African Americans - Biography, Children - Sports & Adventure, Sports & Adventurers - Biography, Children - Biography
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Overview
Tiki Can’t Believe It when the ball is knocked out of his hand in the Cave Spring Viking’s last preseason game against their rival Knights. And when nobody wants to talk to him the next day at lunch, he feels even worse. So Ronde and Paco start “secret” practices with Tiki, and Coach shows him a special four point ball carry. And after plenty of practice, Tiki is transformed from a runner to a ball carrier, and he feels more confident than ever before. Now he’s a winner—and so is his team!
Editorials
From Barnes & Noble
Football stars and identical twins Tiki and Ronde Barber play on different teams in the NFL, but they share the spotlight (and story credits) in this exciting follow-up to Game Day and By My Brother's Side. Based on the twins' youthful experiences, Teammates rolls out a tale about an embarrassing fumble, some secret practice sessions, and a big game against an archrival.From The Critics
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
Publishers Weekly
In their third collaboration, the twin Barber brothers continue to explore their early experiences on the football field in Teammates by Tiki and Ronde Barber with Robert Burleigh, illus. by Barry Root. Here the action takes place off as much as on the field, as the brothers practice their moves in preparation for the big game against their rivals. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature -
Most celebrity authors do not write great children's books. Ronde and Tiki Barber, NFL superstars, overcome the label of celebrity author in this nicely written and beautifully illustrated story. In the book, Ronde helps his brother, Tiki, improve his football skills by creating a secret Morning Practice Club so they can practice the correct way to carry a football. It is refreshing to see a loving and supportive relationship between brothers in a children's book; usually sibling relations are mined for trouble and turmoil in children's literature. This book would interest reluctant readers and encourage readers to seek the connection between literature and other facets of life (in this case, sports). The highlight of this book is not the glory of the final game, but rather it is the everyday interactions, the day-in and day-out grunt work of practice, and the supportive relationship between the brothers that make this book a winning tale.School Library Journal
Gr 1-4-The Barbers, both NFL players, present a follow-up to By My Brother's Side (2004) and Game Day (2005, both S & S). When young Tiki fumbles the football in a preseason practice game, his teammates begin to question his ability as a ball carrier. Coach Mike shows him a better way to hold it and reminds him that "Practice makes perfect." Ronde creates a secret "Morning Practice Club" so his twin can perfect his technique during tackles. When the boys' team plays its archrivals, Tiki holds on to the ball in a pileup, bringing the Vikings to victory. While the text is a little long, there is enough action to keep the plot moving along. Tiki and Ronde have a warm, supportive relationship, rare in tales featuring siblings. Root's watercolor-and-gouache full-page paintings in autumn tones, while stiff in some of the action scenes, are warm and accessible. Sports fans will welcome this addition.-Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.Kirkus Reviews
Sincerity and veracity are the hallmarks of the Barbers' books. Both are top-flight, professional football players, so they know their topic and base their stories on their own experiences as boys. Here their issue is teamwork and practice as Tiki practices the right way to hang on to the ball and they work together to perfect their schoolboy game. But it's the everyday atmosphere of kids involved in football-and, by extension, any sport-at which the Barbers excel. Given a strong supporting hand by Root's artwork, with its sense of late summer drifting into early autumn and the changing of the leaves, the Barbers create a world of Saturday morning pick-up practices, poring over record books and dreaming of glory. If the big game does drag on somewhat, it also helps in understanding that's how the players are experiencing it: Can't this game just end now (while we're ahead, and before there is another chance to fumble the ball)? A lesson of building self-confidence through steadfast pursuit of a goal that's easy to believe and enjoyable to attain. (Picture book. 6-10)Book Details
Published
August 30, 2011
Publisher
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Pages
32
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9781442412620