Whoosh! When the high-tops leave the hardwood, it's prime time on the basketball court. From monster in-game jams to gravity-defying contest slams, experience the most ridonkulous dunks from pro basketball's biggest superstars. Some of these rim-rocking plays even blew out the backboards!

For die-hard basketball fans and casual spectators alike, this collection of fascinating facts about the game will be a welcome addition to their library. From the origins of the game to how much players are paid, and the evolution of the basketball shoe, this book covers a wide range of topics. Among others are how the color barrier was breached, the rise of women’s basketball, and innovations that have made the game accessible to disabled athletes. Lots of humorous, colorful illustrations, charts, and graphs make this ideal for visual learners, while the short chapters encourage browsing.   

For die-hard basketball fans and casual spectators alike, this collection of fascinating facts about the game will be a welcome addition to their library. From the origins of the game to how much players are paid, and the evolution of the basketball shoe, this book covers a wide range of topics. Among others are how the color barrier was breached, the rise of women’s basketball, and innovations that have made the game accessible to disabled athletes. Lots of humorous, colorful illustrations, charts, and graphs make this ideal for visual learners, while the short chapters encourage browsing.   

Before she was scoring goals, Becky Sauerbrunn was just a kid trying to fit in. Learn more in this first book in a brand-new nonfiction series about the childhoods of your favorite athletes. Midway through her first soccer game for the US Women’s National Team, Becky Sauerbrunn broke her nose. More to the point, it exploded, really, in a head-to-head collision. Still, it never occurred to her to leave the field until she saw the horrified reaction from her teammates and coaches. Sauerbrunn’s toughness is one of the reasons she has developed into perhaps the finest defender in women’s soccer on the planet. The source of that toughness? Being the younger sister to two older brothers. Becky would do anything to play with her brothers—including allowing them to duct tape plywood to her forearms so she could play street hockey goalie and have her brothers shoot slapshots at her. Or letting them wrap her in blankets (so tightly she still has a phobia of bundling up) and launch her off the bed, trying to see how far they could get her to fly. But Sauerbrunn’s brothers also helped her in another important way—they helped her learn to read, which fueled a lifelong passion for books. In fact, she believes that reading has helped train her brain for the kind of problem-solving challenges she faces on the field, defending the most talented forwards in the world. Her cerebral approach, combined with her toughness, are the keys to her soccer success—the roots of both can be traced back to the little girl who wanted to hang with her brothers.

An introduction to extreme sports including extreme cycling (BMX and mountain biking), air extremes such as skydiving and BASE jumping (including the highest ever skydive from space), urban sports skateboarding and parkour, high-risk free and solo rock climbing, and watery extremes such as surfing and whitewater kayaking. Small chunks of text combined with lots of detailed pictures and thrilling subject matter make this an inspiring and informative book - suitable for all ages, including reluctant readers. Internet links allow readers to access more information online via carefully selected and monitored websites. Part of the Beginners Plus series which is designed to inspire boys to read by introducing a wide range of non-fiction topics.

What's it like to be a baseball player? From youth leagues to the minors to Major League Baseball, readers will learn how athletes prepare for games and participate in special events off the field.

Follow the journey of a basketball player from the local gym to the NBA. What does a professional player do to prepare for a game? What kinds of special events do they participate in when they aren't on the court? Give readers get an exciting behind-the-scenes look at a popular sport.

What does it take to be a football player? Give readers an insider's look at how athletes prepare for games and the kinds of responsibilities they have when they aren't on the field. Action-packed photos and fascinating details will keep sports fans turning pages.

Learn what it takes to become a professional gymnast! Readers will get a fascinating insider look at the life of a gymnast, from preparing for competition to events outside the gym.

Before they hit the ice for a game, hockey players do a lot to prepare. Give readers an exciting insider's look at the lives of professional athletes in the world of hockey, from training to special events outside of the rink.

Soccer captures the attention of fans around the world-but what are the lives of professional soccer players like behind the scenes? Discover how players prepare for games and learn about the other responsibilities they have when they aren't on the pitch.

The Best Book of Bikes is a multi-faceted and comprehensive look at everything to do with bikes. The Best Book of Bikes builds on the well-respected name of Popular Mechanics for Kids™, which boasts a successful television series, website, and line of merchandise. Discover how bikes evolved from two-wheeled toy horses into today's lean, mean, pedaling machines. Meet some of the world's great cycling heroes. Delve into the mechanics of how bikes work. Get gunky as you become a bonafide grease monkey. This high-energy, entertaining, and informative book is a must for all bike owners. Features include: Incredible facts about the history, invention, science, heroes, and culture of bikes Lively language and illustrations demystify the mechanics of biking Easy-to-follow illustrations with simple step-by-step instructions show kids exactly what they need to do to maintain their bikes Amazing and off-the-wall biking stories, stunts, and feats pop up throughout the pages Interactive puzzles, games, and activities get kids thinking about the mechanics of biking An easy-to-use glossary of technical terms, such as crank, derailleur, and sprocket - valuable definitions in simple language

Have you ever wanted to fly like a bird or ski at top speed across snowy terrain? Can you imagine racing on skis across the countryside only to stop periodically to fire shots at targets at rapid-fire speed? In this book, you'll experience the excitementof Olympic ski jumping, cross country skiing, and biathlon. You'll learn amazing facts about the history of each sport, the training it takes to be a top athlete, and the high-tech equipment used by competitors. "About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Find out everything there is to know about hockey in this bestselling volume, redesigned, revised and updated! Who are the “Original Six”? How many cities have had their hockey team move . . . only to get a team later on? What are some of the most historic hockey games? How does the salary cap work, anyway? This book looks to answer all those questions and more, equipping the hockey fan with everything they need to know about hockey. From the beginning of the game to the billion dollar industry that it is today, fans will learn the A to Z of hockey. This updated edition includes updates statistics and records, new content about careers in hockey, the latest on equipment, expanded information on women’s hockey PLUS twice as many photographs!