How to Train with a T. Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals [Hardcover]

Michael Phelps (Author), Alan Abrahamson (Author), Ward Jenkins (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2, 2009 | Age Level: 4 and up

What does it take to win eight gold medals?

Napping away three summer vacations?

Eating enough broccoli to fill the back of a pickup truck?

Swimming the length of the Great Wall of China three times?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–4—A champion at the 2008 Beijing Olympics explains the training schedule that allowed him to accomplish the first-of-its-kind feat of winning eight Olympic gold medals. Comparisons are made that put miles swum, naps taken, calories eaten, weights lifted, etc., into a context that youngsters might more easily understand. For example, his six years of training (from 1998 to 2003) are described as "a kindergartner's whole life!" or "the same as 42 dog years!" Digitally rendered artwork humorously depicts the action, making the book visually appealing. The author states, "I got so strong from training that my legs could press 300 pounds 60 times in one workout. That's 18,000 pounds total, or nine tons! I could leg-press a Tyrannosaurus Rex and 10 velociraptors!" The illustration shows the smaller dinosaurs piled atop a T. rex on a platform while Phelps lifts them all with a leg-press machine. (However, the picture doesn't explain that he couldn't really lift that amount of weight all at once.) Providing an overview of an Olympian's rigorous preparations, this picture book may be useful for parents or coaches attempting to inspire children.—Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Michael Phelps is an American swimmer.  He holds the record for winning the most gold medals (8) in a single Olympics (2008).  He has won 16 Olympic medals, 14 gold and two bronze.  He holds seven world records and has over 20 World Championship medals. After returning home from Beijing in 2008, Michael used the well-publicized $1 million dollar Speedo bonus to start the Michael Phelps Foundation through which he hopes to encourage children to lead healthy, active lives, and to continue to grow the sport of swimming.  He now resides in Baltimore, MD with his dog Herman.

Ward Jenkins is an illustrator and animator. His first picture book was How to Train with a T-Rex and Win Eight Gold Medals by Michael Phelps. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife and two children.

Alan Abrahamson is an award-winning sportswriter and a recognized authority on the Olympics. In 2006, he left the Los Angeles Times, where he had been a staff writer for 17 years, to write for the NBC suite of online properties, which now includes NBCOlympics.com, NBCSports.com and UniversalSports.com. Since 2003, Alan has also served as a sports and Olympic analyst on NBC's television networks. Among other honors, Alan won the 2002 National Headliner Award for sports writing and was named the Los Angeles Press Club's 2004 sports journalist of the year. Alan and his wife, Laura, and their three children live in Southern California.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (June 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416986693
• ISBN-13: 978-1416986690
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 11.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #774,696 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > Children's Books > Sports & Games > Sports > Olympics

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phelps is an excellent role model and a real American hero!, June 17, 2009

By 

PhelpsFan (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Train with a T. Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals (Hardcover)

This book is great! My son is a huge fan of Michael Phelps, and this is a wonderful book that explains how hard Phelps had to work to win 8 gold metals. This book does a fantastic job of presenting math and numbers to kids. Phelps presents the information in a fun and informative way, ensuring kids can relate to the facts, and can see real world applications for math. My son and I met Phelps during his book signing tour back in December, ("No Limits: The Will to Succeed") and the way Phelps treated my son and all the other kids proved that he is an excellent role model and a real American hero. I am pleased that he wrote this children's book, giving fans of all ages the chance to appreciate what a superstar he truly is.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Picture Perfect, July 7, 2009

By 

FrothyFroth "FrothFrothy" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to Train with a T. Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals (Hardcover)

Ward Jenkins illustrations in this book are of superior quality. And you learn a little about Michael and Herman too!

How to Train with a T. Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Train with a T. Rex, August 24, 2009

By 

J. Barnes (Portsmouth, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Train with a T. Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals (Hardcover)

Students of all ages know the name Michael Phelps. Very informative and kid friendly explantions of what it took for Michael Phelps to win 8 gold medals.