You Can Do It!
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Overview
Tony Dungy's little brother, Linden, is a third grader who is having a bad day at school. Linden is the youngest of the Dungy family and the least motivated because he hasn't found "it." In a family where everyone seems to have found their special talent, all Linden knows is that he wants to make people happy.
With encouragement from his parents, a helping hand from his older brother Tony, and inspiration from God, Linden learns that if he dreams big and has faith, he can do anything!
Synopsis
Tony Dungy's little brother, Linden, is a third grader who is having a bad day at school. Linden is the youngest of the Dungy family and the least motivated because he hasn't ...
Children's Literature
Written by the former National Football League (NFL) player and current head coach of the NFL Indianapolis Colts, this fiction book tells the story of Linden and his big brother, Tony. Linden gets in trouble with his teacher for making jokes in class, and then when she asks everyone in class what they want to be someday, Linden is the only one who doesn't have any idea. He also has a toothache that won't go away. Linden talks with his dad about the fact that he doesn't have a dream about what he could do someday. His older brother, Tony, says a prayer at dinner about helping Linden find his dream. The next day Linden goes to the dentist and is amazed with how the dentist was able to repair his tooth. He asks the dentist lots of questions, and then a few weeks later at show? and? tell day at school, Linden tells his class about the things he learned from the dentist. He realizes that he wants to be a dentist when he grows up. His brother Tony is very proud of him. The last two pages feature a personal note from Tony Dungy about how his parents taught him to dream and pray to God about his dreams and plans. He writes that his brother really became a dentist and that the family "knew he would have faith to find his dream." The book is a pleasant and uplifting story about a loving Christian family. The watercolor paintings, vivid and lifelike, are lovely accompaniments to the story. Reviewer: Vicki Foote
Editorials
Children's Literature -
Written by the former National Football League (NFL) player and current head coach of the NFL Indianapolis Colts, this fiction book tells the story of Linden and his big brother, Tony. Linden gets in trouble with his teacher for making jokes in class, and then when she asks everyone in class what they want to be someday, Linden is the only one who doesn't have any idea. He also has a toothache that won't go away. Linden talks with his dad about the fact that he doesn't have a dream about what he could do someday. His older brother, Tony, says a prayer at dinner about helping Linden find his dream. The next day Linden goes to the dentist and is amazed with how the dentist was able to repair his tooth. He asks the dentist lots of questions, and then a few weeks later at show? and? tell day at school, Linden tells his class about the things he learned from the dentist. He realizes that he wants to be a dentist when he grows up. His brother Tony is very proud of him. The last two pages feature a personal note from Tony Dungy about how his parents taught him to dream and pray to God about his dreams and plans. He writes that his brother really became a dentist and that the family "knew he would have faith to find his dream." The book is a pleasant and uplifting story about a loving Christian family. The watercolor paintings, vivid and lifelike, are lovely accompaniments to the story. Reviewer: Vicki FooteSchool Library Journal
K-Gr 2
This is a sweet and earnest story about the author's younger brother, who struggles to name his "it" and begin the road to fulfillment in life. The Dungy family puts its faith in God and encourages the boys to do so too. When a toothache brings Linden to the dentist's office, he finds the excitement he's been looking for and ends up becoming a dentist himself. Dungy is a natural storyteller, and readers will buy into this warm family despite some disconnected narrative elements and a tired plot. Bates is skilled at creating charming characters, and her watercolor paintings evoke a vibrant family life. Dungy's name will be familiar to Pro Football fans.-Lisa Egly Lehmuller, St. Patrick's Catholic School, Charlotte, NC