Kid Athletes: True Tales of Childhood from Sports Legends

Forget the gold medals, the championships, and the undefeated seasons. When all-star athletes were growing up, they had regular-kid problems just like you: Baseball legend Babe Ruth was such a troublemaker, his family sent him to reform school. Race car champion Danica Patrick fended off bullies who told her “girls can’t drive.” And football superstar Peyton Manning was forced to dance the tango in his school play.

Written with humor by David Stabler and illustrated throughout with lively full-color cartoons by Doogie Horner, Kid Athletes brings sports history to life through engaging biographies that celebrate determination, resilience, teamwork, and perseverance. Whether young sports fans ages 8-12 dream of competing on the field, court, rink, or track—or simply enjoy inspiring true stories—this entertaining collection reminds every child that greatness starts with being willing to keep trying. 

Inside you'll discover:

• Illustrated childhood biographies of legendary athletes from around the world 
• Featured athletes including Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King, Tiger Woods, Lionel Messi, Gabby Douglas, Bruce Lee, Babe Ruth, Danica Patrick, Peyton Manning, Bobby Orr, Julie Krone, and many more 
• Kid-friendly nonfiction perfect for independent and reluctant readers 
• Inspiring, relatable stories about perseverance, resilience, teamwork, and determination 
• Short chapters ideal for classrooms, libraries, homeschooling, and family reading 

Meet the kids behind the championships and discover how perseverance, practice, and passion can help you reach your own goals.