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Hanley Ramírez

Tania Rodriguez (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422291641

Hanley Ramírez has become one of baseball's biggest stars. The young player has only been in the Majors since 2005, but he's already done many things other players only dream of doing. He was named Rookie of the Year, he's played in the All-Star Game three times, he has won awards, and he's made millions playing in the Major Leagues. Read about Ramírez's journey from the Dominican Republic to the MLB. Learn how Ramírez became the player fans love to watch today!

José Valverde

Tania Rodriguez (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422291832

Today, José Valverde is one of baseball's best relief pitchers. Valverde has pitched in the All-Star game. He's won awards and made millions of dollars. Valverde even had a perfect regular season in 2011! Valverde's path to finding success in the MLB was a long one, though. He had to work hard to make it to where he is today. Read how Valverde started playing baseball thanks to his uncle, former MLB pitcher José Mercedes. Learn about Valverde's success in the minor leagues and find out how he became one of baseball's best pitchers.

Carlos González

Adolfo Salgueiro (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422291856

Carlos González is a baseball star that crosses borders. He appears in games in Venezuela and in the United States, winning fans everywhere. "Cargo," as he's known to fans, has made an impression on the baseball world. Singles, doubles, homeruns--González keeps the other team on their toes. González is still at the beginning of his career, so who knows what he'll do next. His awards are adding up, and he's sure to win more awards and honors in the future.

Francisco Cordero

Tania Rodriguez (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422291795

Francisco Cordero--or "Coco", as his fans and teammates know him--is a top-notch pitcher. He strikes out batters with his fastballs and sliders. He's racked up a lot of saves over the years as a closing pitcher for teams like the Rangers, the Brewers, and the Reds. Although when Cordero was a child, his family struggled with poverty, Cordero now does his part to help others who are struggling. He's a Big League player with character!

Dwayne The Rock Johnson

James A. Corrick (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422291061

During his career as a professional wrestler, Dwayne The Rock Johnson thrilled wrestling fans everywhere. Known as the People's Champion, the Rock was a wrestling superstar whose dynamic and colorful personality attracted attention both inside and outside the ring. His feuds with other wrestling greats resulted in some of the most talked-about matches in wrestling history. He became the first African American to hold the World Wrestling Entertainment World Championship title, one he went on to capture six more times. This book describes how Dwayne Johnson, the son and grandson of professional wrestlers, became the Rock and, in his own words, the most electrifying man in sports entertainment. It details his failed ambition to become a professional football player and how that failure led him into the family business of wrestling. Eventually, the Rock built a successful wrestling career, and ultimately became a movie star as well.

Adrián Beltré

Tania Rodriguez (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422291719

Adrián Beltré has had an amazing career in baseball. Since starting in the Majors in 1998, he has become one of baseball's best players. He's won many awards for fielding and batting, he's played in the All-Star Game, and he even won the Babe Ruth Home Run Award. Beltré is an amazing baseball star! Find out how Beltré became the player fans know today. Discover the story of how Beltré became one of baseball's best players!

Albert Pujols

Tania Rodriguez (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422291658

In the past ten years, Albert Pujols has become one of the brightest stars in the baseball world. He's broken records and won awards--and all the while he achieved his dreams, he held on tight to his faith and his family. He became the player he is today by working hard and always doing his best. Get a glimpse of Albert's life, from his childhood in the Dominican Republic all the way through his amazing career in Major League Baseball. Find out what it takes to be a superstar!

John Cena

Robert Grayson (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422290897

He was just a boy with a dream from a small, rural Massachusetts town. He loved wrestling and rap music, and studied and idolized the biggest stars in both fields. Little did he know that one day he would get a chance to combine both his passions. John Cena would become one of the biggest stars in the history of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). In addition to winning the WWE championship a record 10 times, John Cena also writes and records freestyle rap music, appears on TV commercials, and stars in movies. He always makes time to help children, lift the spirits of American military troops both at home and abroad, and work for worthy causes all over the country. John Cena taunts his opponents, loves his fans, never forgets his roots, and has an exemplary work ethic that reflects the values of hardworking people everywhere.

Ubaldo Jiménez

Tania Rodriguez (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422291696

Ubaldo Jiménez has become one of the most popular pitchers in Major League Baseball. Many fans believe he could become one of the all-time great pitchers. Jiménez hasn't been in baseball long, but he's already had an amazing career. He's played in the All-Star Game, pitched in the playoffs, won awards, and even pitched a no-hitter. Learn about Jiménez's journey from the Dominican Republic to the Major Leagues. Find out how his family played a part in making Jiménez the man he is today.

Miguel Tejada

Tania Rodriguez (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422291610

Miguel Tejada is a Big League baseball player who has been part of teams like the Oakland As, the Baltimore Orioles, the Houston Astros, the San Diego Padres, and the San Francisco Giants. He grew up far away from these teams, however, in a poor nation in the Caribbean Sea. Today, he's a superstar in the baseball world, a fast and powerful player who never lets his teammates down. Find out how he traveled so far . . . from the Dominican Republic all the way to the Major Leagues!

Juan Uribe

Tania Rodriguez (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422291603

Juan Uribe has come a long way from his roots in the Dominican Republic. He's played in two World Series, and he earns millions of dollars every year. But it's his roots that still make him strong. Uribe is proud of his homeland--and his homeland is proud of him! Read about Juan Uribe's life. Find out what it takes to be a baseball superstar!

Vladimir Guerrero

Tania Rodriguez (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422291702

Vladimir Guerrero has had a great career in baseball. He's played in the All-Star Game. He's won awards and made millions. He won the Home Run Derby--and he's even been on the cover of a video game! Learn about Guerrero's life growing up in the Dominican Republic, and then read about his path through the minor leagues to the Majors. Discover the story of how a Dominican boy went from dreaming about playing baseball . . . to playing in the Major Leagues.

Tim Duncan

Chuck Bednar (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422290866

Tim Duncan might just be the greatest power forward in NBA history, and strangely enough, he almost never learned how to play the game. Duncan's first love was swimming, but when a devastating hurricane left his training area in polluted ruins, he turned to basketball. Hard work and a great talent for the game would take him on a journey from his hometown of Christiansted in the Virgin Islands to Wake Forest and ultimately to the San Antonio Spurs. Duncan has led the Spurs to four championships, winning the NBA Final's Most Valuable Player award on three occasions. He has been chosen for the NBA's All-Star team 13 times, and was named the league MVP in 2002 and 2003. Despite his quiet demeanor, Tim has become a dominant force on the hardwood. He has also found success away from the game in family life with his wife Amy and their two children, as well as in his work with the Tim Duncan Foundation.

Matt Damon

Pam Toler (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422290903

In 1993, when two young, unknown actors named Matt Damon and Ben Affleck couldn't get the movie parts they wanted, the lifelong friends decided to write their own screenplay. To their surprise, Good Will Hunting, a story about a blue-collar math whiz, became a box office hit after it premiered in 1997. It won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, and Matt became one of the hottest young actors in Hollywood. Since then, Matt has starred in many memorable films, such as Saving Private Ryan, The Departed, and Invictus. One of his most successful roles is that of assassin Jason Bourne, a character he played in three hit films. Matt likes to keep his personal life private. However, he doesn't hesitate to use his celebrity to help others. Among the groups he supports are the ONE Campaign and H2O Africa Foundation, which are charitable organizations working to improve living conditions in Africa.

Adam Sandler

Michael Uschan (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422290880

Adam Sandler is one of the world's most popular actors, and is known for his wildly creative sense of humor, which launched him to television and film stardom. He first became famous as a cast member on Saturday Night Live during the early 1990s. Fans loved the wacky characters Sandler created on the show, such as Cajun Man and Operaman. They were also impressed with the bravery he showed by being willing to do anything to make people laugh. Sandler used that same comedic genius to become a star in movies such as The Waterboy, Big Daddy, and Grown Ups. He has also made films like Reign Over Me, which show he is a fine dramatic actor. And Sandler not only acts in movies but also makes them. He started Happy Madison Productions so he could create films that reflect his unique sense of what is funny.

Alfonso Soriano

Tania Rodriguez (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422291627

Alfonso Soriano has had a great career in baseball. He has won two World Series and played in the All-Star Game seven times. He's even part of the 40-40 club for hitting 40 home runs and stealing 40 bases in one season. Not many baseball players can say they've done the things that Soriano has! Learn about Soriano's path from playing baseball in the Dominican Republic to making it in the Major Leagues. Explore the life story of one of baseball's most successful players!

Alex Rodriguez

Tania Rodriguez (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422291634

Not many baseball players are as famous as Alex Rodriguez. All around the world, baseball fans know the name "A Rod." He has been playing baseball in the Major Leagues for more than fifteen years, and in that time, he's played in the All-Star Game fourteen times. He's been named Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times, and he's won a World Series. Rodriguez has done just about everything in baseball! Learn about one of baseball's biggest stars. Find out how A Rod became the player fans know today.

Plácido Polanco

Tania Rodriguez (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422291665

Plácido Polanco has worked hard to reach his dreams in baseball. He's played in the World Series and in the All-Star Game. He's known for his amazing glove and great defense. Learn about Polanco's journey from playing baseball in the Dominican Republic to making it in the Major Leagues. Discover the life story of one of baseball's hardest-working players!

Robinson Canó

Tania Rodriguez (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422291726

Robinson Canó has had an amazing life in baseball. He's won the World Series. He's played in All-Star Games, won awards, and made millions of dollars. He's played for one of baseball's most popular teams, the New York Yankees. He's even won the Home Run Derby. Read how Canó learned to love baseball from his father, José. Follow Canó's journey from playing baseball in a Dominican high school to playing in the Major Leagues. Explore the life of one of baseball's biggest stars--and find out how he went from big dreams to the big leagues.

David Ortiz

Tania Rodriguez (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422291689

Baseball fans around the world know "Big Papi." David Ortiz is one of the greatest baseball players in the world. He's broken records and won awards, and his face is seen in magazines and on television. At the same time, he's built both a family and a charitable foundation. David is living out the dreams he had when he was growing up in the Dominican Republic. Read David's story--and find out how he traveled from the Dominican Republic all the way to the Big Leagues. Discover how he came to be the Big Papi that fans adore!

Venus & Serena Williams

Hal Marcovitz (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422290873

Venus and Serena Williams grew up in Compton, California where they sometimes heard gunfire as they learned how to play tennis at a local playground. As teenagers, they grew into athletic women whose powerful serves often overwhelmed their opponents. In time, each sister would climb to the top rankings of international women's tennis. They have also maintained interests off the court; Venus has become a successful interior designer, while Serena has taken several acting roles and also designs women's fashions. But there have been dark days for the two sisters as well. Both have had to deal with racism, and to endure nagging injuries that have sidelined them for months. They also experienced the tragedy of a sister murdered on the streets of Compton. Venus and Serena have stayed competitive, however, and each is committed to remaining among the best players on the women's tennis tour for many more years.

Jeff Gordon

Kerrily Sapet (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422290842

In his 20 years as a NASCAR driver, Jeff Gordon has established himself as one of the greatest drivers in the sports history. Jeff has won four championships and more than $100 million in his career. He ranks among the top drivers on the all-time wins list with more than 80 victories. This book details Jeffs many successes, both on and off the racetrack. It discusses how he rose to NASCAR fame, from his first BMX bike to his famous number 24 car. Along with his championship titles, Jeff has won the Daytona 500 three times and many other famed races. Off the track Jeff is involved with several charitable organizations. His achievements have amazed NASCAR fans, and he's not yet ready to slow down.

Campfire Songs, Ballads, and Lullabies: Folk Music

Gus Snedeker (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422292570

You may turn on the CD player or the radio when you want to hear music, but once, in the days before modern technology, music was enjoyed whenever groups of people got together. You probably know some folk songs, a song that was passed along from person to person. Learn about: types of folk songs; folk instruments; folk music's European and African roots; Cajun music; the music of Appalachia; Hispanic music; and today's folk music. Modern music - Rock, Country, R&B, and more - is rooted deep in North Americas musical folklore. And folk music is still alive and well today.

Black Cats and White Wedding Dresses: Folk Customs

Thomas Arkham (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422292563

Did you know that if you drop a spoon, someone will kiss you soon? Did you ever hear that three spiders crawling on the wall are a sign you will soon hear of a death? Or did you know that if rabbits play in a dusty road, rain is on its way? These beliefs are folk customs found in North America. Discover more, including: ways to predict the future; weather lore; and good luck superstitions. Folklore is shared through customs and traditions. These are patterns that shape our lives. Even in today's world, we still depend on these old ways to make sense out of life.

Sirens and Smoke: Firefighters' Folklore

Thomas Arkham (author)

Publisher: Mason Crest ISBN: 9781422292549

Do you know who started the first volunteer fire company in the United States? Do you know who the first woman firefighter was? Or did you know that firefighters trace their heritage back to the knights of the Crusades? Sirens and Smoke is full of stories of bravery and tradition. You'll read about: the brave guards who fought fire in ancient Greek and Roman communities; the long-ago firefighters who battled the great fires that swept through Europe's big cities; the community spirit that grew in the New World. the African Americans; the women who added their strengths to fighting fires; and September 11, 2001, when firefighters demonstrated their heroism. Fire can be an enemy - but down through the ages, firefighters have risked their lives to protect others against it. Their folklore reveals a long tradition of courage.