The Young Inline Skater (Young Enthusiast) - Hardcover

Gr. 4^-6. As with any sport, it's practice not pictures that counts the most, but this book is still a good place for kids to turn to before strapping on the skates. The many excellent full-color photos, all nicely placed, are as important as the text in getting across the information, which covers everything from skate maintenance and fundamental maneuvers to negotiating hills and learning how to jump. Safety is a big concern: all kids pictured are outfitted correctly with helmets and pads; warm-up exercises are encouraged, as is some practice on grass at the beginning; and Edwards includes a very useful section on handling the inevitable fall. A tantalizing double-page spread at the end shows children the excitement awaiting them should they want to try competitive skating. Stephanie Zvirin

The Young Inline Skater ($15.95; Oct. 22, 1996; 37 pp.; 0-7894- 1124-5): A how-to-do-it book for beginners, in the publisher's well-known format of clear full-color photos and concise text in which the information is broken down into easy-to-follow steps organized into two-page modules. Edwards, described as the world champion vert skater (``vert'' is not defined), covers gear, basic skills (stroking, stopping, turning, falling safely), and more advanced moves (crossover turns, backward skating, coping with hills and hazards, jumping), emphasizing safety throughout. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 8-14) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.