Jody just can't bring himself to throw hard, so the ball usually falls short of its mark. Taunts of "catcher's got a glass arm" echo in his ears. Then injury is added to insult when he's beaned by a wild pitch—and suddenly he's having trouble hitting as well as throwing. What good is a ball player who's afraid of the ball?

Last season, Julian Pryce was the star center on his championship basketball team. But this year, he's the only starter to return to the team. Julian knows everyone will look to him to lead the team, but he doesn't want the responsibility. How can he replicate last year's miracle run?

Rob Lasher may just be an average soccer player, but there's nothing he loves more than working together with his teammates. Sure, his soccer skills aren't anything special, but that's all right with him--Rob has never minded flying under the radar. But when he saves his coach's life during one fateful afternoon practice, Rob finds himself suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Now lauded as a hero and heralded as the savior of his team, Rob wants nothing more than for things to go back to normal. Because not everyone on the team is happy about Rob's newfound fame... This classic story from beloved author Matt Christopher is sure to win over any young sports fan, all while teaching them what it means to be a good teammate, and what it means to be a true hero.

The Peach Street Mudders return in another action-packed adventure!

Bus Mercer, shortstop for the Peach Street Mudders baseball team, would give his right arm to be picked for the county All-Star team. And except for one error, his performance during the first game the All-Star scouts attend is good. Bus is determined to improve his playing in the next two games but finds his concentration is broken by an unlikely distraction: his new mountain bike! The day after he receives the bike, Bus makes the mistake of breaking the rules of riding set by his parents. When he doesn't confess to his disobedience, he is plagued by guilty feelings, and these feelings start to affect his playing ability. Will Bus set the matter right and prove he's All-Star quality, on and off the field?

Renny and Bryce play on opposite soccer teams battling for the championship. Until recently the soft-spoken but talented Renny warmed the bench while another player took the field. But now that player's out with an injury and Renny's been given the chance to show what he can do. And no one is more surprised at Renny's playing ability than his opponent, the hot-dogging, one-man team, Bryce. Bryce was sure Renny would be pushover, but Renny, who had admired Bryce's showmanship, proves that solid teamwork is often hard to beat. And in the end, both boys come off the field a little wiser.

This revised edition is now part of our Passport to Reading program! In this level 3 reader, Mike's telepathic dog Harry is able to tell him what the other football team plans to do on the field but Mike wonders - is it cheating? Can he win the game without Harry's help? Completely re-illustrated in full color by popular artist Steve Bjoerkman.

Outstanding. Unbelievable. Mindblowing.
These are just a few of the words used to describe the talents of LeBron James. He was a sensation in his early days playing AAU ball in Akron, Ohio-and continued to amaze through his four years as a high school phenomenon. Now going into his fifth year as a star of the Cleveland Cavaliers, he is touted as the best player in basketball today. And for good reason: his dunks are monstrous, his no-look passes are things of beauty, his three-pointers seem effortless. But even more importantly, he is that one-of-a-kind superstar whose main goal isn't to rack up the stats-it's to make his team better.

As the son of Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, a former NBA player and star of various European teams, Kobe spent his childhood watching professional basketball. From the moment he could pick up a ball, he was learning to dribble and shoot. His basketball education was unique -- a combination of lessons on basic fundamentals, one-on-one games against his dad, and observation and analysis of the world's best players.

At age eighteen, Kobe was given the chance to prove his skills when he was drafted into the NBA. Fresh out of high school, Kobe showed that he had the talent and heart to make it in the pros -- and the rest is history.

This biography gives readers a courtside seat to the achievements of one of basketball's greatest legends as it traces Kobe's life from childhood to his five NBA championships to his successful career outside of the game to his tragic death and lasting legacy.

Jim Nardi could be the Vulcans' number one linebacker. He's fast and strong, and he has good hands. But he also has one major problem: He's afraid of being tackled. His teammates are disgusted with him, and his older brother, the Vulcans' coach, is disappointed. Then one person steps forward to give Jim the help he needs—but will it be enough?

Over one million copies sold! Sylvester loves baseball, but he isn't exactly what you'd call a good hitter. Even though he wants nothing more than to join his neighborhood team, the Hooper Redbirds, he's sure he'll never do anything more than warm the bench. But then he meets the mysterious Mr. Baruth who promises to make Sylvester one of the best players ever. Suddenly Sylvester goes from the worst player on the team to the kid who can only hit homers. With his overnight success, however, come tough questions. Will Sylvester ever learn the true meaning of teamwork? And what will happen when he has to learn to stand on his own? This beloved story about baseball, confidence, perseverance and being a good teammate is a modern classic for any young sports fan.

Discover the amazing achievements of fan favorite two-time MVP Stephen Curry in this brand-new, comprehensive biography Steph Curry is a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, record-breaker, and Finals champion who electrifies fans with his incredible on-court feats. He's also a dedicated husband, father, and philanthropist who inspires people on and off the court. Learn more about this remarkable athlete in this biography, complete with stats and photographs.

When Marvin moves to a new neighborhood, he wants nothing more than to make a good impression on his new teammates. After all, Marvin loves baseball more than anything, and all he wants is to prove he's worth his spot on the team. And with his lucky baseball bat in hand, what could go wrong? But when that same lucky baseball bat goes missing, Marvin completely loses his ability to play baseball. But even though he's lost his talent, Marvin might just find something else: the value of friendship, his own confidence, and maybe, just maybe, a place on the team.

In this action-packed and inspiring guide, young readers can relive the US women's national soccer team win at the 2019, and will discover what lead the team to victory throughout the years. The U.S. women's national soccer team proved their prowess at the 2019 Women's World Cup when they defeated the Netherlands in the championship match. This marked the fourth world title and back-to-back win for the powerhouse team, and the players brought attention, support, and pride to women's sports and inspired everyone in the United States. This action-packed guide brings readers onto the field with the women's national team to experience the biggest moments of their careers, and dives deep into four of the team's most prominent stars: the steadfast Carli Lloyd, superstar Alex Morgan, newcomer Mallory Pugh, and the fearless Megan Rapinoe. Complete with stats and photographs, this book makes the perfect gift for any young sports fan.

Soccer. No other sport in the world captivates a bigger audience--and no other competition electrifies its fans like the World Cup. Now, just in time for the 2018 World Cup, comes this updated edition of Matt Christopher's classic title, jam-packed with information about each and every World Cup ever played. Want to know who was behind the biggest surprise defeat of the 1950 tournament? It's in here. Curious about what happened to the Jules Rimet trophy when it was in England? Turn to the chapter on World Cup 1966. Want to know more about the biggest triumphs and harshest defeats, all while feeling like you're on the field with the sports legends? Wondering what the term Total Football means? You'll find the answer here--along with much, much more. With updated content reflecting changes in the world of soccer, as well as all-new chapters going further in-depth into recent tournaments and the Women's World Cup--which the US women's team has won more times than any other team in history--this new edition is sure to capture a new generation of sports fans.

Drew Brees grew up in a family of athletes, and overcame injuries and setbacks to become one of today's best quarterbacks. This comprehensive biography--complete with photos and fun infographics--shows how Drew Brees went from being a flag football player to a Super Bowl MVP and a modern legend, and is sure to appeal to legions of football fans.

More than anything Boots Raymond wants to be a quarterback for the Apollos. But because of his size, the coach assigns him to a tackle position—and there's no arguing with the coach. Boots rebels and almost quits the team. It seems that nothing can change his mind, but his brother Tom intercepts and teaches Boot something valuable he learned from playing football and being a soldier.

Serena Williams has been ranked number one in the world for tennis singles, won twenty-two Grand Slam singles titles, and won four Olympic gold medals. She is a powerful player and a fierce competitor. Learn more about the record-breaking athlete in this comprehensive and action-packed biography, complete with stats and photographs.

When Ron finds a dirt bike at the bottom of a lake, he can't believe his luck. But the bike needs fixing up and that takes money. When he takes a job doing yard work for a former dirt bike racer, he's convinced he's finally going to make his dream of racing come true. Little does he suspect that the job will lead him to the one person who can threaten his dream....

When Todd is told he needs to lose weight, he joins his brother Gary's lacrosse team. Embarrassed by Todd's weight and lack of skills, Gary avoids him. But when the team's high scorer makes fun of Todd, will Gary stand by his brother?

Charlie Abbot's old friend comes to visit, and Charlie's excited. But when Pat--or Rick, as he's now known--arrives, Charlie can't help noticing how much Pat/Rick has changed. And some of these changes are downright dangerous. Illustrations.

A novel about discovering what it means to be a true friend.

Thirteen-year-old Tim Daniels can't wait to go to four weeks of summer basketball camp. A scrappy point guard, he's sure he'll shine on the court. But then he learns that his friend Billy will be going to camp with him. Billy is a good guy, but kind of flabby and not much of a basketball player. Tim is worried that Billy will drag him down, a concern that seems to come true their first week at camp when Billy becomes the butt of practical jokes. Will Tim choose to stick by his friend, or will his desire to be accepted by the popular players make him turn his back on Billy?

Mel Jensen is new to the Titans basketball team, but he knows he could be a vital part of the starting lineup—if only two other plays would give him a chance to show his stuff. But Caskie and Stoney seem bent on ignoring him, and Mel knows it's because he's black. Should Mel fight fire with fire, or should he try to get along, if only for the sake of the team?

Two weeks of intense competition remain to decide the final teams for the Little League (R) World Series. This year, the anticipation is high as it's possible that both of the previous final two teams will return, a very rare occurrence. And those are the teams Carter and Liam now play for! These two players, one from each team, are thinking the same thought: How can I play against my best friend? This is the fourth book in a five-book series that follows Liam and Carter as they work their way to the Little League (R) World Series. The final book in the series will coincide with the Little League (R) 75th Anniversary in 2014.

Stan Martin's chances of playing second base seem next to zero at the start of the season. His rival for the position, Gary Newman, looks tough to beat. Stan loves baseball — maybe even more than his brother, Phil, who played pro ball until quitting suddenly the year before — but after experiencing a few setbacks, Stan is tempted to quit too. Then Stan receives a mysterious note telling him to stick it out — and soon Stan finds himself face-to-face with the challenge at second base.

Delving into the life of skateboarding sensation Tony Hawk, this biography examines how he began skateboarding at age nine and his performance at the 1999 ESPN X Games, where he astonished viewers by performing a trick thought impossible to do. Illustrations.