Ben Roethlisberger

At age 23, Ben Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl. He was a hero to Pittsburgh Steelers fans! Ben decided to use his newfound fame to help other kinds of heroes. He started the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation, an organization that buys service dogs for police and fire departments. His goal? To provide a service dog for every town the Steelers play in! Follow Ben through the biggest moments of his career on and off the field to see how this champion makes a difference.

Children's Literature

This title in the "Football Heroes: Making a Difference" series focuses on Ben Roethlisberger, a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Starting with his rookie year in 2004 when he was abruptly made a starter, readers share in his phenomenal first season and learn that Roethlisberger did not give up, even when his first play cost his team the ball. The next section discusses his childhood in Ohio and how he played not only football but basketball and baseball in high school as well. Then come details about Ben's college career at Miami University in Ohio and his draft by the Steelers, as well as his first Super Bowl game, after which the focus shifts to the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation. This foundation helps police departments and fire departments purchase service dogs. Featuring a number of photos of Ben playing football, growing up, and supporting his charities, as well as a comprehensive glossary, even less-strong readers will be able to use this biography. And for older kids writing more detailed reports, the bibliography and "Read More" sections provide a good starting point for further research. Libraries looking for current sports biographies for kids aged seven to ten will find this series to be a good purchase. Reviewer: Kathleen Foucart