So You Want To Be A Professional Athlete (So You Want To Be A...)

"So You Want to Be a Professional Athlete, by Linda Soules, pulls back the curtain on a job kids usually meet through highlights. Part of a wider 'what you might become' series for curious tweens, it takes ambition seriously and still refuses to sell the path as simple or painless.

If you have ever sat beside a child who thinks pros mostly 'play,' this is the reality check you needed. Soules maps the hidden ninety percent: recovery, nutrition, film, travel, and mental training next to the grunt work in the gym. She does not soft-pedal injury, public failure, or how strange life feels when the sport stops being your whole address. Moments like Derek Redmond's finish with his father land hard, and the margin between medal and fourth still stings in a good way. She nudges kids toward multi-sport curiosity, loving movement, and losing with honest questions. It feels like straight talk from someone who respects your intelligence.

The prose is clear and reads well at the kitchen table, with short sentences that steady the talk when sleep, anxiety, or money show up. The weave of science, career craft, and biography suits curious browsers more than kids who want one unbroken story. Now and then the detail stack runs deep. Through it all the voice stays respectful and never talks down.

For parents raising a practice-obsessed ten- or twelve-year-old, this guide is a strong shelf mate: honest about cost, generous with dignity, and clear that 'professional' begins long before anyone in the stands knows your name."

So You Want To Be A Professional Athlete by Linda Soules is a well-written book that will inspire children aspiring to be athletes with the necessary information about what the profession entails. Linda begins by describing who a professional athlete is and what they do outside of the field, court, or track. The bulk of a professional athlete's job is built on routines that train their body to do what the human body won't ordinarily do. These routines include physical maintenance, such as proper sleep, eating with the precision of a scientist to enhance performance and recovery, training, and more. Linda further shares what a day in the life of a professional athlete is like, starting from 6:30 AM, while also highlighting the most important qualities of a professional athlete.

I enjoyed every aspect of this book from start to finish because it was both informative and educational. While it is good for children to dream big about becoming professional athletes, it is also important that they understand the reality of achieving success in any competition, which Linda brilliantly discusses in this book. I was inspired by the stories of famous professional athletes, some of whom I got to know from this book. The fun facts, colorful pages, and brilliant illustrations make reading more engaging for children. The writing is concise, well-paced, and organized. Themes featured include fitness, hard work, and teamwork, among others. I recommend So You Want To Be A Professional Athlete by Linda Soules to all young readers, sports fans, and anyone aspiring to become a professional athlete.

"So You Want To Be A Professional Athlete by Linda Soules is a smart and encouraging nonfiction guide for kids who dream about playing sports at the highest level. Instead of focusing only on fame, trophies, and big game moments, this book shows what being a professional athlete really looks like behind the scenes. Soules makes it clear that talent matters, but it is only the beginning. The real work comes through practice, discipline, training, recovery, and learning how to handle pressure.

One of the best parts of this children's book is how honest it is without being discouraging. Young readers learn about strength training, nutrition, sleep, film study, mental toughness, and the team of coaches, trainers, nutritionists, and sports psychologists who help athletes perform their best. The book also explains the less glamorous parts of the job, like injuries, early mornings, strict routines, public failure, and the fact that an athletic career does not last forever. That honesty makes the book feel useful, especially for kids who may think professional athletes mostly just show up and play.

The writing is clear, casual, and easy for kids to follow, while still treating them like serious readers. Soules doesn't talk down to her audience, and she gives enough detail to make the world of elite sports feel real. The colorful illustrations, fun facts, real athlete stories, glossary, and 'day in the life' sections help keep the book engaging. Some parts are packed with information, so it may appeal most to curious readers who enjoy learning how things work, but sports-loving kids will find plenty here to keep their attention. I also liked how it mentions that 'The mental dimension is as demanding as the physical.' I don't think many children's book go into this aspect enough, and I was happy to see this book tackle that side of sports.

So You Want To Be A Professional Athlete is a great choice for young athletes, sports fans, families, teachers, and coaches. It gives kids a realistic look at the hard work behind greatness while still encouraging them to dream big. More than anything, it shows that being 'professional' starts long before the crowd cheers your name, it starts with the choices you make when no one is watching."

"Informative and short read about what a career as a professional athlete actually looks like. The author shows all aspects of the life of an athlete and encourages curious kids to try for themselves."

"At some point over the last year I’ve heard my son and his friends say they want to be a professional athlete. They all think it’s just going to practice and playing a few games – seems very glamorous to them. This book helped my son understand the mental toughness needed to be a professional athlete. I loved that it broke down a day in the life of an athlete and highlighted the tough parts of the job in addition to the fun parts. I also appreciated the variety of genders and races in the illustrations."

"A wonderful read for kids who want to be great in athletics. I love the illustrations in this book. They're very detailed and make sure to drive home a lot of the most important themes. This book goes from the first thought you have about becoming a professional, during, and even after becoming a professional athlete. It covers how you have to train your body, nutrition, the absolute whole hearted dedication, and even the whole team you have that is dedicated to you and your body during your career. It also makes sure to talk about how important it is to be a part of a team that understands what your life is like and even how so many lessons translate to jobs later in life."

"Great book for young athletes! It shows that becoming a professional athlete takes hard work, discipline, and dedication—not just talent. The examples and visuals make it engaging and inspiring. Highly recommend!"

"This was a very well written book outlining the dedication and hard work involved becoming an athlete."

"This is a great book to introduce all the aspects of a professional athlete's world to an aspiring athlete. It explains and sheds light on the behind the scenes requirements that are hidden from public view... While everyone sees how fun the competition is, few understand what all goes into being a professional athlete."

"It's hard work! Not just for the body but mentally too. I loved that this book mentions flow state... It's effortless and the world around me disappears... I think that's really important when finding your passion in life."

"A fantastic read for aspiring young athletes! This book emphasizes that success in professional sports stems from commitment, perseverance, and discipline—not simply talent. The real-life examples and eye-catching visuals keep readers motivated and engaged throughout. I loved it!"

"Very informative yet quick book. This book does a great job at realistically depicting how becoming a professional athlete takes a lot of hard work and dedication, not just talent. The book was interesting and motivating, and it made me understand how important practice, teamwork, and never giving up are if you want to achieve your goals. I feel this would be great for high school student who are considering colleges geared towards athletics."

"Linda Soules has developed another book in the 'So You Want To Be A…' series! In this edition, she delves into the world of professional sports. A competitive and cut-throat occupation in the real world, children often only see the romanticized series of events as the ball swishes through the net, the runner slices through the ribbon with their final strides, or the Olympian swimmer receives their first gold medal. Soules explains, with kindness and encouragement, the training, diet, and recovery each of these athletes must focus on to optimize success, even when they don’t always win first place. This book is perfect for the middle school athlete in your life, and it encourages the dedication and reality check required for such a competitive career goal."

"It gives detailed information about everything involved in becoming and being an athlete. It goes through what is expected to become an athlete, what tools are needed for the sport, and how to maintain. My son enjoyed it as well because it helped him to better understand sports and what he needs to do to strive to accomplish being an athlete for school as well as in the future."

"This book taught me how much training goes on behind the scenes. I had no idea how much sleep and diet affected the athlete’s ability. This book had great fun facts and was rather inspiring."

"I found every aspect of this book to be helpful and interesting. The information was factual and intriguing. The pictures were colorful and enticing. The most important qualities were inspirational. The glossary, authors note, about this series filled in all the gaps to the questions I had. I read this to my children who are on the verge of getting into competitive sports more seriously and they enjoyed it too."

"What a great and informative read. For me especially as a professional athlete, I identify with the message of the book and would love for all kids to read. Very resourceful and speaks on knowledge that can be understood by young ages."

"This book is for young readers, ages 10 to 14, who have been told they have a talent in a certain sport and have the desire to go into being a professional athlete. However, everyone at this early level has talent. What separates those who actually make it as an athlete from those who don’t isn’t about the flashy scenarios that get them on the local news, but what makes them stand out is what they do in their prep time, before they even step foot on the field. The talent gets them in the door, but the dedication to training and preparation is what allows them to stay. This book takes the young reader inside one of the most competitive and demanding arenas on earth – not being signed by a major team, but the real work that is involved. Not only are there years of training and personal sacrifice, but also developing your mind and the discipline it takes for your body to prepare you to be able to perform consistently at that higher level. You not only work on things yourself, but you have a team of coaches, trainers, nutritionist, sports psychologist, and teammates that working careful coordination with you to help you maintain success. This book takes the young reader into the locker room and shows them exactly what goes on there. Being physically, gifted at something isn’t enough at the professional level – the athlete must train to be able to peek at just the right moment, work with the sports dietitian to make sure they have the proper diet in order to perform at the highest level, learn mental strategies to help them manage pressure, failure, and the constant scrutiny that comes at the professional level, plus, they must also have a certain level of intelligence to bring to the competition as well. This book breaks down all aspects of a pro athlete, life, and the sports science behind how to be an elite performer – bio mechanics, nutrition, sleep, and what it takes to make sure you can perform always at your highest level. There are real life, examples and eye-catching visuals to help the young reader, staying engaged and motivated. As a former teacher, I would definitely recommend this to my student athletes."

"I really enjoyed reading 'So You Want to Be a Professional Athlete' by Linda Soules. It was an easy and fun book to read, but it also had a lot of useful information in it. The book explains what it really takes to become a professional athlete, not just the exciting parts people usually think about. It talks about hard work, practice, dedication, and how important it is to stay focused both in sports and in school. I liked that the author didn’t make becoming a pro athlete sound easy, but she still made it feel possible for kids who are willing to work hard.

One thing I liked most was how the book was written in a way kids can actually understand and enjoy. It keeps your attention and doesn’t feel boring or too serious. I read this book with my kids, and we had a lot of good conversations while reading it together. My kids especially liked learning about the different paths athletes take and the sacrifices they make to reach their goals. It inspired them to think more about teamwork, responsibility, and following their dreams.

Like most of Linda Soules’ books, this one is a great read for kids. She has a way of teaching important lessons while still making the book entertaining. I would definitely recommend this book to families, teachers, and young readers who love sports or dream about becoming athletes someday. It’s encouraging, informative, and enjoyable from beginning to end."

"This was an excellent book. The focus is on the important life skills a professional athlete needs rather than on winning and glory. Children who read this can gain a realistic sense of the amount of work it takes to be professional, and even apply it to other work when they are older."

"I loved this book! I have a daughter who plays elite soccer, so a lot of the things in this book hit home. Good information about the behind the scenes...the work that really goes into what makes an exceptional athlete. A good read for anyone seriously playing a sport."

"Another great addition to the "So You Want To Be..." series! As a school teacher, I cannot tell you the number of students in elementary school the aspire to be a professional athlete when they grow up and this book does an amazing job of explaining in kid friendly vocabulary what it means to be and what it takes to be a professional athlete. I think this book is especially important for kids wanting to be a professional athlete to read because, like others in the series, it goes through what it means to be a professional athlete, where they work, tools they use, and the best and hardest parts of this job, but what I think kids need to hear is that it is not just about going out and playing the sport they enjoy, it takes a lot of hard work both physically and mentally. Too often I have students that think it is just practice some, show up, play and then you get paid, but it truly is a job that takes a great deal of work and perseverance. This book does a wonderful job of making sure kids understand that as they go forward towards wanting to be a professional athlete. I would recommend this book to anyone and would happily include it in my own classroom."

"Great read for kids that are trying to decide what they want to do with their future. The book is broken down into every aspect in the life of a pro-athlete and even goes over some terms and challenges that readers might not think of in the beginning!"

"I have now read a few in this series and my goal is to read them all. This is a great overview of what it really takes to become a professional athlete. I think as a parent this is a great read because it helps provide grounded input on what the chances are and how much work it takes. This also gives readers an overview of the qualities and attributes than many professionals have. Like the other books in this series I think the best place for this is in a classroom and guidance counselor office. This book could be read for all ages but really is around middle school aged readership."

"As a first-grade teacher, I am always looking for books that help children connect their interests to future possibilities, and So You Want to Be a Professional Athlete by Linda Soules does exactly that.

Many of my students dream about becoming professional athletes, but they often only see the exciting parts; the trophies, fame, and big games. This book does a wonderful job of showing the dedication, hard work, and perseverance that happen behind the scenes. It opens the door for meaningful conversations about setting goals, practicing skills, and learning from challenges.

What I appreciated most was how approachable and engaging the information was for young readers. The writing keeps students interested while introducing them to the realities of a career in sports. It encourages children to think beyond simply playing a game and helps them understand the commitment required to reach that level.

I also love that the book promotes important life skills such as determination, discipline, teamwork, and resilience; qualities that are valuable whether a child becomes a professional athlete or chooses a completely different path. Several of my students would easily see themselves reflected in these pages, which makes the book both inspiring and relatable.

Linda Soules has created another excellent career exploration book that sparks curiosity and motivates young readers to dream big while understanding the effort needed to achieve those dreams. This is a great addition to any classroom, school library, or home collection for children who love sports and are beginning to think about their future."

"One thing that stuck out to me is rather than only highlighting the fame and success that comes alone, Soules explains the hard work that happens behind the scenes. That includes the long hours of practice, physical conditioning, overcoming setbacks, and the mental aspect of it all. It helps give us a better understanding that talent alone is not enough to succeed in professional sports.

Overall, I find the book is an excellent resource for sports enthusiasts of all ages, especially the younger generation. She gave insight on the challenges and rewards of being a professional athlete. It explores what it really takes to be a professional athlete, focusing on dedication, training, discipline, and mental toughness required to achieve and maintain that status."

"Got this for my 9 year old who wants to play in the MLB. It was enlightening for both of us to really learn all that goes into being a professional athlete. The book did a great job of highlighting the fun aspects but also pushed the facts of hard work and the behind the scenes stuff that you don't see or hear about regarding professional sports. It also mentioned things that would be helpful to know such as business knowledge for contracts, which my 9 year old was not expecting."

"'Talent gets you to the starting line. Discipline gets you to the finish.' Wow! This book is a great introduction to the dedication necessary to become a professional athlete. It goes into every part of the cycle, even recovery and mental health. I love that the imagery is so female-focused! Professional athletes aren't just men after all! I'm also glad the book included a real life example of a career ending injury, which is a serious risk of this profession. As always, the day in the life portions of this series are incredibly valuable!"

"This is a fantastic book for kids who dream of becoming professional athletes! It does a great job explaining the hard work, dedication, training, and perseverance it takes to succeed in sports. The information is engaging, easy to understand, and inspiring, making it a great read for young readers who love athletics. Highly recommended for future champions!"

"A very good, thoughtful overview of everything one would need to become a trained athlete. Taught me a few things even I didn’t know or think about. 5 stars!!!"

"So You Want To Be a Professional Athlete is a a book for children aged 10 to 14. It educates children about training outside of the field to normal. It informs them that they not only have to train, sleep, have a good nutrition but have good recovery for them to be able to have good muscle strength, energy and maximum performance well as athletes. It gives a small description of what to except in the everyday life of an athlete. This book can inspire children who would love to become professional athletes and people who are sports fans. I recommend this book to sports lovers."

"This book is good for any child or teen who aspires to be an athlete. It is very informative but written well enough that even a younger child 7-8 could follow it. I love that it talks about the physical demands that come along with being an athlete. I will definitely be buying this book for the aspiring athletes in my life as well as recommending it to other parents."

"This book clearly and concisely explains all that is needed to pursue the dream of becoming a pro athlete. A quick and highly educational read that would help a young athlete determine if they have what it takes to pursue a pro career, not just chase a dream."

"My kids love these books. My son especially loved this one as a soccer fan. Great pictures and lots of information. The fun facts were helpful. Very educational and entertaining."

"This is a great book for kids who are interested in sports and may want to pursue an athletic career. The behind the scenes work, determination, and conditioning is something kids don't always get to see."

"I wish I would have had this book when my sons were younger. It does a great job explaining what it takes to be a professional athlete. It talks about the training including mind and body. It talks about healthy food choices and sleeping habits. It also talks about injury and recovery. It does this in an easy simple way that young children can understand. The pictures were also very detailed."

"Adorable! This book was so thoughtful, insightful, and an easy read. I thought that the author wrote this in the perfect way for children, giving them realistic expectations of what it takes to become a professional athlete while also encouraging them to not give up, to pursue their dreams, and ways that they can start doing it now as young kids. It was really sweet that she provided examples of different athletes that overcame obstacles, either physical or mental, and how successful they were still able to be. For parents who have kiddos interested in sports I would say this is the perfect book for them!"

"Love this series—so much info but also a great book for the kid that’s driven and considering their future already."

"Being an athlete is not only about competing and giving your best, but also about having discipline, consistency, a positive mindset, and taking care of preparation and rest. This book teaches that sports success requires effort, perseverance, and daily dedication.

It is an excellent read for young people who want to become athletes because it shows the path to achieving their goals, behind every successful athlete there are many hours of practice preparation, sacrifice and teamwork.

My favorite quote from the book is talent gets you to the starting line; discipline gets you to the finish.

This book also shows that becoming a great athlete is a journey that requires patience, commitment, and learning from challenges. It explains that every experience, whether good or difficult, helps athletes grow and become stronger.

It reminds us that believing in ourselves, staying focused, and never giving up are important parts of reaching our dreams the lessons shared in this book can inspire young athletes to continue working hard and understand that success is built step by step through determination and passion."

"Another great book offering real insight into the life if a professional athlete. It is not all glitz and glamour, and this touches on the vigorous aspects of training, nutrition, injuries and more."

"As a mother of a son who wants to be a professional soccer player… this book really opened his eyes to what all goes into playing sports professionally. The good times and the bad times! Very good read!"

"I found this book on what it takes to become a professional athlete inspiring and enlightening. The author shares the behind the scenes importance of taking care of your mind, body, and sleep, the level of dedication it requires, and even several soft skills that are useful in a professional athlete's life. I would recommend this book to any young person interested in learning what it takes to become a professional athlete."

"This book gives an engaging look at what it really takes to become a professional athlete. I enjoyed learning about the dedication, discipline, training, and commitment required both on and off the field. It’s an encouraging read that helps readers understand that being a professional athlete is about much more than simply playing a sport. A great choice for anyone interested in sports or curious about what happens behind the scenes."

"This book takes the idea of being a professional athlete and puts it in perspective in a way that kids that dream of being famous can understand. Right away, the books talks about what it actually means to be a 'professional athlete' and not just the big-time goal or the fame that is shown on tv.

It talks about what it actually looks like day in and day out in a matter of fact way. I enjoyed this read (especially because my son is in this stage) and feel like he is going to enjoy learning a little more 'behind the scenes' of what it is like for some of his favorite players!"

"I loved that it not only told you what a professional athlete does but how they got to where they are. It's more than just 'born to be an athlete.' This book explains the time, the work and the recovery aspects. Great read for any athlete wanting to get somewhere in their career."

"As a 5th grade teacher who absolutely loves the So You Want To Be A... series, this book is no exception. Instead of focusing solely on the glitz and glamor, it gives students an honest look at the discipline, nutrition science, and mental toughness needed to perform at an elite level. It offers kids a reality check while still inspiring them to pursue their biggest dreams with dedication."

"This is a great motivator but also realistic view of what life is like for a professional athlete. It talks about the behind the scenes- the strict diet, the hours of working out. I liked when it said 'professional doesn’t mean famous; it means your body is an instrument.' This is an eye opener for the kids who see athletes on TV and think it is just fame and fortune. I appreciate the child friendly language and illustrations as well."

"This book is a great asset for young readers to help them gain an understanding of what the life of a professional athlete is actually like.

Breaking down the different aspects of the daily life of a pro athlete helps children understand that it’s not just playing a game. This book covered the discipline it takes, how nutrition plays a key role, rest, resilience, practice, etc.

Probably the most shocking thing for children is the fact that it states how pros get paid more for not playing than they actually do playing or competing (just in the time standards of course).

This book is a great guide for any child looking to push forward into any sport to always give it their best because if they have the passion for it and want to continue on in life it’s better to have this understanding at a young age."

"This book is easy for children to understand. It's simple, clean, and colorful. Even though I don't want to be an athlete, the habits this book talk about could be used in any aspect of life.

I love how they highlight some of the most well known athletes, and not just their successes. The book talks about Biles when she pulled out of competition when she felt herself failing. It's true that these people do what they love, but it's also more than that. Most of these athletes turn their love for sports into camps and scholarships for children.

I highly recommend this book for children who love to play. One of these days it could be your child being written about for both their athleticism and their humanity."

"For many years, a public-service announcement from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has aired during televised college games. The tagline goes something like this: 'Most college athletes will go pro in something other than sports.' Only about 2 percent of the young men and women competing in college sports will be professionals in their chosen game.

So if you or your young athlete ages 10 to 14 dreams of becoming a pro athlete, this exhaustively researched Linda Soules book is for you. She founded the 'So You Want To Be A…' series, and this book won a Literary Titan Book Award.

Adults, I’m going to take a page from Soules and aim this review at the athlete.

A great feature of Soules' series is its commitment to truth and its refusal to ever talk down to children. By design, Soules’ books are relevant and readable for youngsters all the way through high school.

Soules gives the pros and cons of being a professional athlete. For instance, most of the work of a pro is done in getting ready for the game. The game itself takes up about 10 percent of the athlete’s time. The rest is preparing your instrument physically and mentally.

The instrument is the body. The book says you have to eat right and get a lot of rest. Nine or 10 hours of sleep a night is ideal.

Examining Linda’s day in the life a pro athlete left me intimidated. But our author is right. Pro sports are not for the faint of heart. She writes that the hardest part of the job is injury. It is vital that you follow orders from the doctor and health professionals. Recovery is up to you and is your most valuable skill.

If you want to be a pro, act like one now. Soules says your most important attributes are professionalism as a daily practice, body intelligence (know your body), a trained mind (manage anxiety), public responsibility (show people your own discipline and character), and the wisdom to adapt.

Soules writes briefly about four exemplary professionals: Serena Williams (tennis), Bo Jackson (football, baseball), Babe Didrikson Zaharias (multiple sports), and Simone Biles (gymnastics).

You will enjoy the fun facts, but I think the most valuable part of the book is titled 'What you do to prepare right now.' She says move every day, try multiple sports, take care of body, and more.

Soules lists questions a pro athlete should ask, she features a complete glossary, and references. I have a hunch that if you young athletes are really serious about becoming a pro, you will not only read this book but many of the references Linda Soules used to write it."

"Love this entire series. While reading this book I really noted the amazing illustrations. They're realistic and beautiful. And I also appreciate the diversity in these books - so important! The author does a great job laying a foundation for the job I question and includes a day in the life, glossary of terms, co-workers, skills needed for this job and some you'd be surprised to need. Also included is what to do next and helpful resources. While I don't want to be professional athlete - I appreciate the career much more now."

"Written for ages 10-14, this book does a credible job of describing all of the aspects of becoming a professional athlete. Readers are encouraged to consider the many hours of unseen work that go into the success that elite athletes achieve. The author discusses details that most young readers would not have considered, from the amount of sleep required, diet, and mental health, to name a few. Give this book to a child who dreams of athletic stardom so they can have a more realistic picture of what it takes to achieve their goals."

"I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read. The read was quick, but with lots of great information. I believe this is a great book for aspiring professional athletes and athletic trainers to read. The book makes it clear that talent alone will not get you there. Discipline is absolutely necessary. The training of the mind is just as important as the body. Professional athletes spend 90% of their time training, eating healthy, resting about 9-10 hours, studying their moves, as well as the moves of their competition, strengthening their minds to perform 10% of the time. It makes a wonderful point that when your career as a professional athlete is over, the discipline you have acquired stays with you through your lifetime."

"This is a great short story about the 'the behind the scenes' being an athlete. It puts in perspective the dedication it takes to be a professional athlete. And how it looks easy but is incredibly hard and requires lots of sacrifices."

"I enjoyed reading this because it showed that becoming a professional athlete is about more than just being naturally talented or good at a sport. There is a lot of work that happens behind the scenes, from training and nutrition to recovery, mental preparation and learning how to handle pressure.

I also liked the part about having a typical day as an athlete because it showed how much time and discipline goes into preparing for competition. The sections about teamwork, dealing with mistakes and taking care of your body were also good reminders that the small things matter too.

Overall, I think this is a good read for someone who is interested in becoming a professional athlete because it gives a more realistic idea of what the job is actually like and the commitment it takes to get there."

"Such an inspiring and engaging children’s book that introduces kids to the exciting world of professional sports. It points out the importance of dedication, practice, perseverance, teamwork, and maintaining a good attitude valuable lessons that apply both on and off the fields. The book’s greatest strengths is its ability to encourage children to dream big while also showing that success requires effort and commitment. The message is uplifting and motivating, making it a wonderful choice for young athletes or any child who enjoys sports and learning about future careers."

"This was a great short read for kids who want to be professional athletes. I really liked that it goes beyond just being good at a sport and explains what it actually takes to reach that level. It focuses on the hard work, dedication, discipline, and choices that have to happen to become not just an athlete, but a professional athlete. A good read for young sport enthusiasts who have big goals and want a better understanding of what becoming a professional athlete really involves."

"This is a great book for kids who want to be a professional athlete. It also is great for children who don’t. Teaching kids to take care of their bodies."

"These types of book are my favorite to read to little ones. It opens their imagination and then they start asking lots of questions. These books teach kids that they can be anything they want to be. This book talks about the different sports that kids can play, what they have to look forward to when playing sports and it helps them decide what sport and team may be their favorite and why."

"Having three kiddos in all the sports, this was super fun to read with them! The way that this explains everything in a non boring way was fantastic. This was eye opening for my oldest with learning how much 'work' it actually is to be a professional athlete. If you have sports lovers, I would highly recommend this!"

"A well thought out and set out book. Well illustrated. Written concisely and clearly for ease of understanding. Very suitable for children of older primary school age who may want more knowledge of exactly what it takes to become one. The pros, the cons & talks about health providing key facts as well as information on famous athletes. Also provides links for further reading. Schools should have the whole set in their libraries - useful information for children beginning to make life decisions."