As its title claims, the Sports Illustrated Kids: The Science behind the Plays series uses legendary sports achievements to introduce basic physics concepts. Each book breaks down four noteworthy events, setting up context, identifying challenges, showcasing superstars and their amazing athleticism, and explaining the application of the various energy forces that made each feat possible. The standardized formats feature colorful graphics, sidebars, references, and such user friendly features as short sentences, brief chapters, vocabulary words defined along page edges, and stop-motion photos that support the step-by-step action. Goal describes Cristiano Ronaldo's 2018 stupefying upside-down and backwards bicycle-kick soccer goal (motion, friction, and gravity--or defying gravity, in this case). Home Run revisits Ozzie Smith's 1978 daring bare-handed catch while explaining speed, velocity, and the differences between potential and kinetic energy. Swish brings in acceleration, mass, and leverage to describe how Kobe Bryant set up Shaquille O'Neal for an epic alley-oop during the 2000 Western Conference Finals. Lift, direction, drag, and resistance work together to explain Terry Bradshaw's 1972 immaculate reception football pass in Touchdown. The physical properties, referred to as unseen forces, are repeated and reinforced throughout the series.

One regrettable oversight: out of the 16 case studies cited in the four titles, only one features women (England's 2022 national soccer team). Still, the eye-catching covers and brisk action sequences are sure to attract and enlighten audiences.