Matt Tavares

A massive crowd gathers on the edge of the cliffs, staring out over the raging waters of the Niagara River. They are waiting for the Great Blondin, a daredevil who has promised to walk completely across the falls from America to Canada on a tightrope. The rope is over one thousand feet long, a mere three inches wide, and hangs one hundred and sixty feet above the dangerous rapids. Some people have come to watch him achieve a magnificent crossing, while others are convinced he will fall. When he finally steps onto the thin rope, the tension is unbelievable. You will be held completely breathless as you follow his historic real-life feat. Through incredibly detailed illustrations and a gripping narrative, you can experience the exact thrilling moments that enthralled spectators more than one hundred and fifty years ago.

Long before he became a legendary baseball icon, George Herman Ruth is just a mischievous boy running the streets of Baltimore and finding endless ways to get into trouble. When he turns seven, his father brings him to the gates of Saint Marys Industrial School for Boys, and his entire world changes. At his strict new school, George is expected to study hard and follow rigid rules. But there is one incredible benefit to his new life. Almost every single day, George gets to play baseball. Under the careful watch of Brother Matthias, you will see George evolve from a wild child into a dedicated athlete. This beautifully illustrated biography offers a rare look into the early years of the great Babe Ruth, showing how a troubled kid found his ultimate passion and never forgot the people who helped him succeed.

One bright night just before Christmas, Dasher the reindeer is out admiring the stunning colors of the northern lights. There she meets George, a gentle polar bear with a very big wish. Astounded to see that Dasher can fly, George confides that he has always dreamed of soaring through the night sky himself. Dasher wants nothing more than to share some special Christmas magic with her new friend. But when their flying lesson turns out to be a disappointing failure, even the determined reindeer wonders if she can make the bears dream come true. You will join these two friends as they learn that not all presents can be neatly packed inside a sleigh. This heartwarming holiday adventure reminds you that sometimes the greatest gift of all is simply sharing a moment of pure wonder with someone you care about.

Walking into Fenway Park for the very first time is an unforgettable experience. The vibrant grass, the roaring crowd, and the thrill of the game completely amaze young Zachary. But when his father reaches up and catches a stray foul ball, handing the prized souvenir down to him, something truly magical begins to happen. The moment Zachary grips the leather seams, the stadium stands melt away. Suddenly, he finds himself standing right on the legendary pitchers mound, wearing an official Red Sox uniform and staring down the rival New York team! As long as Zachary holds onto the special ball, his wildest baseball fantasies vividly come to life. You will step right up to the plate in this wonderfully illustrated adventure that perfectly captures the timeless magic of the ballpark and the deep bond between a father and son.

Meet the brave little doe who changed Christmas forever! Dasher is an adventurous young reindeer with a very big wish in her heart. She spends her days with her family under the hot sun in a traveling circus, but she longs for a completely different life—one where there is crisp, cold snow beneath her hooves and the bright North Star shining above her head. One day, the perfect opportunity arises, and Dasher seizes her destiny! She takes off in pursuit of the life she has always wanted to live. It is not long before her journey leads her to a nice man in a red suit with a horse-drawn sleigh—a man named Santa. Soon, with the help of a powerful Christmas wish, nothing will ever be the same. This magical origin story is full of courage, holiday cheer, and the power of following your dreams.

With only one sleep left before Christmas Eve, Dasher the reindeer simply cannot contain her excitement. Hearing the joyful sound of Christmas carols on the winter breeze and seeing the twinkling lights of a nearby city, she decides to sneak away from the North Pole for a quick visit. But as the night grows deeper and heavy snow begins to fall, Dasher suddenly realizes she is lost. The sky is so cloudy that she can no longer spot the glowing North Star to guide her safely home. You will join the brave reindeer as she searches the snowy city streets for a way back. Discover how the simple kindness of a child, a very unexpected gift, and a bright dose of Christmas spirit might just save the holiday and help Dasher guide Santas sleigh just in time.

Oliver Hall loves everything about the game of baseball. Above all, he loves the comfortable weekend ritual of helping out in his grandfathers busy sports memorabilia store, Halls Nostalgia. While dusting off old baseball cards and organizing the shelves, Oliver listens eagerly to his grandpas endless, thrilling stories about famous players and legendary games from the past. But one quiet afternoon, Oliver makes a truly startling discovery hidden among the stores treasures. It turns out that his grandfather has been keeping one very special, incredible baseball story a complete secret. His own. You will pull up a chair and listen closely as Grandpa Hall finally reveals the dramatic tale of how he almost joined the Chicago Cubs. This warmly illustrated, sepia-toned story celebrates the deep joy of Americas favorite pastime and the beautiful legacy passed down from generation to generation.

Ted Williams starts out as an ordinary kid with one extraordinary desire: he wants to hit a baseball better than anyone else in the world. To reach his ultimate goal, he swings his bat every single chance he gets. He does grueling fingertip push-ups to build his strength, eats massive amounts of food, and practices his swing until his hands blister. You will follow his relentless dedication from playing on dusty neighborhood sandlots to his legendary, unmatched .406 batting season in 1941. But Teds incredible story goes far beyond the baseball diamond. When his country needs him most, he bravely steps away from his thriving athletic career to serve as a heroic fighter pilot in two different wars. Dive into the inspiring, action-packed biography of an American hero and discover exactly what it takes to become the greatest hitter who ever lived.

Andy Oyler is the absolute shortest player on the Minneapolis Millers baseball team, and quite possibly the shortest player in the entire league. No matter how hard he swings or how fiercely he practices, he just cannot seem to get a single hit. But one fateful spring day in 1903, a sudden and massive rainstorm turns the baseball field into a giant puddle. When Andy steps up to the plate, a loud crack echoes through the stadium, but nobody can see where the ball actually went. You will cheer from the stands as you discover how a dramatic change in the weather leads to the shortest and muddiest home run in history. This charming and beautifully illustrated true story proves that even the smallest underdog can become a legendary hero when they refuse to give up.

Red and Lulu are two happy cardinals who have made their cozy nest in the branches of a particularly beautiful evergreen tree. Their beloved tree keeps them perfectly shaded during the blazing hot summer and wonderfully warm through the freezing winter. Every single year, the people who live nearby string twinkling lights on the branches and sing joyful holiday carols around it. But one cold morning, the unthinkable happens. The giant tree is cut down and hauled far away to the bustling streets of New York City, and the two devoted birds are suddenly separated. You will follow Red on a desperate and daring journey across the wintery landscape as he searches the massive, unfamiliar city for his missing companion. It will take a true holiday miracle for these two tiny birds to find each other again among the millions of twinkling city lights.

Before he pitched the Red Sox to a thrilling World Series championship, and long before he won the prestigious Cy Young Award three times, Pedro Martinez was just a young kid throwing rocks at mangoes in the Dominican Republic. Pedro loves the game of baseball more than anything else in the world, and he idolizes his older brother Ramon, who is the greatest pitcher he has ever seen. Pedro dreams of the distant day when he and his talented brother might actually play together in the major leagues. You will follow his incredible journey from the dusty fields of his hometown to the bright lights of professional baseball stadiums. This beautifully illustrated true story captures the intense dedication required to become a legendary athlete, and highlights the powerful, unbreakable bond between two brothers who pushed each other to achieve the ultimate baseball dream.

Growing up in the segregated city of Mobile, Alabama, young Henry Aaron has what seems like a completely impossible dream. He wants to be a big-league baseball player. The odds are entirely against him. He does not own a real baseball bat, he does not have a proper ball, and there is not a single Black player allowed in the major leagues. But Henry refuses to let these massive obstacles stop him from playing the game he loves. You will follow his inspiring journey from hitting bottle caps with sticks on local sandlots to earning a spot in the Negro Leagues. Through fierce determination, he eventually breaks down barriers to play his very first spring training game for the Braves. Experience the powerful true story of how a dedicated kid overcame deep prejudice to become baseballs legendary home-run king.

In 1865, a romantic dream begins to take shape across the ocean in France. Edouard Laboulaye wishes to give America a magnificent birthday gift to celebrate its upcoming centennial. Sculptor Auguste Bartholdi soon gives this grand dream the form of a beautiful lady holding a torch high to enlighten the world. Bringing this gigantic monument to life requires an army of dedicated workers. You will meet the engineers, plasterers, carpenters, and coppersmiths who hammer and shape the hundred-foot-tall statue. When the time comes to build her massive pedestal, you will see how everyday citizens, from children to immigrants, send in their pennies and nickels to fund the project. Through poetic storytelling and stunning illustrations, you can witness the incredible teamwork and shared sacrifice that created one of the most enduring symbols of freedom the world has ever known.

Long before he becomes a famous inventor and a founding father, young Benjamin Franklin is just a restless boy looking for his true calling. He desperately wants to be a sailor and explore the ocean, but his strict father refuses to allow it. Instead, his father makes him try out a long list of sensible trades. Ben tries working as a candle maker, a wood joiner, a boot closer, and a turner. Unfortunately, every single one of these practical jobs bores him completely. Curious and highly inventive, Ben would much rather spend his time reading heavy books, swimming, and flying his kites. You will follow alongside this fiercely independent thinker as he searches for a path that actually excites his brilliant mind. Discover the charming true story of how a curious boy eventually found his own brilliant way in the world.

In a time when the sky belongs entirely to birds and a few brave men, a quiet woman named Sophie Blanchard looks up and imagines something completely different. While the bustling streets of France make her incredibly nervous, she finds ultimate peace when she looks toward the clouds. When she takes her very first ride in a massive hot-air balloon, she knows she has found where she truly belongs. You will float alongside Sophie as she defies every expectation of her time to become the very first female professional balloon pilot in history. Despite fierce storms, freezing altitudes, and plenty of doubters on the ground, she bravely pilots her balloon higher than anyone thought possible. This beautifully illustrated true story invites you to soar into the sky and discover how one womans courage helped her rise above the rest of the world.

John F. Kennedy is remembered as a widely popular, incredibly charismatic president who successfully guided his nation through intense historical crises. But long before he ever stepped foot in the White House, he was just a young boy who deeply doubted his own strength. Growing up as a sickly child, John was constantly overshadowed by his robust, athletic, and highly capable older brother, Joe. When tragedy suddenly struck the family, John realized he had to push past his own lingering fears to live up to the massive expectations placed upon him. You will follow his difficult, inspiring path as he fiercely battles through physical pain and deep self-doubt to eventually lead an entire country. Woven with powerful real-life quotes, this striking biography reveals the true courage it takes to transform from an uncertain young boy into an unforgettable American leader.

As a young boy growing up in Ireland, Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore loved music. But he did not just like quiet melodies; he loved his music as loud as humanly possible! When he moved to Boston and became a dedicated bandleader, he used his booming music to keep up the spirits of tired soldiers during the brutal years of the Civil War. When the fighting finally ended, Patrick had a monumentally grand idea. He decided to create the absolute biggest, boldest, and loudest concert the entire world had ever witnessed. You will join the massive celebration as he gathers twelve booming cannons, forty ringing church bells, one thousand musicians, and ten thousand singers to perform together. Step right into the vibrant National Peace Jubilee of 1869 and experience the triumphant, booming joy of bringing a fractured nation back together through song.