Will Smith

Children's Literature - Nancy Partridge

Fresh, breezy and loaded with star facts, this book has the low-down on one of the decade's most popular actor and rapper, Will Smith. Tracing his filmography, discography, and personal journey to the top, there are a plethora of photographs to enjoy on every page, some even taking up two page spreads. Smith has so many admirable qualities. Besides being incredibly hard working, naturally funny and very talented, he's got good moral standards, and he's definitely not boring! Written in an easy-to-read fast paced style that reads like a teen magazine, there are lots of personal details here for star-struck fans to pour over. This is a monthly installation of the series Scene, a celebrity resource for young people.

VOYA - Sue Krumbein

Actor/rapper Will Smith's face is familiar to a wide variety of people. Fans of the TV show Fresh Prince, people who enjoyed the movie Men in Black, and those who know him as a rapper all recognize the handsome face, genuine smile, and even the big ears. While these two biographies of Will Smith serve different purposes, both will be popular with young readers. Stern's book, part of the Scene series, reads like a magazine. This oversize paperback includes big colorful photos, quotes in page margins, and facts presented in an easy-to-find manner. Its style is well-suited to both the casual reading area and the magazine rack. Students will enjoy looking at it together or by themselves. Stauffer's title, part of the Black Americans of Achievement series, is clearly a biography in format as well as form. It begins with a chapter on the movie Independence Day and then moves to Will's life, starting with his childhood and continuing as his performing career develops. Photographs add interest to the text, and the book has all the helpful features that are so important to a book students will read for research as well as for pleasure. Biographies of individuals currently working in their field are an asset to any library. Though these two books would be used differently, they would both add to a biography collection. The Scene series book should not be left on the shelf for a student to find, but should be displayed with other casual reading material. Note: This review was written and published to address two books. Illus. Photos. VOYA Codes: 3Q 4P M J S (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12).