Customer Reviews

By My Brother's Side

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Three boys on bikes. One steep hillside. And one dare - a dangerous dare, as a young Tiki Barber finds out.

"It's a serious injury. I'm not sure he will ever play again," claims the doctor. Tiki is determined to prove him wrong.

I liked this book because it illustrates several virtues, like PATIENCE. During one looooooong hot summer, Tiki must watch his twin brother Ronde play ball while he waits for his leg to heal. And PERSEVERANCE. The twins, born premature, overcome their smaller stature to make the basketball team.

This book is filled with motivational sayings, like "Believe in yourself and others will, too." And "We have to keep working at it." Now Ronde plays for Tampa Bay and Tiki for the NY Giants, so they no longer play "side by side." But they still "Play Proud!" as their mama told them to do.

Similar to the Michael Jordan book Salt in His Shoes, this book will be inspiring to parents or children, boys or girls, athletes or spectators alike.

By My Brother Side is a wonderful story of the twin NFL superstars Ronde and Tiki Barber. The book tells a story of their childhood that illustrates the tight bond between the twins, their love for each other, sports and their determination to never give up even after a biking accident puts Tiki in a cast. This is a very inspiring book of values, and hard work. I especially like their mothers emphasis on "homework first", and her other encouraging words "you can do anything you put your mind to".

BY MY BROTHER'S SIDE is a story about the childhood of Tiki and Ronde Barber. In the book, the two brothers are playing a little rough and Tiki injures himself. He must spend the rest of the summer healing from the injury, but through all the ups and downs he can rely on his brother. In addition, their supportive mother is always encouraging them to do their best, work hard and pursue their dreams.

NFL football stars Tiki and Ronde Barber have come together to create an autobiographical tale with strong, positive messages. This is a book that will appeal to all children, not just young football fans. It is a nice addition to the body of children's fiction because it of its appeal to boys and positive male role models. The plot teaches children that even if you are not the biggest or strongest, if you work hard it is possible to make dreams into reality. In addition, Tiki's character provides a positive example of how to handle adversity; while Ronde demonstrates how to support those you care about when they experience hard times. Most importantly, BY MY BROTHER'S SIDE highlights the special love and companionship shared between siblings.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay, Children's Editor
for The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Children who have followed the careers of football greats Tiki and Ronde Barber may not know that one of the twins was almost sidelined permanently from playing while still a boy. That story is told in By My Brother's Side.

A serious leg injury has the family doctor predicting that Tiki might never play sports again, but he fails to take into account Tiki's love for the game, his positive attitude, and his devotion to his brother. Ronde's support is enormously helpful, too; he spends hours by his brother's side, recalling memorable games and talking about their heroes, which helps keep Tiki's spirits up.

After watching from the sidelines for what seems an interminable summer, Tiki rejoins Ronde for practice and gradually regains his mobility and prowess. He keps telling himself, "I can do it." And when football season starts, Tiki is again part of the team.

This book shows the importance of having a goal and moving toward it, step by step, until that goal is reached. And for every child who has been sidelined because of his size or ability, this book may be just the inspiration he needs.

[...]

Being a single, childless 47-year old man, I don't read many children's books; but `By My Brother's Side' is an inspirational story - for brothers, football fans, bicycle enthusiasts, and children alike. Written by Tonde & Riki Barber, two twin brothers who both play professional football (American-style), the book centers on Tiki's leg injury after a bike accident and his slow, aphorism-filled summer recovering with the support of his hard-working mother, the professional medical community, and his non-injured brother. The bond between the two brothers comes through in the childish dialogue, the motivating struggles and the water color art of orange skies and the frozen tundra of the football gridiron where the two brothers find their place on the field of life. Football, determination, inspiration, and twins. Highly recommended!

By My Brother's Side is about two boys that love sports but their favorite is football. Their names are Ronde and Tiki Barber. WHen Tiki was little he fell down a dirt hill on his bike and cut his knee open and the doctor said he may never be able to play sports again. Now Tiki Barber is on the New York Giants (number 21) and his brother Ronde Barber is on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (number 20). They now are professional football players.

This is a cute short story. Not much to do about football as the cover suggests. Just a short story about how two brothers spent a summer.

This is a great story about love, friendship, and determination. There are also many motivational saying throughout the book.

I bought this son for my 5 year old son and he absolutely loves it.
He asks me to read to him every night.
My son is a football lover (mom and dad aren't so much) and I have bought many football books. The biographies always end up boring him and don't offer a good story line. This book is the exact opposite. I love the relationship bewteen the brothers and I think it even makes my son love his little brother even more!

I have four boys that LOVE sports and this book is a family favorite. We are actually on our second copy, the first one was loved a little too much by our 3 year old.