Books in Sports Gear series

Like many before him in the Bluegrass State, Michael Blowen, a former "Boston Globe" entertainment writer, fell in love with horses, specifically Thoroughbreds. The reality beyond the racetracks, he knew, was that each day a Thoroughbred was in the spotlight, for some of these distinguished athletes, their days were numbered. For that reason, he dreamed of finding a way to give them a dignified retirement after they completed their rigorous racing careers. When he opened the Thoroughbred retirement farm Old Friends in Kentucky in 2003, he never dreamed his idea would grow so big, so fast. Today, Old Friends is home to more than 130 horses, many of them stallions, as well as geldings, mares and one loveable miniature horse named Little Silver Charm. Join journalist and horse lover Rick Capone for the story of Old Friends and the horses that call the farm home.

The Nutley Velodrome will present a complete history of cycling in northern New Jersey, featuring the Nutley Velodrome, the site of the final chapter of the golden age of cycling in the United States. The book seeks to shed light on a lost history of professional cycling, which had been a major spectator sport during the early decades of the 20th century. As such, it examines the culture and noteworthy figures of this period in northern New Jersey. The story of the Nutley Velodrome is that it is the final chapter in cycling's golden era. It is, quite literally, where and when the golden age came to an end. It is a lost" history, which is why the story needs to be told."

Kids sports activty book with dots! Preschoolers and Toddlers will have lots of "do a dot activity" book fun with soccer, football, basketball and more in this do a dot activity book. This sports coloring book is designed for dot markers, bingo daubers, dab markers and mini dot markers. There are dots on every design of this do a dot art activity book! It works best with a combination of mini and regular dot markers. - Over 24 Dot Marker sports coloring pages - Bound Coloring Book: No loose papers - Fun for Preschoolers and Toddler sports fans - 8.5” x 11” Pages perfect for little hands - Works great with dauber dawgs markers, dab o ink markers, dab and dot markers, doodle hogs, crazy dot markers, do a dot art markers, dab markers and more! Discover baseball, football, soccer, golf and more in this do a dot art activity book.

On the eve of game four of the 1926 World Series, Ruth heard that a young New Jersey boy, Johnny Sylvester, was laid up with a deadly illness. Ruth autographed a ball for Johnny, inscribing it, I'll knock a homer for you in Wednesday's game-Babe Ruth." The rest was history. Ruth delivered on his promise, and Johnny made a miraculous recovery. In Babe & the Kid, author Charlie Poekel traces the story behind the sensational headlines. Picking up in the aftermath of Ruth's incredible feat, he follows Johnny's remarkable life story."

In the style and format of our alphabet books comes "H is for Horse: An Equestrian Alphabet". From basics such as mucking out the stall and how to judge a horse's qualities to historical facts on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Mike Ulmer relays the fun and fundamentals of the world of horses. Lush, detailed paintings by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen, whose work "School Library Journal" has described as 'luminous,' capture the beauty and magnificence of these creatures.

Long Beach has produced some of California's best teams and players, from the NCAA success of Long Beach State to the CIF dominance of Long Beach Poly. Starting with the early hoop dreams of the 1900s, lace up your kicks, step in the gym and prepare for an unforgettable lesson in California basketball history. Explore the city's most celebrated athletes and teams, including local pioneers of women's basketball, who found an early home on the city's hardcourts. Complete with exclusive photos and interviews, authors Mike Guardabascio and Chris Trevino give a play-by-play of the sport's illustrious past in the city of Long Beach.

In the mold of our very popular series of state alphabet books, we offer "Z is for Zamboni" to hockey fans young and old across North America. Matt Napier's "breakaway" rhymes and "hard-checking" expository text team up with the "top-shelf" illustrations of Melanie Rose to elucidate this increasingly popular game for every beginning hockey aficionado. Highlighting rules, players, coaches, teams, and the history of the game, it is both fun and educational.