18 true tales of childhood from the world's greatest athletes for readers ages 8-12.

Hilarious childhood biographies and full-color illustrations show how Tiger Woods, Gabby Douglas, Bruce Lee, Billie Jean King, and other budding sports champions faced kid-sized challenges growing up.

Forget the gold medals, the championships, and the undefeated seasons. When all-star athletes were growing up, they had regular-kid problems just like you. Baseball legend

• Baseball legend Babe Ruth was such a troublemaker, his family sent him to reform school.
• Race car champion Danica Patrick fended off bullies who told her “girls can’t drive.”
• And football superstar Peyton Manning was forced to dance the tango in his school play.

Readers ages 8 to 12 years old will learn all of their stories and more with full-color cartoon illustrations on every page. Other subjects include Billie Jean King, Jackie Robinson, Yao Ming, Gabby Douglas, Tiger Woods, Julie Krone, Bruce Lee, Muhammad Ali, Bobby Orr, Lionel Messi, and more!

Looking for even more totally true and inspiring childhood stories? Check out Kid Athletes and Kid Olympians: Summer!

“Outstanding. . . . Inspiring and entertaining, Kid Athletes isn't just for sports fans.”—Booklist, starred review
 
“Are you a big sports fan? If you are, then you’ll love this book. . . . Kid Athletes is a very informative book, but it also teaches you that anyone (no matter who you are) can go through hardships.”—Eric and Jasmine, Kidsday reporters, Newsday

“Perfect for the adolescent set, these inspiring stories mix fun and non-fiction.”—Geeks of Doom
 
Praise for the Kid Legends series:
“Just like history class, only hilarious.”—Tim Federle, author of Better Nate Than Ever, on Kid Presidents
 
“A heartening reminder that 17 unconventional greats—not to mention all the rest—started out as children too.”—Kirkus Reviews, on Kid Artists

“With cartoonish illustrations that will attract fans of Jeff Kinney’s The Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Rachel Renée Russell’s The Dork Diaries, this informative offering leaves no presidential childhood rock unturned.”—School Library Journal, on Kid Presidents

“Impressively diverse.”—Booklist, on Kid Artists
 
“Filled with cute illustrations. . . [and] mini-biographies that are interesting, funny, and, most importantly, relevant to kids today.”—Geek Dad, on Kid Scientists

“I can think of no better way to convey to children that their heroes were once just like them.”—Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star, on Kid Scientists

“Memorably weird childhood moments. . . are likely to stick with readers, as will Horner’s impish cartoons.”—Publishers Weekly, on Kid Artists
 
“A funny and inspiring book for children and adults.”—New York Journal of Books, on Kid Scientists