If the first athlete you think of when you hear the name “Babe” is Babe Ruth, no one could really blame you, but after reading Babe Conquers the World (Calkins Creek, $16.95) you might have some misgivings about who is the most important Babe in sports. This biography of Babe Didrikson Zaharias by Rich Wallace and Sandra Neil Wallace is fast-paced and entertaining, just like Babe herself. Babe was a complicated figure: she won many Olympic gold medals, set many world records, and tore down many barriers against women in sports, but she was also brash and egotistical. The Wallaces don’t just chronicle Babe’s deeds, they depict her in all her complexity, and include important moments from history as well, bringing Babe’s era to life and contextualizing how impressive her achievements were. Ages 9-12. Eowyn Randall
