At a time when much of the United States was still racially segregated, Jackie Robinson smashed the color barrier to become the first African-American player in Major League Baseball. Born in 1919 to a family of sharecroppers, Robinson excelled in sports throughout his school years. After serving briefly in the army during WWII, he briefly played ball in the Negro Leagues. At about the same time, a handful of all-white Major League teams paid lip service to trying out black players. But it was when Robinson played his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 that he became a part of what would be called "The Noble Experiment." Outspoken in the past when it came to racial injustice, Robinson endured racist jeers from fans and players, and even death threats, with dignity and composure. His historic feat of crossing baseball's "color line" became a symbol in the American civil rights movement in the decades that followed.
Mountaineer George Mallory disappeared attempting to conquer the highest peak in the world. Seventy-five years later, Mallory's body was finally found on Everest. This exciting book describes how his quest began an obsession by other climbers to be the first to the top, and how Everest has become a magnet for amateurs and tourists since it was finally conquered by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.
This fact-filled title profiles the celebrated heroes and unfortunate zeroes throughout Olympic history. Readers will learn about great athletic achievements and tales of scandal and dishonor.
It may be hard to believe in a world full of automobiles, but bicycles are still a favorite means of transportation for many people around the world. This book introduces readers to the history of bicycles and the economics of manufacturing them.
Which athletic shoe is right for you? Readers will learn about the materials that go into athletic shoes and how athletic shoes are produced and sold to millions of people all around the world.
Tiger Woods persistence, winning attitude, and passion for golf have helped make him one of the top golfers of all time. Readers will learn how Tiger uses his fame and fortune to help young people reach their full potential.
Roberto Clemente was the first Hispanic American elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Readers will learn how he used his courage and determination during the off-season to help those living in poverty in Latin America.
Rock climbing can be the fun and exhilarating, and the best part is that it is an activity that also helps you stay healthy and fit. Students will learn more about how they can start climbing, the importance of good equipment, and the health benefits of rock climbing.
Skiing down a snowy slope is fun and exciting. Readers will find out what they need to get started on an outdoor sport that can get them outdoors and help keep them fit for life.
Mountain biking can be a fun and intense activity that pushes you to the limits. Readers will learn about how they can start their own mountain biking program and begin a lifetime of fitness.
Skateboards are not just popular in America, they are popular in England, China, and Japan as well. This book will help readers understand how raw materials are made into skateboards in factories from California to China.
Whether it's a leisurely stroll through a national park or forest preserve, hiking can be a great activity for connecting with nature and keeping yourself healthy. Students will read and discover more about the proper equipment for hiking, as well as the health benefits of hiking.
Introduces readers to the cool career of athletic training by giving a better understanding of this cool job.
Introduces readers to the cool career of sports medicine doctor by giving a better understanding of this cool job.
In the complex world of the 21st century, the ability to use innovation to solve problems or make products better is a critical skill for kids to possess. This book uses a sport kid's love, swimming, to highlight how innovation has been used to make the sport and the people who compete in it, better.
In the complex world of the 21st century, the ability to use innovation to solve problems or make products better is a critical skill for kids to possess. This book uses a sport kid's love, skateboarding, to highlight how innovation has been used to make the sport and the people who play it, better.
In the complex world of the 21st century, the ability to use innovation to solve problems or make products better is a critical skill for kids to possess. This book uses a sport kid's love, snowboarding, to highlight how innovation has been used to make the sport and the people who play it, better.
In the complex world of the 21st century, the ability to use innovation to solve problems or make products better is a critical skill for kids to possess. This book uses a sport kid's love, golf, to highlight how innovation has been used to make the game and the people who play it, better.
In the complex world of the 21st century, the ability to use innovation to solve problems or make products better is a critical skill for kids to possess. This book uses a sport kid's love, basketball, to highlight how innovation has been used to make the game and the people who play them better.
In the complex world of the 21st century, the ability to use innovation to solve problems or make products better is a critical skill for kids to possess. This book uses a sport kid's love, baseball, to highlight how innovation has been used to make the game and the people who play them better.
In 1920, the first collegiate football game was broadcast on radio. Today, many sports actually allow viewers to control which camera picture they see. How has this innovation occurred? This book uses a familiar topic, sports broadcasting, to introduce kids to the concept of innovation and its impact on their everyday life
This book relays the factual details of the 1980 U.S. Olympic boycott. The narrative provides multiple accounts of the event, and readers learn details through the point of view of a Soviet athlete, a U.S. athlete, and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. The text offers opportunities to compare and contrast various perspectives in the text while gathering and analyzing information about a historical event.
From the moment Simon Whitfield burst onto the world stage at the 2000 Sydney Summer Games as triathlon's first Olympic champion, his winning personality and stellar athletic abilities have inspired young people around the globe. In Simon Says Gold, Simon describes his personal journey to Olympic glory as he recounts not only that glorious day in Sydney, but also the anguish of failing to repeat as Olympic champion in Athens in 2004, and his dramatic comeback at the 2008 Beijing Games, when his exhilarating race to a silver medal enthralled millions of fans around the world. Simon's stories of the highs and lows of his running career will captivate readers young and old, but his real message that the simple pursuit of excellence is its own reward will also inspire and motivate. Not everyone can be an Olympian. Simon Whitfield believes that true greatness is in performing to the best of one's ability. The reward is in the effort, not the outcome.
Josh knows he's riding recklessly when he knocks down the old man he suspects is the hermit of Lumberman Creek. But he is shocked when the hermit walks into the forest with his bike after the accident. Being without his beloved bike for a week motivates Josh to hike into the woods and confront the crazy old man. The hermit, Jonathan, has fixed Josh's bike, and Josh learns that he has more in common with the old man than he ever imagined. When Jonathan needs help, Josh has to respect the old man's choices in order to save his life.
America's love of sports goes back a long way. Baseball, basketball, and football all came of age in America of the 1800s. While men like Abner Doubleday may not have invented these sports, they did much to popularize them as rules were officially standardized and national-level organizations were founded. Amateur (and, later, professional) teams sprang up in towns, factories, and schools across America and rooting for the home team built strong community bonds and stimulated (usually) friendly rivalries. From horse racing to boxing to competitive target shooting, Americans would watch, cheer for, and bet on just about any contest of strength and skill. The growing class of Americans with leisure and money to spare discovered tennis and golf and polo, and women for the first time participated in competitive sports. Long before the World Series and the Super Bowl, Americans were idolizing their favorite athletes, while they played and watched sports with enthusiasm.
