Teammates (Paula Wiseman Books) [Hardcover]

Tiki Barber (Author), Ronde Barber (Author), Barry Root (Illustrator), Robert Burleigh (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 29, 2006 | Age Level: 6 and up | Series: Paula Wiseman Books

Tiki and Ronde are brothers, best friends, and teammates on the Cave Spring Vikings football team. It's the last preseason game against their arch-rival Knights -- and the football is suddenly knocked out of Tiki's grip. What gives, he thinks, I've always carried the ball this way before.

Inspired by Coach Mike, who tells Tiki, "You've gotta believe," Tiki begins secret practice sessions with Ronde in the morning on the way to school. Will it make a difference in the next big game against the Knights?

Based on the childhoods of NFL superstars Tiki and Ronde Barber, this story of determination and of confidence will inspire all who read it.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4–The Barbers, both NFL players, present a follow-up to By My Brother's Side (2004) and Game Day (2005, both S & S). When young Tiki fumbles the football in a preseason practice game, his teammates begin to question his ability as a ball carrier. Coach Mike shows him a better way to hold it and reminds him that Practice makes perfect. Ronde creates a secret Morning Practice Club so his twin can perfect his technique during tackles. When the boys' team plays its archrivals, Tiki holds on to the ball in a pileup, bringing the Vikings to victory. While the text is a little long, there is enough action to keep the plot moving along. Tiki and Ronde have a warm, supportive relationship, rare in tales featuring siblings. Root's watercolor-and-gouache full-page paintings in autumn tones, while stiff in some of the action scenes, are warm and accessible. Sports fans will welcome this addition.–Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Written by National Football League stars Tiki and Ronde Barber "with Robert Burleigh," this large-format picture book is the third installment in a series about the brothers as boys. After their team loses a game, Tiki feels bad about fumbling the ball. Their coach points out that mistakes happen less often to players who spend their practice sessions performing techniques the right way over and over, rather than just repeating their bad habits. The twins begin an early-morning practice routine that improves Tiki's ball handling, leading to an ending that is believable as well as happy. Any young sports player could benefit from the coach's good advice, but the Barbers' subsequent successes may give it added weight in the minds of football fans. Best of all, the story shows one brother quietly supporting the other in a practical way. Warmed with autumn golds, Root's vibrant watercolor-and-gouache paintings kick the story over the goalposts. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (August 29, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416924892
• ISBN-13: 978-1416924890
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #819,729 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great little read :-), October 17, 2006

By 

Little Miss Cutey (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Teammates (Paula Wiseman Books) (Hardcover)

I reviewed Game Day earlier in the year after buying it for my nephew and both he and I (yes I admit it) loved it. Full of great pictures and a nice message, this is similar to Game Day in that respect.

Both Tiki and Ronde have written this together (it's also going to be their last book in this series). It's about learning how to be a team, which these days (after seeing kids and parents brawl) is an important message. It's also about perserverance, and learning to rely on family. They base their stories loosely around their own childhood experiences growing up playing ball so the story is sincere. Now that they each play for the NFL (Tampa Bay and the Giants), these brothers are hero's to little kids and so their words are more inspiring and meaningful. That's a big appeal in their books.

In Teammates, they are teammates on the Cave Spring Vikings and when Tiki is upset over the way he plays a game, his coach inspires him to believe in himself. So with the help of his brother Ronde, they secretly practice each morning before school to help give Tiki's game a lift and help him hold onto the ball.

It's well written and the pictures are as good as always. It is inspirational to kids and they make it enjoyable. I really think all kids will love it and find lessons in here, and it will make an excellent birthday gift to a little one be it boy or girl.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Teammates, January 5, 2007

By 

T. Meyer "Babe in the Woods" (Dillsboro, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Teammates (Paula Wiseman Books) (Hardcover)

I have a son who hates to read, but he loves football. So this series of books has been great for him. This newest book in the series is good, but didn't seem to keep his attention as much as Game Day did. I really love the story of this book. What kid has not been on a team and felt like they were letting the team down? My boy's coach is really hard on the kids so I loved pointing out that just because someone is having trouble with a certain thing that doesn't mean they are a bad kid or a bad player. And in this book when the kid being asked to give up his position ends up being an NFL Allstar - well what better point to make. I think this will help my boy realize that what his coaches or teammates think of him at 8, 10 or even in high school doesn't always ring true. Its up to him and his efforts

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teammates, January 9, 2007

By 

P. Masnato "Amazon.com reader" (Meriden,CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Teammates (Paula Wiseman Books) (Hardcover)

Tiki and Ronde Barber share their feelings in this book about what it means to be on a team. These two professional football players are true sportsmen and give young football players someone to look up to.