Children’s / Teenage general interest: Sports and outdoor recreation

Book Synopsis* A bright salutation of a story, with one determined woman at its center.--Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewThe inspiring story of the first female to run the Boston Marathon comes to life in stunningly vivid collage illustrations.Because Bobbi Gibb is a girl, she''s not allowed to run on her school''s track team. But after school, no one can stop her--and she''s free to run endless miles to her heart''s content. She is told no yet again when she tries to enter the Boston Marathon in 1966, because the officials claim that it''s a man''s race and that women are just not capable of running such a long distance. So what does Bobbi do? She bravely sets out to prove the naysayers wrong and show the world just what a girl can do.Trade Review* “Pimentel tenders the story of Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to (surreptitiously) run the classic Boston Marathon, with illustrations that pay close attention to the route along the way. . . . It is as though Gibb is on one long runner's high, and it's good fun to run along with her. . . . [Archer’s] artwork is an eyeful, a deep-dish mixture of oil paint and collage with tissue paper and hand-stamped patterned papers as materials. In addition, she adds mile markers and elevation notes to convey the runners' toils and why it is called "Heartbreak Hill." . . . A bright salutation of a story, with one determined woman at its center.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review“Bobbi Gibb found joy in running before it was an activity women were encouraged or even allowed to participate in. Faced with enormous obstacles (including having available running gear), Gibb went on to become the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon, blazing the trail for thousands of women to come. The story does justice to Gibb’s dream. . . . The lush collage-style illustrations are a highlight, specifically the clever mile marker and elevation indicators which stretch across the pages as Gibb runs the race. The closing image nicely incorporates the names of other female marathoners as a tribute. An inspiring addition to picture book biography collections.”—School Library Journal“Pimentel introduces Bobbi Gibb, who in 1966 became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, in an affectionate portrait informed by interviews with Gibb herself. In textured collages, Archer creates a cozy community of autumn leaves, spring fields, and quaint rooftops, against which Gibb trains for the marathon. . . . Gibb finishes the race to acclaim, opening the door for other dedicated women runners. A triumphant story of an athlete and spirited individual.”—Publishers Weekly"The illustrations are brightly colored collages that fill the pages from edge to edge. . . . The artist has included mile markers and notes about the course elevation to help the reader understand how difficult the marathon is. This simple story will leave all types of readers cheering for a woman who believed in herself and worked hard to make her dreams come true. This would be a great addition to a story time about sports or successful women."—School Library Connection“Pimentel delivers a sharply focused, hard-pounding narrative, and Archer supplies inventive oil and collage artwork worthy of the text. . . . An afterword on Gibb’s subsequent marathons, notes on the use of her maiden name and on quotation sources, and a selected bibliography are appended, and the final spread featuring the names of women marathon winners gives viewers leads on other stories worth investigating.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books“Clear on Gibb’s determination to overcome discrimination in order to follow her passion. . . . Pimentel’s straightforward text builds drama and suspense, becoming appropriately staccato and urgent when describing the race. Archer’s vibrant mixed-media and collage art portrays a variety of settings, seasons, and situations; a nice touch is the bottom-of-the-page border marking the miles as we follow Bobbi’s progress along the marathon route.”—The Horn Book

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Book SynopsisIn Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry, acclaimed journalist and bestselling author Dan Wetzel tells the inspiring, electrifying story of the NBA superstar, beginning a new series of sports biographies for young readers! Featuring comic-style illustrations by Zeke Peña!When you think of Stephen Curry, one word comes to mind: greatness. From shooting three-pointers with laser precision to his clutch ability to hit buzzer-beaters time and again, he has established himself as one of the best players in pro basketball.But greatness was never a guarantee for Steph. The son of a talented NBA player, he dreamed of one day playing professionally just like his dad. Yet Steph, who was always smaller and weaker than the competition, was told over and over that he would never be talented enough to be a college star or NBA player--let alone the MVP of the entire league. Through tenacity and hard work, he proved them all wrong and went on to dismantle the record boo

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Book SynopsisKicking off his new series of sports biographies for young readers, journalist Dan Wetzel tells the inspiring true life story of a US Women''s Soccer star in Epic Athletes: Alex Morgan. Featuring graphic-style illustrations by Cory Thomas! Fierce competitor. World Cup winner. Role model. U.S. Women''s Soccer star Alex Morgan has earned each of these impressive titles throughout her incredible career. As a young girl growing up in Southern California, she dreamed of being a professional soccer player, fighting to compete on the international stage against the world''s greatest athletes. Flash forward to the present and Alex Morgan has emerged as the face of U.S. Women''s soccer, famous for her clutch, late-game goals, and an inspiration to kids across the country. Bestselling author Dan Wetzel details the rise of an American champion in this uplifting biography for young readers, complete with dynamic comic-style illustrations.

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Book SynopsisEpic Athletes: Serena Williams is an inspiring middle-grade biography of the most celebrated women''s tennis player ever from acclaimed sports journalist Dan Wetzel! Featuring comic-style illustrations by Sloane Leong! Serena Williams is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. From growing up in a tough neighborhood to combatting racism to weathering severe health issues, there is no challenge she can''t defeat, no hurdle that will get in the way of her unwavering desire to be the best tennis player in the world. As a little girl, Serena spent years training at her local court with her father and older sister, Venus, dreaming of one day winning Grand Slam titles and earning the number one ranking in the world. After more than twenty years of dominating the world of tennis, there''s no doubt that Serena has made her dreams come true. In this inspiring biography, bestselling author Dan Wetzel brings to life the story of an athlete and trailb

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Book SynopsisRenowned sports journalist Dan Wetzel shoots and scores with Epic Athletes: Lionel Messi, an inspiring young readers biography of a soccer great who rose from an underdog to a champion!Featuring comic-style illustrations by Jay Reed! Lionel Messi has taken the soccer world by storm. He scored the most goals in a season. He''s racked up championships. There was even a statue built in his honor. Despite the accolades, he''s still hungry for more goals, more championships, more opportunities to shine on the soccer pitch. Messi''s drive to succeed has motivated him ever since he first stepped on his local, worn down field as a kid.Yet his success didn''t come without bumps in the road. Diagnosed with a career-threatening medical condition at ten, Messi refused to give up on his dream, and went on to amass one of the greatest careers in sports history. Filled with sports action and bold illustrations, this thrilling biography details the rise

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Book SynopsisIn Epic Athletes: Kevin Durant, award-winning sports journalist Dan Wetzel tells the inspirational true-life story of an NBA superstar in this thrilling biography for young readers!Featuring comic-style illustrations by Marcelo Baez!In 2016, Kevin Durant shocked the basketball world when he decided to sign with the Golden State Warriors. Many questioned why one of the league''s best players would join a team that was already stacked with talentdidn''t he want to make a name for himself as the sole leader of a team? Kevin would have the last laugh, winning two championships and putting to rest any questions about his incredible legacy. In choosing to tune out the noise, he instead set his sights on success, maintaining the same winning attitude that has helped him achieve and overcome ever since he was kid. Even after his father abandoned the family when he was a young boy, when he was told he was too skinny to make an impact in the NBA, K

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Book SynopsisAttucks! is true story of the all-black high school basketball team that broke the color barrier in segregated 1950s Indiana, masterfully told by National Book Award winner Phil Hoose.By winning the state high school basketball championship in 1955, ten teens from an Indianapolis school meant to be the centerpiece of racially segregated education in the state shattered the myth of their inferiority. Their brilliant coach had fashioned an unbeatable team from a group of boys born in the South and raised in poverty. Anchored by the astonishing Oscar Robertson, a future college and NBA star, the Crispus Attucks Tigers went down in history as the first state champions from Indianapolis and the first all-black team in U.S. history to win a racially open championship tournamentan integration they had forced with their on-court prowess.From native Hoosier and award-winning author Phillip Hoose comes this true story of a team up against impossible odds, making

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Book SynopsisWar in the Ring presents a riveting nonfiction book for kids about a boxing match that represented the growing tensions between the United States and Nazi Germany in the lead up to World War II.Joe Louis was born on an Alabama cotton patch and raised in a Detroit ghetto. Max Schmeling grew up in poverty in Hamburg, Germany. For both boys, boxing was a path out and a ladder up. Little did they know that they would one day face each other in a pair of matches that would capture the world''s attention.Joe grew into a symbol of inspiration to a nation of Black Americans hoping to carve a slice of the ''American Dream'' in a racially fractured country. Max, on the other hand, became a Nazi symbol for the superiority of the Aryan race.The battles waged between Joe and Max still resonate, and the cultural implications of the international sensation continue to reverberate far past the ring.

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Book SynopsisFrom NBA All-Star Chris Paul comes an inspirational and uplifting picture book about chasing your basketball dreams and the lessons he learned both on and off the court from his beloved grandfather Papa Chilly.Growing up, young Chris Paul dreamed of playing professional basketball. But he knew it would take more than dedication and practice, so Chris looked to his grandfather Papa Chilly as a shining example of the values he could apply both in basketball and in life. Papa taught him about respect, faith, kindness, generosity, and the determination to succeed, just as Papa had succeeded as the first Black business owner of a service station in North Carolina. Serving as a beacon of inspiration for Chris, Papa Chilly and his lessons propelled Chris to become the star NBA playerand personhe is today.

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Book SynopsisIn the illustrated middle-grade biography Epic Athletes: Zion Williamson, acclaimed sports journalist Dan Wetzel tells the inspirational story of the greatest basketball prospect of his generation.Following Zion Williamson''s record-breaking season at Duke University and his electric NBA debut, basketball fans are already calling him the NBA''s Crown Prince, drawing comparisons to all-time greats like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant.Now a New Orleans Pelican, he''s set out to prove that he truly deserves to be the new King of Basketball. But for all the expectations and accolades, Zion remains a humble, dedicated teammate, and a terrific role model for young basketball fans across the country. Filled with sports action and comic-style illustrations by David SanAngelo, this inspiring biography tells the story of a once-in-a-generation basketball superstar.

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Book SynopsisRead about Puerto Rican Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente in Hispanic Star: Roberto Clemente, and learn the most groundbreaking, iconic Hispanic and Latinx heroes that have shaped our culture and the world in this gripping biography series for young readers, perfect for fans of the Who Was series. If you can see it, you can be it.Meet Puerto Rican Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, once just a kid from Carolina, Puerto Rico, who loved to play baseball on the streets of his hometown with friends and family. As a right fielder, Roberto played eighteen seasons with Major League Baseball, but his life was tragically cut short when a plane he chartered to bring earthquake relief supplies to Nicaragua crashed. The first Latin American player to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Clemente paved the way for generations of Latinx athletes.Hispanic Star proudly celebrates Hispanic and Latinx heroes who have m

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Book SynopsisRead about Puerto Rican Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente in Hispanic Star: Roberto Clemente, and learn the most groundbreaking, iconic Hispanic and Latinx heroes that have shaped our culture and the world in this gripping biography series for young readers, perfect for fans of the Who Was series. If you can see it, you can be it.Meet Puerto Rican Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, once just a kid from Carolina, Puerto Rico, who loved to play baseball on the streets of his hometown with friends and family. As a right fielder, Roberto played eighteen seasons with Major League Baseball, but his life was tragically cut short when a plane he chartered to bring earthquake relief supplies to Nicaragua crashed. The first Latin American player to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Clemente paved the way for generations of Latinx athletes.Hispanic Star proudly celebrates Hispanic and Latinx heroes who have m

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Book SynopsisThis nonfiction picture book from author Charles R. Smith Jr and illustrated by Shane W. Evans tells the story of the world''s first black heavyweight champion, the charismatic Jack Black Jack Johnson.Born as Arthur John Johnson in the southern state of Texas, Jack Johnson was one of the most renowned boxers of the twentieth century. Through hard work and persistence, he climbed the ranks, taking a swing and a jab and eventually busting the color barrier. As the first black man to win the Heavyweight Championship, there was more than a title on the line. Published to commemorate the 100th anniversary of this history-making bout (July 4, 1910). This is an extraordinary marriage of poetry, fabulous collage artwork, and a splendid achievement in its own right.

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Book SynopsisBreaking up is hard to do, especially when it''s with your best friend. Can these two ex-besties survive summer camp together? Maddie and Chloe have always been best friends, until last year, when Chloe's popularity and budding fame as an actor left Maddie in the dust one too many times. Their friendship is over, and they're both ready to move on.But when the girls arrive at summer camp, they discover that the universe isn't ready to let go of this friendship just yet: They're cabinmates, and each of them has to spend the summer with her exbest friend. Is it time to try again, or are they doomed to drift apart for good?

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Book SynopsisThis propulsive adventure takes readers on a first hunt in the American wilderness—and face to face with the choice to kill or not to kill.Trade Review"For kids who, like Hunter, can’t get enough of Hatchet." -- Kirkus Reviews"A paean to hunting... notable for its verisimilitude and well-realized setting, the Idaho wilderness." -- Booklist"Vividly realistic passages about shooting and hunting enrich the narrative, while explorations of toxic masculine attitudes in hunting culture, fear of failure, and trauma underscore the steady action.... An emotionally satisfying read." -- Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisFrom the best-selling author behind My Weird School: a quirky new biography series that casts fresh light on high-interest historic figures.

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Book SynopsisThis propulsive adventure takes readers on a first hunt in the American wilderness—and face to face with the choice to kill or not to kill.

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