soccer
“96 Facts About FIFA” Featured in PW!
As you’re probably aware, the FIFA World Cup is currently taking place across the US, Mexico, and Canada. And speaking of the FIFA World Cup…
My latest “96 Facts” book, 96 Facts About FIFA, was featured in a Publishers Weekly article called “World Cup 2026: Soccer-Themed Books for Young Readers,” which you can read HERE.
96 Facts About FIFA was written by yours truly and illustrated by the incomparable Risa Rodil. It’s out now from Penguin Random House. This book is filled with fun and fantastic facts about the greatest soccer stars who’ve ever lived.
Here’s the official publisher description of 96 Facts About FIFA:
The ultimate fact book and journal about the world’s premier authority on soccer and its biggest tournaments, like the World Cup. Packed with fun facts, quick quizzes, and bonus pages for journaling, this is a must-have for anyone wanting to know more about the international governing body of soccer and some of the sport’s best players, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Mia Hamm, Marta Vieira da Silva, and Pelé.
The book is available HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.
Here’s a photo of a copy of 96 Facts About FIFA in a store window in Westchester, New York, surrounded by World Cup fringe scarves (as you can see). This pic was taken by a friend of mine, Belinda Smith Fallon. And right after snapping this photo, she bought a copy of the book, because she’s awesome! Thanks, Belinda!
And to see all of the other books I’ve written for Penguin Random House (even the ones that don’t have anything to do with soccer), click HERE.
“96 Facts About the G.O.A.T. Athletes” Is Out NOW!
The ninth book in the “96 Facts” series – 96 Facts About the G.O.A.T. Athletes – came out TODAY. And as with all of the previous “96 Facts” books, 96 Facts About the G.O.A.T. Athletes was written be me and illustrated by the amazing Risa Rodil.
As I mentioned in my previous blog post, this middle-grade nonfiction book is positively packed with fun facts about the greatest athletes who’ve ever existed. (Well, SOME of them, anyway.) For instance, there are sections in the book about LeBron James, Diana Taurasi, Babe Ruth, Shohei Ohtani, Jim Brown, Travis Kelce, Cristiano Ronaldo, Megan Rapinoe, Arthur Ashe, Serena Williams, and many, many more.
Here’s the official publisher description of 96 Facts About the G.O.A.T. Athletes:
The ultimate fact book and journal for sports fans, featuring the greatest of all time (GOAT) athletes from basketball, baseball, football, soccer, and tennis!
Packed with fun facts and quick quizzes about some of the greatest athletes of all time, as well as bonus pages for journaling, this is a must-have for any sports fan.
The book is available in bookstores everywhere, as well as HERE, HERE, and HERE.
And to see all of the other books I’ve written for Penguin Random House, click HERE.
When you get a chance, you should also check out the “96 Facts About…” page of my website, because…I don’t know, sometimes I imagine that my website is sentient and lonely and craves visitors. Or something. So visit it please!
“96 Facts About the G.O.A.T. Athletes” Comes Out On Tuesday!
As you may know from some of my previous blog posts, for a little over two years now, I’ve been writing a series of middle-grade celebrity biographies called the “96 Facts” series for Penguin Random House. The first eight “96 Facts” books are all already available. And the ninth “96 Facts” book will come out on Tuesday April 8th, 2025. That book is called 96 Facts About the G.O.A.T. Athletes. And just to prevent any potential misunderstanding, “G.O.A.T.” means “Greatest of All Time.” This book is about the greatest athletes who’ve ever existed. (Well, SOME of them, anyway.) For instance, there are sections in the book about LeBron James, Shohei Ohtani, Travis Kelce, Megan Rapinoe, Serena Williams, and many, many more.
But this book is NOT about athletes who happen to be goats. As in, the farm animal. I’m sure that somewhere out there, there’s a book about sporty, athletic goats with cute little horns and a goatherd who serves as their coach. And I’m sure that book is adorable. But my book is not that book. My book is about legendary (human) athletes who’ve achieved excellence in their chosen sport. And in my book, there isn’t a goatherd in sight. (At least, I don’t think so.)
Also, like all of the previous “96 Facts” books, this one is illustrated by the super-talented Risa Rodil.
Here’s the official publisher description of 96 Facts About the G.O.A.T. Athletes:
The ultimate fact book and journal for sports fans, featuring the greatest of all time (GOAT) athletes from basketball, baseball, football, soccer, and tennis!
Packed with fun facts and quick quizzes about some of the greatest athletes of all time, as well as bonus pages for journaling, this is a must-have for any sports fan.
The book is available for preorder HERE, HERE, and HERE.
Also, to see all of the other books I’ve written for Penguin Random House, click HERE.
And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go flesh out this really great idea I just came up with for a children’s book about a bunch of athletically-gifted goats and their tough but kindhearted coach/goatherd.