverage spans antiquity (Homer, Alexander the Great) through the modern day (Steve Jobs, Linux inventor Linus Torvalds). Subjects represent an array of interests: activists; artists, writers, and performers; inventors and scientists; and social, political, and military leaders. With the exception of Mohandas Gandhi, Ts'ai Lon (the inventor of paper), and major religious figures (Buddha, Confucius, Jesus, Moses, and Muhammad), the majority of articles address icons of Western civilization. More than 30 entries consider figures from U.S. history or society (examples include Tecumseh, Walt Disney, and five presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Eisenhower).

The editors utilize a number of user-friendly ploys to entice young researchers. Each entry begins with a brief summary covering basic biographical facts and outlining personal accomplishments. Black-and-white full-page portraits, illustrated time lines, reproductions of primary sources, maps, archival photographs, and cartoonlike drawings complement the text, which appears in a comfortably large font and is divided into manageable subtopics. Each illustration is accompanied by a detailed caption. Articles, which average eight pages in length, are arranged in alphabetical order, and subject, area of endeavor, and era indexes offer additional access. Lists of age-appropriate books and Web sites offer suggestions for further reading.

Overall, each entry entails a satisfying amount of information delivered in a variety of visual formats. The selected subjects represent both individuals who are standard language-arts and social-studies research assignments (Booker T. Washington, Galileo, Cyrus McCormick, etc.) as well as individuals who may not be as well documented but are representative of current curriculum topics (e.g., Mario Jose Molina, the scientist who raised the first warnings about the ozone layer, or R. Buckminster Fuller, environmentalist and creator of the geodesic dome). Like previous offerings, such as The Lincoln Library of Greek and Roman Mythology (2006) and The Lincoln Library of Sports Champions (8th ed., 2007), this set should prove popular with student researchers in upper-elementary, middle, and high school (especially struggling readers or English-language learners). Recommended for school and public library collections."

Kathleen McBroom
Booklist magazine, September 2008

"This visually attractive seven-volume reference source offers clearly written biographies of persons who have made significant contributions to the world. Each entry opens with an abstract followed by a detailed biography (format mimics The Lincoln Library of Sports Champions) and include timelines, notable quotations, photos, primary source documents, and print and online resources for further study.  Some entries include kid-friendly graphic novel-type illustrations. Subjects include a wide range of individuals: the inclusion of Aristotle and Abraham Lincoln is no surprise; less well-known contributors such as Jan Ernst Matzeliger and Carlos Finlay add welcome interest.  An appealing mix to browse with plenty of substance for research. Recommended."

Ro Becker
The PSLA Media and Review Committee