Abbeville Sports – serie

Legends of the NBA features illustrated profiles of 28 retired basketball greats, including pioneers of the game such as Earl Lloyd and Bill Russell, Dream Team players like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan, and more recent all-stars, such as Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. Young readers will learn about where each of these stars grew up, how he made it to the top, and what makes his playing style unique. Filled with career highlights, key stats, and action-packed photos, this book will wow both the basketball novice and the passionate fan.

Part of the World Soccer Legends series, this book tells the story of Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, one of the great players of the game, from his childhood days in Brazil to his signing by the legendary Spanish soccer club Barcelona for a record amount of money. One of the biggest names at the 2014 World Cup, Neymar, playing for Brazil, sustained a serious injury but healed quickly and is now back on the field, winning games for Barcelona. The book also traces the history of the Brazilian national team, the most successful organization in the history of the World Cup. The book contains fascinating facts, spectacular images, and captivating and informative text.

For the past decade, the same remarkable players have been dominating the headlines for soccer, but, finally, they have met their match! Colombia's young star James Rodriguez burst onto the scene in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he was awarded the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer, with six impressive goals-he is the one to watch. In this entertaining and informative book, we follow Rodriguez from his humble beginnings in Ibagué, Colombia, to his meteoric superstardom as a midfielder with Spain's Real Madrid. Learn about his personality, family, and favourite hobbies, along with his strengths and playing style. Get to know the major star of tomorrow-James Rodriguez!

Stars of All Time highlights both iconic pioneers of world football, including Pelé, Johan Cruyff, and Maradona, and more recent all-star players, such as Messi and Ronaldo. Young readers will learn about where each player grew up, how he made it to the top, and what makes his playing style unique. Filled with facts and illustrations, showcasing the most exciting players of the past and present, this book will wow both the football novice and the passionate fan.

Learn how the top football stars of all time grew up and conquered the sport. This guide follows fourteen of the best men’s and women’s players from their first childhood encounter with association football - whether at the school gym or a pickup game in a vacant lot - to their first appearance in a top-division match or their first international cap. For every one of them, it was a journey with its share of both tragedy and triumph. Did you know that . . .. . . as a boy, Pelé practiced with a newspaper-stuffed sock or a grapefruit, because he couldn’t afford a proper football?. . . Mia Hamm discovered the sport of football as a toddler in Florence, Italy, where her father, a U.S. Air Force pilot, was stationed?. . . at age ten, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency that threatened to end his football career - until Barça offered to pay for his treatment?Illustrated with rare photos of stars-to-be on and off the field, Before They Were Stars is sure to entertain and inspire any budding soccer legend. Fans can learn more about their favourite players with other World Soccer Legends series books, such as Stars of Women's Soccer: 2nd Edition, Stars of World Soccer, Neymar, Messi, and Alex Morgan.

The Women’s World Cup began on June 7, 2019 - and it promised to be the most exciting one yet.  This book will tell you all you need to know about the 24 national teams competing for the top spot, from established powerhouses like Team USA (the defending champions) and Germany (gold medalists at the 2016 Olympics) to newcomers like Chile.  It will give you the inside scoop on the top players in the tournament - like Megan Rapinoe of the USA and Marta of Brazil - and their strengths and weaknesses.  It will take you on a whirlwind tour of host country France and the World Cup venues - like the 59,000-seat Parc Olympique Lyonnais, where the semifinals and finals will be played.  And it will catch you up on the history of the Women’s World Cup, from the first eight-team showdown in China in 1991 to the clash of 24 seasoned squads in Canada in 2015.  Women’s World Cup 2019 even includes handy fill-in brackets so you can track the progress of your favourite teams in the tournament.

Meet the most legendary clubs in the game. From the storied Liverpool, to the star-studded Real Madrid, these are the clubs setting new standards of teamwork year after year. Learn about each team’s history, and their greatest accomplishments along the way. Get to know the coaches and stars, from Barça’s attacking duo of Messi and Suárez, to Man City’s brilliant manager Pep Guardiola and his winning strategy. Full of exciting colour photos, The World’s Greatest Clubs includes teams from all the top leagues, including England’s Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, and Italy’s Serie A. It will be an indispensable companion for young soccer fans everywhere, regardless of their allegiance.

Unlike most professional football players, Alex Morgan did not start playing club football until she was 14. But her talent was so obvious that only three years later she was called up to the U.S. women's under-20 team. That was just the beginningof a history-making career that led her, most recently, to a second World Cup title as co-captain of the U.S. women's team. This new editionof Alex Morgan - revised and updated from cover to cover - follows every step of her journey, not only as a football player but also as a best-selling author, an actor, and so muchmore!Also available in the World Soccer Legends series:Megan Rapinoe ISBN 9780789213655

Megan Rapinoe captured global attention in the 2019 Women's World Cup, not only with her amazing skills - she won both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot - but also with her strong commitment to social justice. Megan Rapinoetraces her rise to stardom, from her childhood in a football crazy Northern California family, to her outstanding college career at the University of Portland, to her co-captaincy of the dominant U.S. women'steam. Like all the volumes in the best-selling World Soccer Legends series, this one is full of the exciting on-field shots, key stats, and little-known facts that true football fans love.Also available in the World Soccer Legends series:Alex Morgan ISBN 9780789213655

A head-to-head comparison of the two greatest soccer stars of their generation - and perhaps of all time.One, diminutive and reserved; the other, tall and theatrical. One with six Ballons d'Or, and the other with five. There's no doubt about it - Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the best. But which one is better? This lively book compares every aspect of the legendary rivals' careers, to let the reader decide. It compares their stats, including their ten years of matchups in El Clásico, their club trophies, and their individual awards and milestones. It analyses their style of play, and how it has evolved throughout their careers. And, it looks at how their rivalry continues off the field, in terms of endorsement deals, social media followings, and philanthropic endeavors. Packed with colour photos of the champions in action, Messi and Ronaldo will spark discussion among both players' partisans.

Here are the best of the best: the stars of the dominant U.S. national team - like Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Julie Ertz, and Rose Lavelle - and their top competitors from around the world, like Sam Kerr of Australia, Lucy Bronze of England, Wendie Renard of France, and Marta of Brazil. This lively book features short biographies of 28 athletes in all, illustrated with colour photographs of the stars in action. Revised and updated from cover to cover, Stars of Women’s Soccer is sure to whet the appetite of young fans who are eager to see the titans of the women's game battle it out (finally) at the Tokyo Olympics.

Here are the best of the best, from legends like LeBron James and Chris Paul to rising stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden. This lively book features illustrated profiles of some 28 of the greatest players on the court — point guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards, and centers. Stars of the NBA is filled with action-packed photos and colourful graphics, showing what it takes to be at the top of the game.

Hut! Read all about today’s greatest gridiron stars in this exciting book full of action-packed photos. Stars of the NFL includes profiles of 28 top players. This includes great quarterbacks like Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes, other offensive powerhouses like Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, defensive mainstays like Aaron Donald and T. J. Watt, and special team standouts like Justin Tucker. Learn about their life stories, their unique styles of play, and their defining moments on the field. Brimming with colourful photos and key stats, Stars of the NFL joins Abbeville’s growing lineup of sports books for young readers, including Stars of World Soccer, Stars of the NBA, and Stars of Major League Baseball.

Step up to the plate with baseball’s top players, from mainstays like Mookie Betts and Gerrit Cole to rising stars like Shohei Ohtani and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.Young fans will enjoy these lively profiles of the game’s biggest stars, which explore their life stories, their playing styles, and their greatest baseball moments. Stars of Major League Baseball is illustrated with colourful photos and includes key statistics for each player.Athletes included: José Abreu (White Sox); Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves); Sandy Alcantara (Marlins); Pete Alonso (Mets); Yordan Álvarez (Astros); Tim Anderson (White Sox); Nolan Arenado (Cardinals); Mookie Betts (Dodgers); Gerrit Cole (Yankees); Jacob deGrom (Mets); Edwin Díaz (Mets); Freddie Freeman (Dodgers); Paul Goldschmidt (Cardinals); Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays); Bryce Harper (Phillies); Aaron Judge (Yankees); Manny Machado (Padres); Shohei Ohtani (Angels); José Ramírez (Guardians); Austin Riley (Braves); Julio Rodríguez (Mariners); Max Scherzer (Mets); Corey Seager (Rangers); Juan Soto (Padres); Fernando Tatís Jr. (Padres); Mike Trout (Angels); Trea Turner (Dodgers); Justin Verlander (Astros).

An action-packed book on the most extraordinary stars in MLB history.Legends of Major League Baseball features illustrated profiles of 28 retired baseball greats, from the greatest stars of past generations, such as Babe Ruth and Willie Mays, to modern legends like Pedro Martinez and Alex Rodriguez. Young readers will learn how each of these stars grew up and made it to the top, and what made their playing styles unique. Filled with key stats and action-packed photos, this book will wow both the baseball novice and the passionate fan.

The best-selling guide to today’s most exciting players, completely revised and updated.Here are the best of the best, from legends like Messi and Ronaldo to dynamic newcomers like Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. This lively book features short biographies of some 28 stars in all — goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and attackers. With the same action-packed photos and colourful graphics that fans have come to expect from the critically acclaimed World Soccer Legends series, Stars of World Soccer shows what it takes to be at the top of the game.

An action-packed book on the biggest stars in NFL history.Legends of the NFL profiles 28 top retired players, from the gridiron greats of past generations, like Joe Montana and Jim Brown, to recent superstars like Randy Moss and Tom Brady. Filled with fascinating stories about these legends’ early lives, their unique playing styles, and their defining moments on the field, this book will delight young football fans. It is illustrated throughout with colourful photographs and also includes each player’s key stats.Legends of the NFL joins Abbeville’s growing lineup of sports books for young readers, including Stars of the NFL, Legends of the NBA, Stars of World Soccer, and Legends of Major League Baseball.

"Every page is filled with stories that not only inspire but also demonstrate how hard work, perseverance, and self-confidence are the keys to success. It's a book that not only motivates young athletes but also makes parents smile at the thought that their children can be the stars of tomorrow." —NL MagazineGet ready for the Olympics with this action-packed book on the greatest women gymnasts of all time.Legends of Women’s Gymnastics profiles 28 champions from the Eastern Bloc gymnasts, like Olga Korbut and Nadia Comăneci, who brought a new athleticism to the sport; to Shannon Miller and her Magnificent Seven teammates, who dominated the 1996 Olympics; to today’s stars, like Simone Biles and Suni Lee, who are bringing gymnastics to new heights. Illustrated with dynamic colour photos, this book will be sure to wow passionate fans and aspiring gymnasts alike.

Read all about today’s greatest basketball players in this exciting book full of action-packed photos. This second edition of the best-selling Stars of the NBA has been revised and updated from cover to cover. It profiles twenty-eight of today’s top NBA players, from legends like Steph Curry and Nikolia Jokic to rookie standouts like Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren. Young readers will learn about their favourite players’ life stories, unique styles of play, and defining moments on the court.Packed with colourful photos and key stats, Stars of the NBA belongs to the Abbeville Sports series, which also includes Legends of the NBA ISBN 9780789214430 (about the greatest players of the past), Stars of the NFL ISBN 9780789214577, and Stars of World Soccer ISBN 9780789214751.

Read all about today’s greatest tennis players in this exciting book full of action-packed photos — published just in time for the U.S. Open. Stars of World Tennis profiles 28 of today’s top men’s and women’s tennis players, from the unstoppable Novak Djokovic to comeback queen Naomi Osaka to young phenom Coco Gauff. Young readers will learn about their favourite players’ life stories, unique styles of play, and defining moments on the court.Packed with colourful photos and key stats, Stars of World Tennis belongs to the Abbeville Sports series, which also includes Stars of Women’s Gymnastics ISBN 9780789214843, Stars of World Soccer ISBN 9780789214751, and Stars of Women’s Soccer ISBN 9780789214034.Featured Players: Carlos Alcaraz; Ashleigh Barty; Marin Cilic; Kim Clijsters; Novak Djokovic; Roger Federer; David Ferrer; Coco Gauff; Ons Jabeur; Angelique Kerber; Na Li; Juan Martin del Potro; Daniil Medvedev; Andy Murray; Rafael Nadal; Naomi Osaka; Jessica Pegula; Andrey Rublev; Elena Rybakina; Aryna Sabalenka; Maria Sharapova; Jannik Sinner; Iga Swiatek; Dominic Thiem; Stefanos Tsitsipas; Stan Wawrinka; Serena Williams; Venus Williams.

An inspiring, kid-friendly biography of Kobe Bryant—perfect for ages 7 to 12From practicing with his dad in Italy to winning five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant’s journey was full of determination, focus, and heart. This engaging biography introduces young readers to his biggest moments—on and off the court—and shows how Kobe worked hard, stayed confident, and always pushed himself to be better.Easy to follow and packed with inspiring takeaways, this book helps kids understand what made Kobe great—and how they can chase their own dreams, too.Whether you're a young basketball fan or just love stories about people who never give up, Kobe Bryant is a great introduction to one of the game’s biggest legends. This high-quality hardcover book will also make the perfect gift for the young hoopster in your life.

Get ready for the Winter Olympics with this exciting book about the greatest women figure skaters of all time.With their flying spins and graceful leaps over the ice, figure skaters exemplify what it means to be an athlete and an artist. Legends of Women’s Figures Skating features short biographies of 28 of the greatest women figure skaters of all time, from pioneers like Sonja Henie and Carol Heiss; to the American legends of the ’90s, such as Tara Lipinski and Michelle Kwan; to the rising stars of today, like Amber Glenn and Alysa Liu. Filled with colourful photos, fascinating stories, and key stats, this book will inspire both passionate fans and aspiring figure skaters.

The best-selling book about today’s greatest gridiron stars—completely revised and updated.Stars of the NFL profiles 28 top players across the league, from established powerhouses like Jalen Hurts and Tyreek Hill to promising newcomers like C. J. Stroud and Jared Verse. Young readers will learn about these stars’ life stories, their unique styles of play, and their defining moments on the field. Full of colourful photos and key stats, Stars of the NFL is part of the Abbeville Sports series, which also includes Legends of the NFL (about the greatest players of the past), Stars of the NBA, and Stars of World Soccer.