Books with author Kevin Sylvester

The world's greatest sporting events, chock-full of guts, glory and going for gold. If you want to read about that, you'd better look elsewhere. The gold medals handed out in this book are for inept athletes, shameful scandals, freakish weather, cheaters, chokers and much worse. But it's not all bad. You'll also read about athletes who went from chump to champ and warm your heart to stories of high-stakes heroism and fair play. There may still be hope for humans -- and sports competitions! Read about * unbeatable runners who tested positive for turtle's blood and caterpillar fungus * the snowboarder whose hot-dog move cost her a gold medal * live animal hunting, dueling with pistols and other events now (thankfully) discontinued * a medal-winning gymnast with a wooden leg * the sailor who gave up a chance at the gold medal to save a drowning competitor

It’s 1943, and World War II is still raging on. Norah and Gavin can hardly wait for August, when they’ll be leaving to spend the summer at Gairloch, the Ogilvies’ cottage in Muskoka. Norah in particular is looking forward to spending time with the older Ogilvie cousins, swimming, boating … and having as little to do with bossy adults as possible. The arrival of cousin Andrew is a perfect distraction, especially since, at nineteen, he’s handsome and intelligent, and Norah thinks she may be falling in love! How will she survive a summer that promises to be anything but ordinary?

Fourteen-year-old wunderchef Neil Flambé can cook anything, and patrons pay top dollar and wait months for reservations at his tiny boutique restaurant. What many of Neil’s patrons don’t know, however, is that he’s also a budding detective, code-named “The Nose.” It all started when he used his knowledge of cooking and his incredible sense of smell to acquit his mother’s client of murder. Now, however, some of the best chefs in town are turning up dead, the cops are stumped, and the crime scenes aren’t helping. The only real clues are a mysterious smell and some equally mysterious notes — in Italian! — that have something to do with the great explorer Marco Polo. As more and more chefs fall prey to the killer, and more and more notes turn up, Neil finds himself working not only to solve the murders, but to eliminate himself as the prime suspect!

Find out about the “other” stars in show business. There are hundreds of people who make a live show worth seeing: the entertainers on stage, of course, but also the many people behind the scenes whose work ensures that the show will be a success. Set designer Machiko Weston meticulously creates miniature 3D sets that capture the smallest detail of what the actual stage will look like. Long-haul trucker Ben Pinel makes sure that instruments, lights, and speakers get to the venue safely and on time. And if onstage fireworks, laser shows, and special effects are appealing, the job of pyrotechnics expert comes with its fair share of excitement—and danger. Readers will learn about other behind-the-scenes people such as costume designer, promoter, vocal coach, and more: all people whose job it is to make sure that every show is the best one ever.

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.

Find out about the “other” stars in show business. There are hundreds of people who make a live show worth seeing: the entertainers on stage, of course, but also the many people behind the scenes whose work ensures that the show will be a success. Set designer Machiko Weston meticulously creates miniature 3D sets that capture the smallest detail of what the actual stage will look like. Long-haul trucker Ben Pinel makes sure that instruments, lights, and speakers get to the venue safely and on time. And if onstage fireworks, laser shows, and special effects are appealing, the job of pyrotechnics expert comes with its fair share of excitement—and danger. Readers will learn about other behind-the-scenes people such as costume designer, promoter, vocal coach, and more: all people whose job it is to make sure that every show is the best one ever.