Look What Sports Did To This Little Kid

The Baby Boom generation (those born between 1946-1965) are starting to reach three quarters of a century in age. Their youth came after the Great Depression and World War II; and Americans were longing for fun activities that sports provided. Baby Boomers grew up just as television was being welcomed into average households. The youth of this generation were the first to see sports events live on TV rather than listening to them on radio or reading about them in newspapers. This new visual medium enabled this generation to react together immediately to the same athletic competition. This autobiography presents a nostalgic look at the author’s reactions to the sports events that many of his readers also witnessed. This work is also a history book whose stories detail events in a personal, readable, enjoyable way. Baby boomers and sports fans in general will have fun exploring such enticing chapters such as: How the author’s uncle became a pro wrestler to pay his way through law school. Meeting a boyhood sports idol 40 years later. Two grandsons ride in a pace car with their Papa. Meeting the only major league ambidextrous pitcher. The first T-ball game played on “artificial turf”! Author plays international basketball game in Senegal. Author beats future Supreme Court justice in basketball! Larry Bird ruins local TV sports broadcast! Author participates in prison basketball game. Running with the “Vaulting Vicar”, Bob Richards! Author’s wife meets Michael Jordon....almost! The Detective Wrestling Dentist! Golfing on the Moon! Vietnam and a remembered fallen teammate. Patrice meets Kentucky Derby winner Go for Gin. The most comfortable pole vault landing pit ever! Author Spinner was prompted to write his book after reading this quote from Toni Morrison: “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”

CLIMB, DIVE, SKATE, AND RACE into the wide world of sports! This lively reference book, co-branded with ESPN, introduces young readers to a variety of sports from across the globe and explores how they are played. Whether a sport needs a ball or a stick, a pool or a field, a racquet or a ski pole, young readers can explore each sport's history and the rules and skills that make that sport unique. From basketball to soccer, lacrosse to cricket, archery to diving, bowling to skateboarding, snowboarding to playground games, this lively reference book covers a variety of team and individual sports. Special sections look at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Whether you're interested in team sports, solo sports, or watching from the stands, this book has something for everyone. Let's play! Features include: Age-appropriate descriptions of dozens of sports, and the rules and skills that make each sport unique Activities that encourage interactive learning and exercise Simple text for reading aloud or for beginning readers Fun facts on every spread More than 200 incredible photos Parent tips that extend the experience beyond the book Expand your collection with these popular titles from the best-selling National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book series: Little Kids First Big Book of Why Little Kids First Big Book of Why 2 Little Kids First Big Book of How Little Kids First Big Book of Where Little Kids First Big Book of Who Little Kids First Big Book of the World Little Kids First Big Book of Space Little Kids First Big Book of Things That Go Little Kids First Big Book of Animals Little Kids First Big Book of Pets And more!

Moon Mullen was an integral member of George Halas's old Chicago Bears. Verl Lillywhite played on the mid-century San Francisco 49ers, integrating the pro football roommates' tradition by bunking with Joe "The Jet" Perry. Rodeo star Chuck Roberson doubled for John Wayne when the stunt work got dicey. Jay Carty played on the Los Angeles Lakers with Jerry West. George Culver tossed a no-hitter for the Cincinnati Reds. What these former athletes and others profiled in this collection have in common is Kern County, California, and the good fortune to have had Bryce Martin covering their careers. With decades of experience writing for top publications, former St. Louis Cardinals prospect Martin offers a collection of profiles that forms a veritable Kern County sports hall of fame.

Sports can be a BIG deal for a LITTLE kid! The acclaimed Feel Better Book series now offers an upbeat rhyming story that tackles the fun and the not-so-fun parts of sports: winning, losing, being a good sport, and even resilience. This is a helpful book for little ones who are just entering the world of competitive play, so that they can get the most out of their activities. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers with more information about ways to help kids get the most out of sports. Read all of the Feel Better Books! A Feel Better Book For Little Worriers, A Feel Better Book for Little Tears, A Feel Better Book for Little Poopers, A Feel Better Book for Little Tempers, and A Feel Better Book for Little Sports.

The Baby Boom generation (those born between 1946-1965) are starting to reach three quarters of a century in age. Their youth came after the Great Depression and World War II; and Americans were longing for fun activities that sports provided. Baby Boomers grew up just as television was being welcomed into average households. The youth of this generation were the first to see sports events live on TV rather than listening to them on radio or reading about them in newspapers. This new visual medium enabled this generation to react together immediately to the same athletic competition. This autobiography presents a nostalgic look at the author's reactions to the sports events that many of his readers also witnessed. This work is also a history book whose stories detail events in a personal, readable, enjoyable way. Baby boomers and sports fans in general will have fun exploring such enticing chapters such as: How the author's uncle became a pro wrestler to pay his way through law school. Meeting a boyhood sports idol 40 years later. Two grandsons ride in a pace car with their Papa. Meeting the only major league ambidextrous pitcher. The first T-ball game played on "artificial turf"! Author plays international basketball game in Senegal. Author beats future Supreme Court justice in basketball! Larry Bird ruins local TV sports broadcast! Author participates in prison basketball game. Running with the "Vaulting Vicar", Bob Richards! Author's wife meets Michael Jordon....almost! The Detective Wrestling Dentist! Golfing on the Moon! Vietnam and a remembered fallen teammate. Patrice meets Kentucky Derby winner Go for Gin. The most comfortable pole vault landing pit ever! Author Spinner was prompted to write his book after reading this quote from Toni Morrison: "If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."

All of a sudden Dr. Nate Williams, a young dynamic cardiologist, finds himself kicked out of his hospital for a month. He had always prided himself that he was not part of the complicated human mess that he treated. Not understanding what has driven him to forego relationships in his arduous journey to excel in medicine, he is set adrift trying to figure out what to do with himself when he meets Angela, a bookstore owner, who diagnoses him with a fiction reading disability and invites him to be a part of her club. Here he meets Tony and Rita restaurant owners, Cindy a third grade teacher and her husband Rick a biologist, Gregg an English professor, his pale wife Samantha and Father Jim. His love affair with Angela and his relationship with the members of her club take him on a journey where he learns what a heart is really for. For the first time he knows love and tears and becomes part of the complicated human mess. And then there is Sandy.

Hilarious childhood biographies and full-color illustrations show how Tiger Woods, Gabby Douglas, Bruce Lee, Billie Jean King, and other budding sports champions faced kid-sized challenges growing up. Forget the gold medals, the championships, and the undefeated seasons. When all-star athletes were growing up, they had regular-kid problems just like you. Baseball legend Babe Ruth was such a troublemaker, his family sent him to reform school. Race car champion Danica Patrick fended off bullies who told her “girls can’t drive.” And football superstar Peyton Manning was forced to dance the tango in his school play. Kid Athletes tells all of their stories and more with full-color cartoon illustrations on every page. Other subjects include Billie Jean King, Jackie Robinson, Yao Ming, Gabby Douglas, Tiger Woods, Julie Krone, Bruce Lee, Muhammad Ali, Bobby Orr, Lionel Messi, and more!