Count down the days to the 2008 Summer Olympics with one of these great books for young readers:

• Author Sue Macy helps kids put the Summer Olympics in historical perspective in "Swifter, Higher, Stronger" (National Geographic, $18.95). But this is no boring history textbook; instead, it's a strong collection of text and photos that capture the glories and the controversies of the Summer Olympics, while also spotlighting some of the Games' legendary athletes: runners Jim Thorpe and Wilma Rudolph, gymnast Nadia Comaneci and swimmer Mark Spitz, among others.

First published four years ago, Macy's book has been updated for the 2008 Olympics. It includes information about the outcome of the 2004 Games as well as a note about the new events added this year, such as bicycle motocross (BMX). Young readers might be particularly interested to read through the "Olympic Snapshots" at the end of the book, where Macy has written brief accounts of each Summer Olympics held since the modern games began in 1896.

A map, plus an "at a glance" chart of all the Summer Olympics, add further to this highly readable and fact-filled book. (Ages 8-14.)

• Caroline Hatton tackles a difficult issue with grace and clarity in "The Night Olympic Team" (Boyds Mill Press, $17.95). The issue is the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs by Olympic athletes, and it's an issue with which Hatton, a scientist, is very familiar in her work for the UCLA Olympic Lab, which tests U.S. athletes.

In her book, written like a scientific thriller, Hatton details how, in 2002, the "night Olympic team" of scientists uncovered the fact that three Olympic athletes had used an illegal blood booster called NESP. Because NESP was so new, many experts had thought it would be impossible to detect in athletes, but, as Hatton shows, lab scientists were able to prove them wrong. Hatton's volume is slim in size, but it offers readers a unique glimpse into how science can make a difference in keeping the Olympics fair and drug-free. (Ages 9-12.)

• Gymnastics is one of the most popular sports in the Summer Olympics. For an inside look at America's top women's gymnasts, look for "Going for Gold" (Price Stern Sloan, $4.99). Billed as an "unauthorized biography," this book by Leigh Olsen gives readers details about the lives of these teenagers who train for incredibly long hours in their quest for an Olympic gold medal. Gymnastics fans will especially enjoy this paperback, which includes four pages of color photos tucked into the middle of the book. (Ages 8-12.)

• For a workmanlike but still interesting look at the Olympics, check out "The Olympics" (Little, Brown, $4.99). Written by Stephanie Peters, the book is part of the "Matt Christopher Legendary Sports Events" series and offers a decade-by-decade look at the Olympic Games. The book includes a few black-and-white photographs but no index. As a result, this is a good book for browsing but not for research. (Ages 7-10.)

• Kids can learn more about the host city of this year's Summer Olympics in "Beijing: Great Dynasties, Mighty Conflicts ... and the Forbidden City" (Kingfisher, $16.95). Making excellent use of the oversized picture-book format, author Richard Platt takes readers on a historical tour of this fascinating city. Illustrations by Manuela Cappon add perspective and interest to this book, which also includes a helpful glossary, index and timeline. (Ages 8-12.)

• It's not new, but "Wilma Unlimited" is one of the most inspiring children's books ever written about an Olympic athlete. Published in 1996, this picture-book biography written by Kathleen Krull remains a top choice for young readers who want to know more about what it takes to get to the Olympics.

Krull's understated text depicts Rudolph's struggles to overcome polio as a child and shows how her successful efforts to beat the disease helped her to develop a unique ability to focus. It was this ability that helped Rudolph to win three gold medals at the 1960 Olympics. Outstanding illustrations by Caldecott Medalist David Diaz bring further luster to this unforgettable book. (Ages 6-10, but adults will love it as well.)