How Angel Peterson Got His Name: And Other Outrageous Tales of Extreme Sports by Gary Paulsen
Reading level: Ages 9-12

When you grow up in a small town in the north woods, you have to make your own excitement. High spirits, idiocy, and showing off for the girls inspire Gary Paulsen and his friends to attempt:

• Shooting waterfalls in a barrel • The first skateboarding • Jumping three barrels like motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel–except they only have bikes • Hangliding with an Army surplus target kite • Bungee jumping • Wrestling . . . a bear?

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The Game and the Glory by Michelle Akers, Gregg Lewis (Contributor)

As the world watched Brandi Chastain set up for her penalty kick, Michelle Akers lay on a training table beneath the Rose Bowl recovering from her efforts in the Women's World Cup final. She had been given two liters of fluid intravenously but was still woozy and it didn't register, at first, that Chastain had scored and the U.S. team had won. At her insistence, the doctor removed her IVs and she staggered out onto the field to join the celebration. As she stood in the center of the field, the capacity crowd began chanting "Aaa-kers! Aaa-kers! Aaa-kers!"

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Dale Earnhardt: The Intimidator by Kathy Persinger
Reading level: Ages 9-12

If there was any doubt that the competitive fire still burns in the belly of Dale Earnhardt despite his advancing years, he certainly dispelled all such notions by winning the 40th annual Daytona 500 in 1998, on his twentieth try. The aggressive style of seven-time Winston Cup champion has mesmerized a generation of fans and assured him a place in the premier rank of the sport's greatest drivers.

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Tae Kwon Do for Kids by Keith D. Yates, Bryan Robbins

Instill pride, self-confidence and discipline in your child! Tae kwon do can do that--and it's fun, so kids will want to keep on practicing and learning. You'll see...this sport's not just about kicks and punches! How do you get children started--the right way?

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NFL Board Book: Big & Small
Reading level: Baby-Preschool

Photographs of NFL stars showcasing the differences between big and little, off and on, and over and under (just to name a few) help kids learn the concept of opposites. A particularly wonderful image of Terrell Davis leaping over a Bengals defender effectively illustrates the concepts above and below, while KC lineman Will Shields and Minnesota QB Randall Cunningham demonstrate the difference between wide and narrow.

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On the Court with Kobe Bryant by Matt Christopher
Reading level: Ages 9-12

Kobe Bryant may be one of the youngest basketball players in the NBA, but no one would dare call him inexperienced. The son of former NBA player Joe "Jellybean: Bryant, Kobe spent his childhood watching professional basketball. From the moment he could handle a ball, he was learning to dribble and shoot. At age eighteen he was given the chance to prove his stuff when he was drafted into the NBA. Fresh out of high school, Kobe showed he had the talent and the heart to make it in the pros.

About the Author
Matt Christopher is the name behind more than seventy five sports-themed books for children.

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Casey at the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888 (Caldecott Honor Book, 2001)
Reading level: Ages 9-12

"And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; But there is no joy in Mudville-mighty Casey has struck out." Those lines have echoed through the decades, the final stanza of a poem published pseudonymously in the June 3, 1888, issue of the San Francisco Examiner. Its author would rather have seen it forgotten.

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Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream by Deloris Jordan, Kadir Nelson (Illustrator), Roslyn M. Jordan
Reading level: Ages 4-8

Before basketball star Michael Jordan's name was uttered reverently in households all over the planet, young Michael was just a shrimpy kid trying to play ball with the big boys in the neighborhood. Tired of being teased by the biggest boy on the court, Michael is convinced the only solution is to grow taller. His mama smilingly suggests putting salt in his shoes and saying a prayer every night. His daddy tells young Michael that "Being taller may help you play a little better, but not as much as practice, determination, and giving your best will. Those are the things that make you a real winner." And so they are. At 6-foot-6, Michael may not have grown up to be the tallest player on the court, but he sure did turn out to be one of the best!

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On the Field With Derek Jeter by Matt Christopher (Author), Glenn Stout
Reading level: Ages 9-12

When he was a little boy, Derek Jeter dreamed only one dream -- he wanted to play shortstop for the New York Yankees. Today, Derek Jeter lives that dream, and more. He has been the team's star shortstop since 1996 and is a major reason the Yankees have won three World Series in that time. His outstanding play in the field combined with his powerful batting make him a force to be reckoned with, but it's his positive attitude and hard work that have earned him the respect and admiration of his teammates and his fans. In a sport filled with superstars, Derek Jeter has proven he has what it takes to rise to the top.

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The Everything Kids' Soccer Book: Rules, Techniques, and More About Your Favorite Sport! (Everything Kids Series) by Deborah W. Crisfield
Reading level: Ages 9-12

Are you among the millions of kids who live to play soccer? If you are, you'll love The Everything Kids' Soccer Book! Inside this exciting book, you'll find out how to excel at this hugely popular sport, with professional instruction on:
The complete rules of the game
Techniques for dribbling, trapping, and heading the ball
The arts of defense and goaltending
Winning techniques and drills
Tips on how to maintain possession of the ball

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