Stabler, David.
KID ATHLETES: TRUE TALES OF CHILDHOOD FROM SPORTS LEGENDS
New York : Quirk, 2015
IL 3-6, RL 6.2
ISBN 1594748020

As they did in Kid Presidents, David Stabler and Doogie Horner take a humorous look at the lives of several famous athletes in this readable, lighthearted collection. Illustrated in full-color cartoon style illustrations throughout, readers discover little known facts about athletes as well-known as Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Michael Jordan, and Gabby Douglas to some unexpected but still interesting personalities such as Julie Krone, Lionel Messi, and Jesse Kuhaulua. For example, did you know that before he grew up, “Michael Jordan was short, uncoordinated, and prone to accidents” (p. 80)? Or that when Gabby Douglas was only 3 years old, her older sister taught her how to do a cartwheel; the next day, Gabby was doing handstands and flips. Within a week--one-handed cartwheels! But things did not always come so easily--she was bullied and overcame some cruel behavior by teammates and even coaches. Or that Lionel Messi, one of the greatest soccer players, suffered from a growth hormone deficiency? Find out more about the childhood of these and 16 other amazing athletes. (Garden State Children's Book Awards, 2018)