Spring 2015 Titles

<div>Young readers can see the sights of various cities with Max, a loveable puppy, in this series of children’s books that emphasize learning with simple shapes and vibrant colors. Readers will follow Max on his busy day of sightseeing with stops at historic landmarks and lesser-known locations found in each city.<br /> <br /><strong>An adorable dog leads children on a tour of Beantown</strong><br /> <br />Created in partnership with the Boston Children’s Museum, this book includes a beautiful spread about the museum itself as well as the objects and sights to know in Boston.</div>

<div>Young readers can see the sights of various cities with Max, a loveable puppy, in this series of children’s books that emphasize learning with simple shapes and vibrant colors. Readers will follow Max on his busy day of sightseeing with stops at historic landmarks and lesser-known locations found in each city.<br /> <br /><strong>A cuddly puppy leads children on a tour of the Emerald City</strong><br /> <br />Beautiful page spreads featuring Seattle’s most popular destinations showcase Max’s day trip around town.</div>

<div>With traditions, records, and team lore, this lively, detailed book explores the personalities, events, and facts every Athletics fan should know. This guide to all things A&#39;s covers the team’s history in Oakland since the franchise moved there in 1968, including the Charlie O. Finley dynasty years, the “Earthquake Series” and rivalry with the San Francisco Giants, and the team’s four World Series titles in Oakland. Author Susan Slusser has collected every essential piece of A&#39;s knowledge and trivia, including Billy Beane and <em>Moneyball</em>, Stomper, the “Bash Brothers,” and Josh Donaldson, as well as must-do activities, and ranks them from 1 to 100, providing an entertaining and easy-to-follow checklist for fans of all ages.</div>

For more than 40 years, millions of newspaper readers have delighted in solving the daily Jumble®, which appears in hundreds of national papers and in these puzzle books that offer hours of challenging wordplay and fun. Each page features a series of mixed-up words coupled with a cartoon clue, and one letter from each word is used to form the answer to the puzzle.

<div><em>Numbers Don&#39;t Lie: Behind the Biggest Numbers in Mets History</em> details the numbers every Mets fan should know by heart. Authors Russ Cohen and Adam Raider tell the stories behind the most memorable moments and achievements in Mets history, including 6: the number of Gold Gloves Keith Hernandez earned in his career; 480: the distance in feet Tommy Agee&#39;s home run traveled on April 10, 1969; and 696: the record number of at bats Jose Reyes had in in 2005 to set a franchise record. With dozens of entries that span more than a half-century of Mets magic, this resource is an engaging, unique look back at the history of one of baseball&#39;s most entertaining franchises.</div>

<div>Tigers fans have witnessed improbable feats, extraordinary achievements, and unmatched performances during the team&#39;s 100-plus seasons. <em>Numbers Don&#39;t Lie: Behind the Biggest Numbers in Tigers History</em> details the numbers every Tigers fan—from the rookie attending his first game at Comerica Park to the veteran who recalls Denny McLain&#39;s days on the mound—should know. Author Danny Knobler tells the stories behind the most memorable moments and achievements in Tigers history, including 2: the number of no-hitters Justin Verlander has in his career; .366: Ty Cobb&#39;s career batting average, the highest in MLB history; and 1,918: the number of games played together by Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker as a record-setting, double-play combination. Featuring nearly 100 entries that span more than a century of Tigers magic, this fan book is an engaging, unique look back at the history of one of baseball&#39;s most entertaining franchises.</div>

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: auto 0in">A flame-throwing star with the Houston Astros, J. R. Richard was at the top of his profession when he inexplicably began complaining of arm weakness in 1980. Initially scoffed at because he continued approaching 100 mph on the radar gun, everything changed when Richard collapsed while playing catch with a teammate—later diagnosed as a life-threatening stroke. The shocking development ended Richard’s major league career and set off a chain of events that led to the former All-Star being homeless by the mid-1990s. This rapid rise and sudden, tragic fall define the unusual, moving, and inspirational life of a Houston icon who has endured many hardships but has become an admired figure in his adopted hometown. J. R. Richard tells that story now in his own words, including the highs and the lows of his brilliant athletic career, the difficulties that befell him on and off the field, abandonment by those he counted on after his stroke, the despair of losing everything, and his ultimate redemption and giving back to the community.<?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt">Rare is the athlete who captures the imagination of a generation. In Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle, sports culture had two such figures. Undoubtedly, DiMaggio and Mantle are two of the most revered names in baseball literature. However, there is one particular moment that has been overlooked by baseball historians and writers: the 1951 pennant-winning New York Yankees team—DiMaggio’s last year and Mantle’s rookie season. For that one year, the paths of these two baseball icons converged, the naissance of Mantle’s career poignantly juxtaposed with the slow descent of DiMaggio’s final season. <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Strangers in the Bronx</I> is more than a chronicle of a pennant-winning team, it is also a study of heroes: the decline of an all-too mortal American icon and the emergence of the newest sensation in sport.<?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

Including helpful interpretations in addition to the official rules and regulations, this is the singular resource to everything tennis, put forth by the sport's governing body, the United States Tennis Association. With detailed sections and ample appendices, this guide will prove an invaluable resource to players, officials, coaches, parents, and fans. This edition is completely updated for 2015.

<div>With extensive backstories and comic lore, this lively, detailed book explores the characters, storylines, and facts every Avengers fan should know. This guide covers the history of how the group went from Justice League knockoff to billion-dollar franchise; the history of Ultron, Thanos, and the Infinity Gauntlet; and the series’ seminal storylines, writers, and artists. It includes information on everyone’s favorite Avengers, including Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America, Hawkeye, and Black Widow, as well as members of the Secret Avengers and the New Avengers. Author Daniel Casey has collected every essential piece of Avengers knowledge and trivia, including why the Avengers went out for shawarma, as well as must-do activities, such as how to make the most of your Comic-Con experience and how to properly preserve your comic book collection, and ranks them all, providing an entertaining and easy-to-follow checklist for fans of all ages.</div>

With riddles by the Encyclopaedia Britannica's executive editor and puzzles by the illustrator of the Jumble®, this original and engaging book will challenge and delight puzzle-lovers and trivia buffs alike. Featuring four original puzzle types, they cover a wide range of subjects, from pop culture and entertainment to science and space and everything in between. Each chapter is followed by an answer key that features Encyclopaedia Britannica's vast knowledge base for every person, place, or thing as a bonus feature for trivia lovers. Never before have trivia, knowledge, and puzzles come together in a more unique format than in Britannica Brainbusters.

<div>In <em>Giant Splash</em>, San Francisco Giants beat reporter Andrew Baggarly tells fans the stories behind the most memorable moments since the Giants moved to their sparkling new ballpark on the shores of McCovey Cove in 2000. This detailed account includes Kenny Lofton’s single in Game 5 of the 2002 National League Championship Series, Barry Bonds hitting home runs number 71 and 72 to set a new record, Jonathan Sanchez throwing the first Giants no-hitter since 1976, the team’s 2010 and 2012 World Series wins, and more. The most memorable moments are recalled: the people, the players, and the managers who ushered in a golden age by the Bay.</div>

<div>With the help of the easy-to-master steps in this book, even a novice gambler can go from being a traditional craps player to a dice controller—an advantage player with a true edge over the house. For a dozen years, Frank Scoblete and his wife angered casino bosses around the country by knowing more about how to win money than almost anyone who ever challenged a casino. They used sophisticated methods—including controlled shooting and little-known advantage-play techniques—to turn the tables on the house. Now Frank, labeled an “icon in this industry” by <em>Midwest Gaming & Travel</em> magazine, shares with readers everything he knows about beating the casinos at craps. He instructs readers about the essentials: the grab, the grip, the pickup, the throw, the backspin, and the bounce. Many still doubt the controversial theory that controlled shooting can overcome the house odds in craps, but Scoblete demonstrates that it can.</div>

<div>The St. Louis Cardinals are one of baseball’s most storied franchises, and as much a part of St. Louis as Anheuser-Busch and the arch. From Lou Brock to Matt Carpenter, Ozzie Smith to Yadier Molina, Bob Gibson to Adam Wainwright, from Hall of Famers to rookie busts, the Cardinals are beloved in St. Louis. In this book, Stan McNeal provides a closer look at the great moments and the lowlights that have made the Cardinals one of the baseball’s keystone teams. Through the words of the players, via multiple interviews conducted with current and past Cardinals, readers will meet the players, coaches, and management and share in their moments of greatness and defeat. This book shares stories behind such Cardinal memories as the little-known clubhouse antics of backup catcher Bob Uecker during the teams’ memorable run in the 1960s, the excitement at Busch Stadium in the 1980s as the Cardinals reached the World Series three times, and the elation of the 2006 and 2011 World Series championships.</div>

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: auto 0in">Young readers can see the sights of various cities with Max, a loveable puppy, in this series of children’s books that emphasize learning with simple shapes and vibrant colors. Readers will follow Max on his busy day of sightseeing with stops at historic landmarks and lesser-known locations found in each city. <?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: auto 0in"> <o:p></o:p></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">A young dog leads children on a day at the beach<o:p></o:p></B></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: auto 0in"> <o:p></o:p></P><P class=MsoNormal style="BORDER-TOP-COLOR: ; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: ; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: ; MARGIN: auto 0in; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: "><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Max Explores the Beach</I> follows Max on a busy day splashing in the ocean and playing in the sand, including fun activities that children will respond to while developing their prelanguage skills.