Teammates

Tiki and Ronde are brothers, best friends, and teammates on the Cave Spring Vikings football team. It's the last preseason game against their arch-rival Knights -- and the football is suddenly knocked out of Tiki's grip. What gives, he thinks, I've always carried the ball this way before.

Inspired by Coach Mike, who tells Tiki, "You've gotta believe," Tiki begins secret practice sessions with Ronde in the morning on the way to school. Will it make a difference in the next big game against the Knights?

Based on the childhoods of NFL superstars Tiki and Ronde Barber, this story of determination and of confidence will inspire all who read it.

Child Magazine

Tiki's frequent fumbles are hurting his team's chances-and his confidence. But with encouragement from a coach, secret morning practices, and the support of his twin brother, Ronde, Tiki learns to hang on-literally and figuratively. Treat your favorite sports fan to this inspiring tale of determination, told by NFL stars Tiki and Ronde Barber. Bathed in warm, golden light, Root's paintings evoke the ambience of a crisp fall day-the perfect backdrop for a high-stakes football game: "Yards piled up. Seconds became minutes. Tick-tick. Tick-tick." (Ages 6 to 8)
Child magazine's Best Children's Book Awards 2006

Tiki Barber is a record-holding retired running back for the New York Giants. Mr. Barber is currently a correspondent for NBC's Today show and an analyst for NBC's Football Night in America.

Ronde Barber is one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL and wears number 20 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ronde is a Super Bowl winner, a five time Pro Bowl selection, and the first cornerback in the history of the league to have at least 20 sacks and 20 interceptions in a career.

He lives in Florida with his wife, Claudia, and their daughters.

Robert Burleigh is the award-winning author of many books for children, including, Hoops, a SLJ Best Book of the Year and a Booklist Editor's Choice, Lookin' for Bird in the Big City which received the New York Society Library Award for the best children's book of the year, and Toulouse-Lautrec: The Moulin Rouge and the City of Light which was an ALA Notable Book. His many other books include Stealing Home, Clang! Clang! Beep! Beep! and By My Brother's Side, for which he was a contributing author. He lives in Michigan.

Barry Root is the illustrator of many books for children, including Gumbrella, which he also wrote; By My Brother's Side; and Game Day, which received a Christopher Award in the category of books for young people. He lives with his family in Quarryville, Pennsylvania.