Matt Christopher

The #1 sports series for kids takes readers on the court and behind the scenes with beloved NBA icon Kobe Bryant in this inspiring biography. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Julian feels a lot of pressure when he realizes he's the only remaining player from last year's winning team, but a friend's health crisis helps him regain perspective. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Spotlight is a division of ABDO.

When his teammate Stu is injured during practice, Manny promises to keep quiet so he can play, but then Stu starts acting funny, and Manny struggles with whether to keep his silence or break his promise and let his team down. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Spotlight is a division of ABDO.

Julian Pryce is eager to move from his star benchwarmer position at his new school to play as star center, but he might be the one to blame when the star center winds up in the hospital. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Spotlight is a division of ABDO.

Charlie Abbott finally makes a friend after moving again, but when his skateboard disappears and his new friend is riding around on a board that looks similar to his, Charlie wonders if his life is about to become a disaster. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Spotlight is a division of ABDO.

With more Super Bowl appearances than any other player in NFL history, Tom Brady is a sports icon on and off the field. From his college days as a backup quarterback at University of Michigan to his record-breaking fourteen winning seasons with the New England Patriots, this new and comprehensive biography gives fans a firsthand look at the lows and highs of the superstar's life and career, complete with stats and photographs.

From his days as the skinny kid on youth teams to his MVP season with the Oklahoma City Thunder to his first NBA Championship with the Golden State Warriors, Kevin Durant has been an electrifying presence on the basketball court. With two Olympic gold medals, four NBA scoring titles, and an NBA MVP Award, Kevin shows no sign of slowing down. Through every triumph, Kevin has lived his life by the motto "hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard," dedicating himself to becoming the best player on the court and known for remaining humble and kind through it all. This action-packed and comprehensive biography brings readers onto the court to experience the biggest moments of Kevin Durant's remarkable career, relays details of his life, and shows his dedication to giving back to his community. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Blake Griffin is known for being a #1 draft pick, Rookie of the Year, Slam Dunk Contest winner, and one of the best power forwards playing today. But he had to fight to make it onto the NBA court after sitting out his first pro season with a devastating knee injury. Learn more about the perennial All-Star in this comprehensive biography, complete with photos and fun infographics.

Mia Hamm's speed, aggressive play, and ability to "read the field" helped her become the best women's soccer player in the world. Her stellar performance as a college, World Cup, and Olympic champion made her a sports hero, and her story will inspire a new generation of young athletes. This comprehensive biography--with bonus photos and infographics--gives readers an up-close look at one of America's greatest soccer stars.

Babe Ruth was baseball's first true power hitter, a strong pitcher, and smart outfielder who made some amazing game-saving catches. His love of the sport came through in his playfulness on the field and drive to win, but Babe had to overcome a lot of obstacles in order to become the greatest. This comprehensive biography--with bonus photos and infographics-tells the story behind the legend.

Two weeks of intense competition remain to decide the final teams for the Little League 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 though: 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 World Series. The final book in the series will coincide with the Little League 75th Anniversary in 2014.

This brand-new Matt Christopher baseball series follows two cousins as they make their way to the World Series of Little League Baseball.Eleven-year-old cousins who are closer than most brothers, catcher Liam McCarthy and pitcher Carter Jones grew up playing baseball together. Now, their team is on the verge of winning the greatest championship of all: the Little League Baseball World Series. To reach the title match, however, they must first beat their number one rivals from Southern California. Little do they know that the game will prove to be just one challenge they'll face...