New York Times bestselling authors Bill Martin Jr and Michael Sampson add an alphabetic ace to their beloved picture book collection with A Is for Athlete. This exciting and action-packed picture book combines early literacy with physical education, teaching young readers their ABCs while introducing them to a wide variety of sports played around the world. Featuring Dawn Davidson’s dynamic illustrations that convey the gender and racial diversity of athletes, A Is for Athlete is both entertaining and educational — sure to be a classroom favorite.

A Is for Athlete is also perfectly timed for the 2024 Paris Olympics, with 13 of its 17 spotlighted Olympic sports to be featured in the games.

Bill Martin Jr and Michael Sampson are highly notable authors in children’s literature, with books publicly stated as household favorites by celebrities such as Michelle Obama and the Today Show’s Carson Daly. When Bill passed in 2004, he left behind a number of unpublished manuscripts that he had co-authored with Michael Sampson. A Is for Athlete is one of these invaluable works published by Brown Books Kids, following Puppy Dog, Puppy Dog, Do You Want to Play? (Spring 2024), All Kinds of Kids (Fall 2023), Bing! Bang! Chugga! Beep! (Spring 2023), Ten Little Squirrels (Fall 2022) and Armadillo Antics (Spring 2022).

“Young readers will flip for A Is for Athlete — a fantastic mix of fun facts and high-energy illustrations.” —Michelle Meadows, Award-Winning Author of Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles

“M is for Must Read! If you’ve got a young reader interested in sports or a curious learner who wants to explore the wide world of sports, look no further. This fabulous addition to the ABC book genre will have all readers guessing the next letter and poring over the illustrations.” —Scott Riley, Award-Winning Author of The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field

“This book celebrates the spirit of competition and the effort of athletes of all kinds. Any sports fan will enjoy it, letter by letter.” —Brad Herzog, Author of G is for Gold Medal and Gold-Medal Recipient from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education

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