Gr 5–8—Don't let the name of this series fool readers—it's not just a bunch of record books, but a thoughtful set of titles that consider the importance and influence of statistics in sports. Each volume effectively describes how stats are simultaneously amazing and deceiving—players in every sport are guilty of putting up big numbers but not producing any wins. In Stathead Basketball, individual athletes, like James Harden, and entire teams, like the Golden State Warriors, are used to effectively illustrate data, such as player efficiency rating (PER) and passing's impact on wins. Stathead Hockey looks at the old guard versus new guard of statistics, where a mediocre player's value can be assessed both by his inability to produce goals and his ability to assist teammates in a higher percentage of goals for shots taken. VERDICT Libraries looking to bolster connections between math and athletics will want to make purchasing this series a priority.

Gr 5–8—Don't let the name of this series fool readers—it's not just a bunch of record books, but a thoughtful set of titles that consider the importance and influence of statistics in sports. Each volume effectively describes how stats are simultaneously amazing and deceiving—players in every sport are guilty of putting up big numbers but not producing any wins. In Stathead Basketball, individual athletes, like James Harden, and entire teams, like the Golden State Warriors, are used to effectively illustrate data, such as player efficiency rating (PER) and passing's impact on wins. Stathead Hockey looks at the old guard versus new guard of statistics, where a mediocre player's value can be assessed both by his inability to produce goals and his ability to assist teammates in a higher percentage of goals for shots taken. VERDICT Libraries looking to bolster connections between math and athletics will want to make purchasing this series a priority.