Product Description

"Hut! Hut! Go long, Tiki!"

Tiki and Ronde's twelfth summer is winding down -- the nights are getting shorter and the evenings cooler. That means two things: The first day of junior high is just a few days away, and it's almost the start of football season at last. With two championships and an 8-2 season last year, Tiki and Ronde are ready to graduate from the Peewee League and hit the field as starting players for the Hidden Valley Eagles.

But junior high is a lot bigger than elementary school. The competition for starting spots is stiff, and seniority rules. If Tiki and Ronde make it past tryouts and cuts, will they get the chance to play, or will they have to spend the season watching from the bench with the other seventh graders?

Inspired by the childhood of NFL superstars Tiki and Ronde Barber, Kickoff! is a story of teamwork, perseverance, and what it takes to be a champion.Amazon.com Review
"Hut! Hut! Go long, Tiki!"

Tiki and Ronde's twelfth summer is winding down--the nights are gettingshorter and the evenings cooler. That means two things: The first day of junior high is just a few days away, and it's almost the start of footballseason at last. With two championships and an 8-2 season last year, Tiki and Ronde are ready to graduate from the Peewee League and hit the field asstarting players for the Hidden Valley Eagles.

But junior high is a lot bigger than elementary school. The competition forstarting spots is stiff, and seniority rules. If Tiki and Ronde make itpast tryouts and cuts, will they get the chance to play, or will they haveto spend the season watching from the bench with the other seventh graders?

Inspired by the childhood of NFL superstars Tiki and Ronde Barber, Kickoff! is a story of teamwork, perseverance, and what it takes tobe a champion.

Amazon.com Exclusive Q&A with NFL Superstars Tiki Barber and Ronde Barber,Authors of Kickoff!

Amazon.com: How do the lessons learned on the field benefit a player's academic life?

Tiki Barber: The structure and discipline that it takes to understand schemes and game plans are great tools that transcend the playing field and carry into the classroom.Additionally, because of the strict academic guidelines for athletes, doing well in school is often a requirement for participation.

Ronde Barber: I honestly don’t think they benefit it in a direct way. To me, playing lessons are more life lessons. What you are as a student is more a reflection of what you are willing to put into your schoolwork. And in that way I guess it correlates but only because in sports, if you’re talented enough and have enough drive, you will reap the rewards of the hard work you put into it.

Amazon.com: In Kickoff! Tiki and Ronde are faced with a tough decision: Should they stick with the team even if it means riding the bench? What advice do you have for kids who love their sport but aren’t getting a lot of playing time on the field?

Ronde: You are the only one who can control how hard you work regardless of your current amount of playing time. There may be better players on your team, but that doesn't mean you can't outwork them. It takes absolutely no talent to work hard, do your best, and be the most focused guy. Eventually we all get our opportunity.

Tiki: I would encourage them to keep their eyes on the prize. If you never stop trying then you will never fail. I would also tell them to try and differentiate themselves by developing a specific skill or to consider a different position that may suit their talents better.

Amazon.com: How important is a positive attitude to a team's success?

Tiki: A positive attitude is critical to a team’s success. There was a poster in our locker room that speaks specifically to this: "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right!" It's the belief that you can be successful that pulls you through the tough times, on the field and off.

Ronde: You only get out of anything what your mind is willing to accept is possible. The best way to gain success is to prepare for success and then see it through. So if you don't believe it is possible, chances are it won’t be.

Amazon.com:How can a player get the attention of his or her coach?

Ronde: Do the right things and take coaching well. No one, especially a coach, likes a negative attitude.

Tiki: A good way to get a coach to notice you is to volunteer to do things that other players might shy away from. For example, in football, being a special teams player is important but lacks that glory that athletes crave. By volunteering to do the grunt work, you show your coach that you have the passion to be on the field and help the team win.

Amazon.com:Growing up, what was the most important thing you learned from your coaches?

Tiki: That even though you put all of your energy into something, and still fail, don't be discouraged, because in actuality you’ve learned a valuable lesson that will help you be successful in the future.

Ronde: Well, I had lots of coaches growing up and they all had important influences on me. It would be hard to say any one is more important than another. But what sticks out to me is the idea of just playing hard. Expect adversity. And force your will on your opposition.

Amazon.com:What advice do you have for students who have a difficult time balancing school and sports?

Ronde: To me the best part of playing sports in school was that it made me organize my time in order to get everything done. Unlike regular kids, student athletes have less free time to commit to their schoolwork. So I would encourage them to schedule their day around their sport. You know when you have to be at practice, and you know when you have to be at school. The time in between you can get a lot done, so make it a routine that you can stick with.

Tiki: Make lists. It allows you to prioritize the important things in your life. When you can systematically check off the day’s tasks, you’re more able to focus on completing them.

Amazon.com:Growing up, did you ever get nervous before a game or in the classroom? How did you handle it?

Tiki: I was always nervous before every game and in the classroom, at test time for instance. I was always able to handle it by visualizing success: Playing the seAmazon.comuence of events through my head helped prepare me for what was ahead.

Ronde: Everyone feels nerves or anxiety at times. I think of it as excess energy. There is nothing you can really do to get rid of it. The best way I know how to deal with it is to make sure you are prepared to succeed. If you know you have studied enough for a test or practiced enough for a game, then you can expect to know how you will do, and in that way you can embrace those nerves and use that energy to your advantage.

Amazon.com:Kickoff! delivers the message that "players make plays, but teams win championships." How does this message apply to sports and life?

Ronde: I don’t think we can ever really accomplish anything in life by ourselves. We always have parents, friends, coaches, teachers that lift us up and help us along. In a sense, that is your team in life just as a good Amazon.comuarterback needs good receivers to help him or a good running back needs a good offensive line. Only together can they succeed. So when we compete or when we test, yes, it’s the individual that has to make the "play" but it's the whole team that wins in the end.

Tiki: We all have individual responsibilities in sports and in life. Personal focus and dedication are paramount to being successful individually, but it is the coordinated effort of the many that ultimately brings fulfillment. That applies to a team, a marriage, a job, etc. We are all components of something, and the strength of all components determines the viability of the whole.

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... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Jordan yells"kickoff best book ever
Don't walk run to your nearest book store to get Kickoff! This book is 153 pages of football and the author's name is Paul Mantell
In this bookthe barber brothers Tikiand Ronde are in 6th grade and they want to be on a foot ball team and they make the team buttthey're 3rd string players.But they are really good football players .The barber brothers learn not to go too far with the ball and lose the ball. They practice and it all works out at the end. Because they got to play in the games all the time.
My favorite part is when tiki and ronde barber go to school in 6th grade. It is my favorite because they get made fun of because they were wearing funny cloth.
The most important thing I have learned is not to give up and keep trying.
Some of other books the author has written are GO LONG! X-men, winner take all and, hostage heart and.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes sports and action.
I give this book 5stars

Good Read
My son loves football but the story seemed slow to him when he was reading it. He definitely loves football and this was good for him.Especially since he needs to read more.It is not hard to get him to play football but it is to read.This makes it easier for him to read more.

My son couldn't put this book down
My seven year old son found this at our school book fair last week. He finished it within days - he couldn't put it down! This year he has developed a strong interest in football - interested in watching the games, learning the game, etc. This book was a hit with my son. I came to Amazon to look for other books that people were buying along with it to get some ideas for my son. I'm thrilled to learn that there are more books in the series. I am buying more for my son for Christmas. I love the positive messages that Tiki and Ronde are getting across in the books. I highly recommend this book for any boy interested in football.

Kickoff
My grandson is not really a child who enjoys reading, however, after seeing Tiki Barber and his brothers interview on the Today show I immediately purchsed this book.Now I am not going to tell you he now reads everything but it did spark an interest, he completed the book and has asked for other's in the series.The challenge here was finding something which caught his interest, as with any child, find something they like and they'll ask for more.

Great Book!
I bought this book for my Third Grade son last week at his book fair.He will finish it today!I have never seen him read a book so quickly or be so enthusiastic.We were thrilled to find today that there is also a new book out and can't wait to buy that one too.This book is definitely a hit at our house! ... Read more

Product Description

Champions give their all
on the field, and in
the classroom!

The eighth-grade season couldn't be going better for the Hidden Valley Eagles. The team is beginning to gel with their new head coach, and Tiki and Ronde and their teammates are counting on only wins with the play-offs in clear sight.

But report card time spells trouble for the Eagles when Adam Costa, their ace kicker, is benched for academic probation. It's school policy: Without the grades, there's no playing time. Without exception. Ever.

With only a few games left before the play-offs, the team's hopes are shot. Will the Eagles be shut out of play-off contention for the first time in seven years? Or can the team that plays together study together too?

Inspired by the childhood of National Football League superstars Tiki and Ronde Barber, Wild Card is a story of teamwork and perseverance and what it takes to be a champion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

another great book!
My son loves the books written by the Barber twins!They are well written, fun to read, and he reads them over and over again.

Such a Great Book for Young Kids
My nephew loves to read and I wanted to get him some books that he could read over and over. I saw Ronde & Tiki Barber on a talk show talking about them writing an African American children's book, specifically for young boys. I ordered all their books----He Loves Them!

great book for twin boys
My 11 yr. old twin boys, who also play football, fought over who would read this book first. (They have other Barber books.) They realted to it and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.One of the twins hates to read but couldn't wait to start it.

WILD CARD (KICK OFF)
"Wild Card" was a birthday gift to my 11yr old grandson, who is also on a football team, he said this was the best book he has ever read about two of his favorite football players. ... Read more

Product Description
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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

TEAMMATES
I LIKED THE CONCEPT OF THE STOREY, i BROUGHT THE BOOK FOR MY 6 YEAR OLD GRANDSON WHO HAD A DIFFICULT TIME WITH THE VOCABULARY. AND KEEPING HIS ATTENTION AND KEEPING IT FOR THE ENTIRE BOOK WAS NOT EASY. WE READ A LITTLE EVERY DAY WITH US TAKING TURNS READING AND MY HELPING WITH SOME OF THE WORDS AFTER WHICH HE ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH. ALSO SEEING CHARACTERS THAT LOOK SIMULAR TO HIM AND HIS FRIENDS HE REALLY LOVED WE WILL BE READING IT AGAIN WE READ A BOOK EVERY TIME HE VISITS WHICH IS TWO TO THREE TIMES A WEEK AND THAT IS OUR SPECIAL TIME. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE BOOKS LIKE THIS.

Good message, poor writing
Overall this book has a good message, but the writing is really amateurish. You can tell Tiki and Ronde are not professional writers. If your kids like football, they will like this book. Just don't expect Roald Dahl.

Teammates
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.

Teammates
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

A great little read :-)
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. ... Read more

Product Description

Tiki and Ronde were each other's best friends. Together from the start, these twins might not have been the strongest or the tallest, but they were fast and worked hard at what they loved. And they loved sports, especially football.

Then one day Tiki badly hurt his knee in a biking accident, and he was sure he'd never be able to play again. Their mother had always told them, "You are each other's best friends. Stick together, believe in yourselves, and you can do anything." They kept her words in their hearts and never gave up.

Based on the childhood of National Football League superstars Ronde and Tiki Barber, this inspiring book about the values of family, hard work, and determination is the story of what it takes to be a champion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Disapointing
This is a cute short story.Not much to do about football as the cover suggests.Just a short story about how two brothers spent a summer.

Awesome
This is a great story about love, friendship, and determination.There are also many motivational saying throughout the book.

Awesome Book!!
I bought this son for my 5 year old son and he absolutely loves it.
He asks me to read to him every night.
My son is a football lover (mom and dad aren't so much) and I have bought many football books. The biographies always end up boring him and don't offer a good story line. This book is the exact opposite. I love the relationship bewteen the brothers and I think it even makes my son love his little brother even more!

great book
I have four boys that LOVE sports and this book is a family favorite.We are actually on our second copy, the first one was loved a little too much by our 3 year old.

Great lesson for kids
I have 2 nephews that are very close brothers. I got this book for them because they had been fighting alot. One plays sports and the other had major surgery and cant play for awhile. This book helped them understand their situation and they help each other now all the time. IT IS GREAT! ... Read more

Product Description
Finally the playoffs are in sight and everyone is playing at the top of their game. But what are these red spots that seem to be going around? Chicken pox? It can't be! ... Read more

Product Description
Ronde and Tiki are a team. They are twins, they are each other's best friends and biggest fans, and they play on the same football team, the Cave Spring Vikings. Rondeis #21 and Tiki is #22, always side by side.

Tiki has had seven long touch-down runs this season, and Ronde is proud of his brother, but he can't help feeling a little down when Tiki gets all the glory. If Ronde hadn't been leading the way with his blocks, Tiki wouldn't have been clear to score. Ronde thinks nobody notices the guy who blocks; they only notice the guy who scores. Will the day ever come when Ronde will get his chance?

Written by two NFL superstars, this story of perseverance and teamwork will inspire. Barry Root's glowing illustrations bring to life all the excitement and energy of a great game and a team working together. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Game Day
My kids (boy 4, Girls 2 and 7 months) absolutely love this book. They can't stop saying that Tiki and Ronde are their friends.The book is a great read and allows you to animate your voice to get the kids into the character's roles.I recommend this book for young and old.

Rachael Smart
Interesting and fun text with real message and value.Football season and the beginning of school make a perfect time to use the book for classroom guidance.

Get It!
you should read Game Day if you like Football. you should get your hands on this book.

Game Day
My son was very happy with this book.........took him all of 15 minutes to read the whole thing......great book!!

Highly Recommended - They did it again!
I ran out and bought this book for my 7 year old son after getting their first book- By My Brother's Side.

This book is equally engaging and oh so sweet as it deals with the theme of teamwork.

Young Ronde feels overlooked as the defensive powerhouse who enables Tiki to go for long runs and make all the touchdowns.Ronde finally gets a chance to be in the spotlight with the help of his coach and his mother when he gets to run the ball in for a touchdown.

This book points out that we all have our roles to play in life and we don't always get recognized.Yet, that is no excuse for us to pity ourselves, and we should still 'Play Proud' as Mrs. Barber always told her sons.

I hope they write more books like this.

... Read more

Product Description
It's Tiki and Ronde's second year on their junior high school football team, the Hidden Valley Eagles. The eighth-grade season is here, and the boys have come together as a team. Now key starters, Tiki and Ronde are ready for a great season, and with hard work and determination, maybe they will even go all the way to the State Championship!

But when Coach Spangler announces that he has been asked to move up to the high school team, and Mr. Wheeler, the science teacher, is tapped for the head coaching job, the season seems over before it begins. Sure, Coach Wheeler played college football until he was benched by an injury, but it just isn't the same. Tiki wants to give Coach Wheeler a chance, yet the team's loyalties are divided. What does a science teacher know about the game of football? Can the team work together, get behind their new coach, and play smart?

Inspired by the childhood of NFL superstars Tiki and Ronde Barber, Go Long! is a story of teamwork, perseverance, and what it takes to be a champion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great book for boys aged 6-10
My child really enjoyed it and I thought it was written well.Great story with enough action for the kids and moral nuggets too.

Go Long Tiki and Rhonde Barber story

Very pleased with the delivery time and my 10 year old was thrilled with the book. He needed a chapter book to read for school and he is really into football so he's really enjoying this book. He only has 2 chapters left and he wants me to find another book just like this one.
Thank you for the great service!!

A Solid Game Plan
This young reader's book scores a touchdown in demonstrating how teamwork and hard work can overcome many daily obstacles.

Tiki and Ronde Barber are joined by Paul Mantell in penning a story about an eighth grade football team that has tremendous potential, but some players feel they know more than the new coach. The season is on the brink of falling apart after a couple of games, but magic returns to the field when "I" is replaced by "team."

Starring Tiki and Ronde as team members, the book would be a great way to kick-off a youth football season - chalk talks don't always have to be from he playbook - or a nice change of pace in the classroom.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
GO LONG! is a football story starring Tiki and Ronde Barber as young, up-and-coming players.This fast-paced, inspirational sports tale is sure to be popular with the middle grade crowd.Tiki and Ronde draw on their early years in the sport to encourage young people to use their talents and play the game with a sense of fair play and teamwork.

The story begins as Tiki and Ronde start their 8th-grade year.They are anxious to take the field as starters this year, but the coach upsets the entire team when he announces that he is moving up to coach the high school team.Sure that all of their previous success has been due to his excellent coaching abilities, the players nervously await the naming of their new coach.It is a surprise to all when the history teacher, Mr. Wheeler, is given the job.He is a terrific teacher, but that doesn't guarantee anything about his coaching skills.

Tiki and Ronde try to roll with the punches when the first few games end in defeat; however, Cody, the team's quarterback, is not being a team player.Cody argues with Coach Wheeler and questions his every move, causing team morale to sink to an all-time low.It is not until Tiki and a few loyal players take the time to get to know Coach Wheeler and his plans for the team that things start to look more positive for a winning season.

GO LONG! presents a message of cooperation and team spirit, and that along with a strong plot line and likeable characters make it a book that won't gather much dust on the shelf.

Reviewed by:Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" ... Read more

Product Description
Follow Tiki and Ronde Barber as they try out for the Hidden Valley Eagles and develop as players on their junior high team. From unexpected wins to unexpected academic probation, Tiki and Ronde keep their team together and help each other grow on and off the field.

Boxed set includes paperbacks of Kickoff!, Go Long! and Wild Card. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Tiki=kid books
I must have missed the "fine" print on this pkg. of books. They are kid level, for sure, and well written, and good "moral' books. At 70, I still love Tiki, Rondi, and football, but need a little more advanced read. Thanks, i will give them to a 5th grader, with a very clear concience. ... Read more