Showing titles in Sports & Recreation

Did you know that Muhammad Ali was so terrified of flying on planes that he would bring a parachute? Or that he won the Presidential Medal of Freedom? Bet you didn’t know that he had an official sweat-taster to determine how salty his sweat was after each match! Siblings Paige and Turner do - and they’ve collected some of the most unusual and surprising facts about him, from his childhood and the spark of his boxing career through his time as heavyweight champion of the world.

Hall-of-famer Elgin Baylor was one of basketball’s all-time-greatest players - an innovative athlete, team player, and quiet force for change. One of the first professional African-American players, he inspired others on and off the court. But when traveling for away games, many hotels and restaurants turned Elgin away because he was Black. One night, Elgin had enough and staged a one-man protest that captured the attention of the press, the public, and the NBA.

Do you play sports? Maybe you dream about scoring a goal on the soccer field or hitting a home run in baseball. Perhaps you're thinking about trying a new sport, but you're still not sure. In We Got Game! you'll meet 35 female athletes who played hard, broke records, and inspired girls around the world. Some of these athletes have retired. Others are still competing. But they have one thing in common: They all got game!

Ezekiel Elliott - the star running back for the Dallas Cowboys - spent his 2016 rookie season running past, and sometimes over, his opponents. He led the National Football League (NFL) in rushing yards, helping his team enter the playoffs with the second-best regular season record in the NFL. With his impressive speed and strength, it looks like Elliott will continue to dominate the NFL for many years to come. Learn all about Elliott's path to the NFL, how he stays fit, how he developed his personal sense of style, and much more.

Lionel Messi is one of the best soccer players in the world. He's led his team - Fútbol Club (FC) Barcelona - to several championships, he's won the FIFA Ballon d'Or award five times, and he's been on the cover of the video game EA Sports FIFA four times. Messi is known for his amazing ability to score goals, but he didn't become a soccer superstar without plenty of hard work. Learn how Messi keeps his body fit for the game, what his life is like off the pitch, and more.

LeBron James is a basketball legend. In 2016 he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to win their first ever National Basketball Association (NBA) Championship. Before that, the basketball superstar - known to fans as King James - had already won two other NBA championships and two Olympic gold medals. He's been in movies, on TV, and on magazine covers. He's naturally talented, but he still works incredibly hard to stay on top of his game. Learn more about James's career, his routine before and after games, and his incredible successes both on and off the court.

Aaron Rodgers is the star quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, and he has the stats to prove it. He reached 300 touchdown passes faster than any other quarterback in NFL history. Even though he spent the first few years of his NFL career on the bench, he led his team to victory in Super Bowl XLV and won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award - all by the age of 27. He may have cemented his status as a sports megastar, but his goal is to go back the Super Bowl a few more times. Learn about Rodgers' football career, how he stays fit, and more.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has won the Super Bowl five times. Young football fans will love this sports biography with engaging text to help with critical-thinking questions....

Stephen Curry is a star player for the Golden State Warriors. Engaging text and critical-thinking questions will make this book a slam dunk with young basketball fans.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge became a fan favorite in his rookie season with the team. This title's engaging text and critical-thinking questions will attract young baseball fans.

Clare Balding, TV presenter, sportswoman and best-selling author has had some spectacular falls in her life - from not fitting in at school and falling in with the wrong crowd, to last-minute hiccups and mistakes on live TV - so she knows what it takes to embrace your mistakes and move on from them! With personal stories from Clare herself and from the lives of the people she most admires, children will discover how to develop courage in the face of tough situations.

No one was surpised when Dale Earnhardt Jr. began his racing career at age 17. His father and grandfather were professional racers, and he spent most of his childhood servicing cars at his dad's dealership. Now Dale was ready for his own turn in the driver's seat. He started out racing in the Street Stock division but would go on to win several NASCAR championships before retiring from driving fulltime in 2017. Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s passion and dedication to the sport he loves is why he is considered the most popular professional driver in the world.

The American boxing champ and vocal civil rights activist Muhammad Ali is the 27th hero in the New York Times best-selling picture book biography series for ages 5 to 8. Muhammad Ali was the leading heavyweight boxer of the 20th century and a charismatic, beloved public figure. His objection to the military draft during the Vietnam War made him an icon for a generation, and his impact in sports and the Civil Rights movement is still felt today.

Adapted for young listeners! Join two-time Women's World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist, and trailblazing activist Megan Rapinoe in the fight for equality and justice in this middle-grade adaptation of her New York Times best-selling memoir, One Life.

Considered the fastest woman of all time, Florence Griffith Joyner, also known as Flo Jo, set two world records in 1988 that still stand today. But getting there wasn't easy, and Flo Jo had to overcome many challenges along the way.

In Odell Beckham Jr.: The Inspiring Story of One of Football's Greatest Wide Receivers, you will learn the story of one of football's star players. Since entering the National Football League, Beckham Jr. has set records. In 2016, he became the fastest player in league history to have recorded 200 career receptions along with 4,000 career receiving yards. He truly is a special player, with a clutch gene that allows him to rise to any occasion.

In Aaron Judge: The Inspiring Story of One of Baseball's Rising All-Stars, you will learn the story of one of baseball's new stars. Since entering Major League Baseball in 2016, Judge has quickly emerged as one of the best hitters to watch for years to come. So far in his young career, Judge has already won the American League's Rookie of the Year award in 2017 and a Silver Slugger award. Both of these are not easy feats. Pick up this unauthorized biography today to learn the inspiring story behind baseball star Aaron Judge!

In Jackie Robinson: The Inspiring Story of One of Baseball's Greatest Legends, you will learn the story of the first African American to play Major League Baseball in the modern era, Jackie Robinson. Robinson was one of the most influential players to ever play baseball. Over the span of his 10-year professional career, he won the Rookie of the Year Award, received six All-Star nominations, and was the first African American player to win the National League's Most Valuable Player Award.

Find the inspiration you need to be the best soccer player you can be with these sports biographies! Soccer Stars on the Pitch goes deep and explores the lives and careers of some of the sport’s most famous players. Soccer (or, as it’s known outside the US, football) is the most popular sport in the world. From French stopper Hugo Lloris to American captain Christian Pulisic, these sports biographies show you how these amazing athletes made tough choices, overcame injuries, and blew past every other obstacle that got in their way!

It’s the bottom of the ninth, bases are loaded, and your team is down by three - who do you want coming up to bat? Baseball Biographies for Kids answers this question and more! Bursting with statistics and impressive feats from the greatest players of the last 60 years, this lineup of inspirational baseball biographies shows you what it takes to be a real MVP. Discover the ultimate dream team as you explore the best pros for each position. You’ll also get quick looks into some truly legendary baseball players and lots of fun facts!