Buddy and Gianna are riding high after winning the league championship at school. Even better, Buddy's dad decided to keep the family in Salem, so that Buddy and his sister can stay with their new friends after adjusting to life in a new town in Massachusetts. What could go wrong? When Buddy and Gianna discover something magical, it leads them on a mysterious adventure through historic Salem and Marblehead. Things seem to be going great--until the wicked Kurtin Drapes and his raven reveal some dreadful plans. With the clock ticking and time running out, will they be able to outwit Drapes? Can Buddy and Gianna do the impossible, or will the magical ball lose its luster forever?
Hall Park Magpies are rubbish. They are bottom of the league, cannot score goals and have not managed to win this season. But they have a new player: football boy wonder Charlie Fry. Bullied out of Hall Park Rovers by evil Chell Di Santos, the budding football superstar - who has a magic gift so he never misses - now faces his biggest challenge yet. With Charlie in their team and a mysterious book that keeps predicting unlikely victories, the future is suddenly looking a lot brighter for Magpies. Can Charlie save his new team? Will the book's magic last long enough to escape relegation? Or will his enemies finally finish Charlie's career for good? ** The Magic Football Book is the third part of The Charlie Fry Series, the follow-up to the best-selling Football Boy Wonder and Demon Football Manager.
“Jon Dorenbos is a magical person. Life Is Magic shows how we can all choose happiness in the face of overwhelming odds.” —Ellen DeGeneres An extraordinary and empowering story of resilience, forgiveness, and living a life of purpose in the face of unfathomable obstacles. You may know him as an NFL All-Pro or as a world-class magician who made the finals of America’s Got Talent, but Jon Dorenbos says that what he does is not who he is. He is someone who coached himself, at the most tender of ages, to turn tragedy to triumph. One morning in August 1992, when Jon was twelve years old and living a seemingly idyllic childhood in suburban Seattle, he woke up for baseball camp. His dad waved goodbye. Later that day, Jon heard the news: his father had murdered his mother in the family’s three-car garage. In an instant, his life had shattered. He’d essentially been orphaned. Thrust into foster care while his father stood trial for murder, Jon struggled. Left to himself, he discovered an unlikely escape performing magic tricks. If you found a way to alter your reality, after your dad—your hero—killed your mom, wouldn’t you cling to it too? Then came football, which provided a release for all of his pent-up anger. Together, magic and football saved him, leading to fourteen NFL seasons on the gridiron and raucous sleight of hand performances to packed houses across the globe. In 2017, he was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition leaving him with a choice. To either break down or—as he’d by now long taught himself—bounce back. “Life Is Magic shows how we can all choose happiness in the face of overwhelming odds” (Ellen DeGeneres) and provides a roadmap for overcoming even the darkest of times. Jon’s story is poignant and powerful, told by a charismatic and optimistic man who has overcome life-or-death challenges with grace, persistence, a childlike sense of wonder…and jaw-dropping card tricks.
The story of legendary the Bill Walsh--the thoughtful, articulate coach who led the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl wins and was voted coach of the decade in the 80s--portrays the growth of his team and their incredible 1992 season.
A passionate, funny book of essays comparing soccer, often unfavorably, with American football At its best, European football is a glorious, uplifting, unifying sport. But it hasn't been at its best for some time. Disillusioned by corruption scandals, billionaire club owners, and an ever-smaller group of title challengers, Martin Calladine drifted away from the game that had defined 25 years of his life. He found solace in an unexpected place: American football. Despite the glitz and the endless ad breaks, the NFL has a curiously Corinthian purity: preventing teams buying success by sharing TV money equally, having a strict salary cap, and, with the draft, letting the worst teams get the pick of the best new players. The Ugly Game is a funny, angry book of essays for fans of European football setting out where the game has gone wrong and showing that, perhaps surprisingly, the NFL has many of the answers.
Frankie and his soccer team travel to fantastic lands to play some of the wildest soccer matches ever! Frankie and his friends love playing soccer so much that they start their own team. After winning a magic soccer ball at a carnival, they're forced to play in some amazing games. Frankie's soccer ball transports his team to an arena where they are playing against the Rowdy Romans. Will his team be a roaring success or will the soccer battle be more than they bargained for?
Charlie Fry is football mad. He sleeps wearing his team's full kit and dreams of scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final. He plays football around the clock - at the park, on the way to school, at lunchtimes and even in his bedroom until his mum tells him off. But Charlie has a problem: he can't run very far. He has plenty of skill but his poorly lungs stop him from sprinting. And as an 11-year-old boy planning to become the Golden Boot winner at the World Cup, that's an issue. Then one day a freak accident presents Charlie with a unique goal-scoring gift - it means he can't miss. But can Charlie convince his local team Hall Park to give him the chance and use his new skill to deadly effect? Or will the nasty bullies from his school keep him stuck on the sidelines? ** The Football Boy Wonder is the bestselling soccer story for children aged 7-11. It looks at themes such as bullying, friendship, loyalty and the wonderful world of football. Reviews of the Football Boy Wonder: "Highly recommended. An enjoyable and clever story with a few lovely twists along the way." Amazon review. "My little brother, who is crazy about soccer, would love this book and would never let it go. It is a great gift to get a brother, nephew, son or cousin for any occasion. They will definitely enjoy it." 5* review from Readers' Favourite website. "Fantastic journey of friendship and sporting achievements. Well written and easy to understand Charlie's journey and how CF impacts his life." Amazon review. If your kids like Messi, Ronaldo or Harry Kane, then they'll love Charlie Fry!
Frankie and his team love playing football. There's always time for a game - especially when it's a tournament! When Frankie and his friends are whisked to the Canadian Rockies they land with a splash - straight into a freezing river. Thank goodness for a giant rescue dog who turns up just in time. To return the favour, the friends save the dog's owner, Danni, from a grizzly bear. But when they get back to school, they realize their mission isn't over yet. Something has followed them through the portal... Can they return a large, furry creature to Canada, and help their new friend win the tournament of her life?
A magician introduces children to the fantastical powers of books in this delightful and encouraging read by a Super Bowl champion and literacy crusader. This is not your typical afternoon at the library—a magician invites kids to reach into his hat to pull out whatever they find when they dig down deep. Soon—poof!—each child comes away with something better than they could’ve imagined—a book that helps them become whatever they want to be, and makes their dreams come true through pages and words, and the adventures that follow. But each child can’t help but wonder, What’s really making the magic happen? Praise for The Magician’s Hat “Malcolm Mitchell is changing the world through the power of reading.” —Dav Pilkey, bestselling creator of the Dog Man and Captain Underpants series “The Magician’s Hat will cast its spell on you!” —Jeff Kinney, bestselling author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series “New England Patriot and literacy advocate Mitchell proves to have a touch of magic as an author as well as on the field . . . Perhaps youngsters who think they are more interested in football than reading will take the message to heart.” —Kirkus Reviews
