Adrian Peterson

Children's Literature - Pat Trattles

Adrian Peterson's dad nicknamed him A.D. (All Day) when he was a child because he never stopped running and exercising. In his first high school football game he rushed for a total of 212 yards, topping it at 340 yards in his second game. By his senior year he was considered the top-ranked football player in the country. He entered the NFL draft after only three years at the University of Oklahoma and was snatched up by the Minnesota Vikings. On November 4, 2007, in only the ninth game of his rookie year, he scored three touchdowns and rushed for a total of 296 yards, the most yards in a game by any running back in NFL history. Peterson was a star off the field as well. The summer after his rookie year he started a summer football camp and flew twenty kids from his hometown of Palestine, Texas to the camp. Along with the organization "Feed the Children" he gave 25,000 pounds of food and other goods to four hundred needy Palestine families. He also started working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Special Olympics, the African American Adoption Agency and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He established the All Day Foundation, which holds special events to raise money for all the groups he supports. Part of the "Football Heroes Making a Difference" series, this book includes a table of contents, detailed index, "The Adrian File" highlighting his accomplishments on and off the field, a glossary, bibliography, and suggestions for further information in books and online. Aimed at upper elementary students, it is a great resource for young football lovers everywhere. With its high interest level and simple, straight forward text, it is also an ideal book for reluctant readers. Reviewer: Pat Trattles