In America during the early twentieth century, no part was safe from segregation, not even the country's national pastime, baseball. Despite their exodus from the Major Leagues because of the colour of their skin, African American men still found a way to participate in the sport they loved. Author Varian Johnson shines a spotlight on the players, coaches, owners, and teams that dominated the Negro Leagues during the 1930s and 40s. Readers will learn about how phenomenal players like Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and of course, Jackie Robinson greatly changed the sport of baseball.

Cy Young was one of the hardest-throwing pitchers of all time. He recorded three no-hitters--including a perfect game--and accumulated more than 2,800 strikeouts on his way to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Scott H. Longert uses Young's life story to introduce middle-grade readers to the game, explaining balls, strikes, and outs in an easy-to-understand way. Longert narrates each season and each milestone game with an enthusiastic play-by-play that is sure to draw readers into the excitement on the field and in the crowd, fostering a better understanding of and a passion for baseball. Baseball fans today know Cy Young's name chiefly through the award given in his honor each year to the best pitcher in the National and the American Leagues. Denton True "Cyclone" Young won more than five hundred games over a career that spanned four decades, a record that no other major league pitcher has come close to matching. In addition to being the winningest pitcher in baseball history, he was also a kind, self-effacing, and generous man. Born into a farm family in rural Ohio, he never lost touch with the small-town values he grew up with.

When Tani Adewumi was just six years old, he and his family escaped Boko Haram's violent persecution in their native country of Nigeria. Tani was thankful to be safe in the new land of America, and he had never seen anything like the buildings and bustle of New York City! He was also thankful for the homeless shelter his family could live in while they waited for a new home, even though it was hard having no TV, no kitchen for his mom to cook meals, and no refrigerator where he could get a snack whenever he was hungry. Tani liked New York; the people there were kind to him and his family. As Tani settled into his American school, he began learning--and falling in love with--the game of chess. With joy and determination, Tani studied hard, practicing chess for hours on the floor of his room in the shelter. Less than a year later, he won the New York State Chess Championship at the age of eight. Today, through hard work and the kindness of others, Tani and his family have an apartment of their own. Despite being on the other side of the globe from the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who surrounded him in Nigeria, Tani found a place to belong. Through beautiful textured digital illustrations and a captivating story, this picture book biography shares Tani's dreams and struggles with young readers ages 4-8. Tani's New Home tells the inspiring true story of a boy who faced difficult circumstances with joyful energy, optimism, and passion. This book is an engaging personal read for children just learning about the power of hope, and young readers will be excited to see how ordinary people showed Tani and his family love, encouragement, and community--reminding us that we can each make the world a more welcoming place, a place where we all belong.

On 16 October 1968, during the medal ceremony at the Mexico City Olympics, Tommie Smith, the gold medal winner in the 200-meter sprint, and John Carlos, the bronze medal winner, stood on the podium in black socks and raised their black-gloved fists to protest racial injustice inflicted upon African Americans. Both men were forced to leave the Olympics, received death threats and faced ostracism and continuing economic hardships. In his first-ever memoir for young readers, Tommie Smith looks back on his childhood growing up in rural Texas through to his stellar athletic career, culminating in his historic victory and Olympic podium protest. Cowritten with Newbery Honour and Coretta Scott King Author Honour recipient Derrick Barnes and illustrated with bold and muscular artwork from Emmy Award-winning illustrator Dawud Anyabwile, Victory. Stand! paints a stirring portrait of an iconic moment in Olympic history that still resonates today.

The inspirational true story of the first African American to play college basketball in the deeply segregated Southeastern Conference--a powerful moment in Black history. Perry Wallace was born at an historic crossroads in U.S. history. He entered kindergarten the year that the Brown v. Board of Education decision led to integrated schools, allowing blacks and whites to learn side by side. A week after Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, Wallace enrolled in high school and his sensational jumping, dunking, and rebounding abilities quickly earned him the attention of college basketball recruiters from top schools across the nation. In his senior year his Pearl High School basketball team won Tennessee's first racially-integrated state tournament. The world seemed to be opening up at just the right time, and when Vanderbilt University recruited Wallace to play basketball, he courageously accepted the assignment to desegregate the Southeastern Conference. The hateful experiences he would endure on campus and in the hostile gymnasiums of the Deep South turned out to be the stuff of nightmares. Yet Wallace persisted, endured, and met this unthinkable challenge head on. This insightful biography digs deep beneath the surface to reveal a complicated, profound, and inspiring story of an athlete turned civil rights trailblazer. Praise for Strong Inside "This moving biography is thought-provoking, riveting and heart-wrenching, though it remains hopeful as it takes readers into the midst of the basketball and civil rights action."--Booklist, STARRED review "This portrait of the fortitude of a young athlete will make a huge impact on teens and is guaranteed to spark serious discussion."--School Library Journal "Even if you're not a history buff, this important story is worth your time."--Sports Illustrated Kids "A fascinating, very personal account of the effect that the civil rights movement had on one individual. . . a must purchase for any middle school or high school library."--Miss Yingling Reads

In an exciting departure from the Road to Glory script, Jeremy Daniel captures a single thrilling sporting moment in each of the lives of 20 South African sports stars.

Lungi Ngidi (Cricket); Quinton de Kock (Cricket); Akani Simbine (Sprinting); Faf de Klerk (Rugby); Ernst van Dyk (Wheelchair racing); Luvo Manyonga (Long jump); Kevin Anderson (Tennis); Cheslin Kolbe (Rugby); Chad le Clos (Swimming); Percy Tau (Soccer); Louis Oosthuizen (Golf); Lucas Radebe (Soccer); Josia Thugwane (Long-distance runner); Bongiwe Msomi (Netball); Caster Semanya (Athletics); Janine van Wyk (Women's soccer); Sunette Viljoen (Cricketer turned javelin thrower); Tatjana Schoenmaker (Swimming).

Children are used to hearing about how important it is to protect nature, but they may not fully understand how the natural world can positively impact their emotional wellbeing. With that in mind, this book shows children how nature can be fun, uplifting, consoling and even offer companionship. This is a book about how nature can touch us all and help us with our lives (especially when we might be feeling bored, sad or lonely). Children learn about the ways in which they can be comforted, inspired and uplifted by examples of nature such as: a flowing river a cow in a field clouds in the sky rabbits in their burrows stars at night a cuddle with a favourite puppy This is an inspirational book, not just educating children about the natural world, but teaching them to love and connect with it. Beautiful illustrations and a tone that is encouraging, warm and accessible makes it easy for children, and their favourite adults, to relate to.

Join the busy athlete as he goes for gold in this playful, interactive flap book! Ready, set, go! Can you win the gold medal? Join in and use the flaps to help the athlete to warm up, jump over the pole, dive into the pool and much, much more. With interactive action-flaps, you can do it, too! Each clever flap provides an action or scene-change to encourage children to actively engage and explore. The playful flaps are perfect for little hands to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Original concept and illustration by Dan Green. The Busy Day series: Introduces the world Boosts motor skills Recommended for children aged 2+ Also available in the Busy Day series: Builder Vet Chef Astronaut Farmer Firefighter Train Driver

A goat kid loves to do karate! And he is sure to inspire young kids to try karate as well. Follow Goat as he goes through the major stances and karate moves, teaching readers to channel focus and strength through each pose. Karate Kid's simple, measured, and meditative text is complemented by playful yet instructive illustrations by Mark Chambers to teach youngsters how to get involved in karate--and to have fun while doing so, too.

Illustrated by Mark Braught

The sounds of autumn include the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot and the thump of the kickoff starting the first home football game. Sleeping Bear Press is proud to continue our bestselling sports series with "Tis for Touchdown: A Football Alphabet. "Sports writer Brad Herzog's easy-to-read-aloud rhymes engage even the youngest of readers, while hardcore fans can devour the detailed expository that covers the sport of the pigskin, from A-Z and end zone to end zone. Plays and players are just a few of the topics covered.

Brad Herzog's first job as a newspaper sports reporter allowed him to travel with the Cornell University football team. He has been writing about the game ever since. A past Grand Gold Medal Award winner from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Brad has written more than a dozen fiction and nonfiction children's books. Brad lives on California's Monterey Peninsula.

Mark Braught's sixteen years of professional experience has earned him prestigious awards from The American Advertising Federation (ADDY), Communications Art, the NYArt Directors Club, and the Society of Illustrators, to name a few. He lives in Commerce, Georgia. "Touchdown" is his third book with Sleeping Bear Press.

With simple and evocative words, calligraphy, and home photos of the words in action, grandfather and granddaughter team Chungliang and Sylvia bring the spirit of Tai Ji to life. Written and conceived by Master Chungliang Al Huang, in collaboration with his granddaughter, Sylvie, it brings to life the five elements underpinning Chinese thought - Earth, Fire, Water, Wood, and Metal - and how they can be simply and instinctively expressed through the body. Making Tai Ji fun and simple, with the possibility of learning through repetition, the book offers a wonderful foundation for developing intuitive understanding and is a great way of keeping kids active, and improving their wellbeing and mindfulness.

In this captivating and lavishly illustrated young adult edition of her award-winning #1 New York Times bestseller, Laura Hillenbrand tells the story of a former Olympian's courage, cunning, and fortitude following his plane crash in enemy territory. This adaptation of Unbroken introduces a new generation to one of history's most thrilling survival epics.

On a May afternoon in 1943, an American military plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane's bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary sagas of the Second World War.

The lieutenant's name was Louis Zamperini. As a boy, he had been a clever delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and stealing. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a supreme talent that carried him to the Berlin Olympics. But when war came, the athlete became an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.

Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a sinking raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would respond to desperation with ingenuity, suffering with hope and humor, brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would hang on the fraying wire of his will.

Featuring more than one hundred photographs plus an exclusive interview with Zamperini, this breathtaking odyssey--also captured on film by director Angelina Jolie--is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the ability to endure against the unlikeliest of odds.

It's time to cheer for the inspiring athletes of the Paralympic Games! As the Opening Ceremony for the 1948 Summer Olympic Games commenced in London, a similar sporting competition was taking place a few miles away. But the men at Stoke Mandeville weren't your typical athletes. They were paralyzed World War II veterans. The games at Stoke Mandeville were so successful that they would eventually lead evolve into the Paralympics. Participants from all around the world vie for the gold medal in a variety of sports, including archery, basketball, swimming, speed skating, and ice hockey. Author Gail Herman highlights their achievements, describes how these athletes train--both mentally and physically--for the games, and gives the reader a better understanding of what makes the Paralympic Games one of the world's most viewed sporting events.

Given the unprecedented growth in the knowledge base of physical education and in the number of new physical education teacher education faculty, and given that many of the field's leaders are retired or soon will be, it is imperative that the "conceptual torch" be passed in a thoughtful way. For this reason, a conference was held October 11-14, 2007, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to bring experienced and beginning researchers together to reflect on research about teaching and teacher education in physical education and to engage in a dialogue on what has been accomplished, what the knowledge base looks like, and where teaching professionals need to head in the future so that continued progress will be made. Speakers from three generations of scholars were invited to address these subjects, and the conference was organised around six theme areas: Research on Teaching Physical Education; Teacher and Student Cognition; Philosophic Issues; Impediments and Challenges; Youth Sport, Physical Activity, Public Health, and Social Change; Research on Physical Education Teacher Education; These conference proceedings capture the maturation process of physical education as a field of study, for the purpose of preserving the intellectual treasures of its evolution. They will serve as an important resource for teachers and students alike.