Books with title Arthur Ashe: Young Tennis Champion

Childhood of Famous Americans One of the most popular series ever published for young Americans, these classics have been praised alike by parents, teachers, and librarians. With these lively, inspiring, fictionalized biographies -- easily read by children of eight and up -- today's youngster is swept right into history.Book Details:Format: PaperbackPublication Date: 1/3/2006Pages: 224Reading Level: Age 8 and Up

A childhood biography of a groundbreaking African-American athlete.Arthur Ashe (1943-1993) was the first African American man to win a major tennis tournament. He did not start out with a love of the game--his favorite sport was actually baseball--but growing up in the racist south, Arthur decided he would one day play sports on courts that did not allow black athletes. After proving himself a natural on the tennis court, and struggling with committing to the game, Arthur enjoyed many years of championship tennis, crowned by two achievements: his victory over Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon, and competing in Byrd Park, Virginia, a park he was not allowed to play in when he was a child. Alas, during heart surgery in 1983, it is likely that Ashe was given blood tainted with HIV. He became an active fundraiser and speaker on behalf of AIDS research. In 1997 the U.S. Tennis Center's main stadium in New York City was named Arthur Ashe Stadium in honor of his many contributions to the game. This inspiring biography showcases Ashe's courage in the face of bigotry.

The Story chapter-book line debuts with this action-packed tribute to Arthur Ashe, one of the most compelling athletes and humanitarians of the twentieth century. From the start, Arthur Ashe was an unlikely tennis player. As a young boy in Richmond, Virginia, in the 1940s, he was small and skinny--and barred from most tennis courts because he was black. Still, Arthur was drawn to the game and began to play wherever he could. With patience, hard work, and humility, Arthur pursued his dream. Defeating player after player, match after match, he blazed a path on the courts, becoming the first African American man to win a Grand Slam tournament--the US Open--and the top-ranked tennis player in the world. Throughout his career, Arthur Ashe fought to overcome adversity, opening doors in his sport and promoting human rights. The Story of Tennis Champion Arthur Ashe introduces young readers to an athlete whose grace and dignity on and off the tennis court set a shining example for us all. This new chapter book edition in our Story line includes black-and-white illustrations as well as sidebars on related subjects, a timeline, a glossary, and recommended reading.