Larry Bird: The Boy from French Lick

Larry Bird is one of the most accomplished basketball players in American History, but he doesn t hold any big secrets to the game or any super human talent. His keys to his success have always been practice, persistence, and a belief in himself. Most books about famous athletes focus on the career of the person as a professional athlete. This story focuses only on Larry Bird s life BEFORE he became the star of the Boston Celtics. This is the story of his childhood. Meticulously researched, Francine Poppo Rich crafts the important details of Larry Bird s early life into a powerful, true story of one boy s determination to play the best game of basketball he could play. From the age of thirteen, Larry Bird possessed a single-minded approach to his game: practice the basics. Rich weaves the words of Larry Bird s childhood experiences in such a way that even the youngest basketball player will be inspired to play with a passion. Award-winning illustrator, Robert Casilla, has painted the characters of Larry Bird s world with stunning accuracy. Casilla s portrayal of French Lick, Indiana and the people who influenced Bird in the 1970s provide an unforgettable portrait of a boy growing up in a place that he will always call home.