CHALLENGE AT SECOND BASE Stan Martin's chances of playing second base seem next to zero at the start of the season. His rival for the position, Gary Newman, looks tough to beat. Stan loves baseball-maybe even more than his brother, Phil, who played pro ball until quitting suddenly the year before-but after experiencing a few setbacks, Stan is tempted to quit too. Then Stan receives a mysterious note telling him to stick it out-and soon Stan finds himself face-to-face with the challenge at second base.

Twelve-year-old Danny thinks that there is something very familiar about the girl who plays shortstop on the team he faces during the championship series, and his curiosity leads him to a surprising discovery about his own adoption.

Chico, a native of Puerto Rico and an excellent swimmer, joins the Royals baseball team but has trouble making friends with String, the most popular member of the team.

Baseball runs in David Kroft's family. His father was a good player in his day, his uncles play on professional teams, and David's older brother, Don, is the best short-stop in the history of Penwood High School.

Shortstop Sandy makes the error of not telling fellow players why he leaves ballgames early and alienates them further by excluding them from his friendship with an older boy.

Travel to deep space and back again with The Mars Challenge, a nonfiction graphic novel for teens about the science and logistics of a manned mission to Mars. Nadia is a teen with a dream: to be the first woman on Mars. But to get there, she's got to learn all she can about the science of spaceflight. It's a good thing her friend Eleanor is an Attitude Determination and Control Officer—basically, she pilots the International Space Station! Eleanor takes Nadia on a conceptual journey through an entire crewed mission to Mars, and explains every challenge that must be overcome along the way; from escaping Earth's gravity well, to keeping the crew healthy as they travel through deep space, to setting up a Mars base, to having enough fuel for the trip home! In The Mars Challenge, writer Benjamin A. Wilgus and artist Wyeth Yates bring the reader on a thrilling interplanetary voyage and clearly illustrate the scientific concepts and complex machinery involved. Humans can reach Mars in our lifetime—this book explains how it can be done.

Book Features: • Ages 5-8, Grades K-3, Guided Reading Level J, Lexile 390L • 32 pages, 6 inches x 9 inches • Early reader chapter book • Large type with full-color illustrations • Glossary, post-reading activity, and discussion questions included Good Sportsmanship in Action: Diego Chase, Second Base engages kids with a fun story about baseball. Diego is on the baseball team, but he has trouble paying attention during games. With the help of a teammate, he learns to keep his eye on the ball. Entertaining and Educational: This 32-page chapter book features an engaging story about friendship. It includes an activity-based picture glossary, post-reading discussion questions, and a fun extension activity to encourage reading comprehension. Beginning Readers: This beginner level chapter book features high-frequency words, basic sentences, an engaging baseball story, and colorful illustrations to help kindergarteners through third graders build reading fluency and confidence. Sports Books For Kids: Part of the Good Sports series, this book will help your kid learn about what it means to show good sportsmanship and be a true team player. Children are sure to be entertained throughout this captivating and humorous story. Why Rourke Educational Media: Since 1980, Rourke Publishing Company has specialized in publishing engaging and diverse non-fiction and fiction books for children in a wide range of subjects that support reading success on a level that has no limits.