Tupac Shakur spent much of his brief 25 years living in tough inner-city neighborhoods in New York, Maryland, and California. A pensive, artistic youth, Tupac burst onto the hip-hop scene in the early 1990s with the Oakland-based group Digital Underground

Derek Jeter, the seven-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1996 and the World Series MVP in 2000. He has helped bring four World Championships to the New York Yankees, and as Yankees captain has be

During his 16-year MLB career, Bernie Williams has helped bring four World Championships to the New York Yankees. Widely considered one of the best-hitting center fielders of all time, Williams is celebrated for being a fast and graceful fielder as well. Williams is Major League Baseball's all-time leader in postseason home runs (22) and runs batted in (80) and ranks second only to Lou Gehrig in career doubles by a Yankee with 534. And his talents go beyond the baseball field: an accomplished jazz guitarist and composer, Williams has an album, The Journey Within, and a writing contract with Paul McCartney's music publishing company under his belt. Baseball fans will be intrigued to learn about these and other fun facts in this colorful and inviting new biography of the multitalented Bernie Williams.

One of only four modern major league pitchers to strike out more than 300 batters in a year for two different teams, Curt Schilling delivered on a famous promise to help bring a world championship to the Boston Red Sox in 2004. Pitching on a mangled and bloody ankle, he fought through the pain to win crucial games in that postseason against the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals. In 2001, he also helped lead the then-four-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks to the team's one-and-only world championship. Off the mound, this father of four is an outspoken political voice, a dynamic business owner, and a generous volunteer of his time and money, benefiting charitable causes such as ALS and melanoma research, among others. In Curt Schilling, find out how this right-hander delivers success on and off the field.

Presents the life and military exploits of the famous Carthaginian general.

Contemporary biography of Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers Cy Young Award winner and ace baseball pitcher. Robbie Reader Contemporary Biographies are up-to-date, well written, and colorful. Series titles include people in the news from sports, entertainment, movies, and music. Students read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension and read on-level text with purpose and understanding. Series titles have been developed to address many of the Common Core specific goals, higher level thinking skills, and progressive learning strategies for upper elementary level students.

Russell Westbrook grew up loving the game of basketball. But he never imagined that he would actually play professionally. But his hard work and determination made it possible. As a young boy, he would practice the sport for hours at a time. As a high school freshman, he would play among the seniors on his team. His natural talent and his drive to succeed led him to play as a freshman on his college team as well. Two years later, he decided to enter the NBA draft—and his life would never be the same.

J.J. Watt is one of the most remarkable players to ever play in the NFL. He makes big plays in almost every game for the Houston Texans, winning new fans as he goes. He is rewriting the record books for many defensive statistics, but he has shown he can be deadly on offense as well, catching several touchdown passes in 2014. He is a generous and friendly giant off the field, donating money through his J.J. Watt Foundation to many middle schools in Wisconsin and Texas. And he is a bone-crushing monster on the field, striking fear in the hearts of his opponents. His motto is to "Dream Big, Work Hard" and he has done both. Watt inspires others to follow their own big dreams through hard work.

A biography of the football player, raised in a small town in Wisconsin, whose checkered career has nevertheless resulted in a position as the Dallas Cowbows quarterback.

Presents the life and accomplishments of the leader who founded and governed Maryland, and protected the religious freedom of the residents during a time when religious differences caused much tension and violence.