[Meish Goldish]Michael Phelps : Anything Is Possible! (Defining Moments)(pdf){Zzzzz}

This biography opens with the exciting moment when Michael Phelps attempts to win a fifth gold medal in swimming events at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. It is part of a series of books about defining moments when great athletes become superstars. The story goes back to trace the development of this remarkable swimmer who as a young child was afraid to put his face under water. Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at age nine, Phelps had a great deal of difficulty in being able to focus. With the help of his mother, he learned to concentrate his energy and to work some of it off in swimming. His speed as a swimmer soon earned him the nickname of the Baltimore Bullet. The book chronicles Phelps's life as he moves steadily forward from local and state events to national competitions. At age 15, he became the youngest swimmer to set a world record. Phelps continued his swimming career, and after winning eight gold medals in Beijing became recognized as one of the most remarkable Olympic athletes of all time. The book contains large, full-color photographs and includes a table of contents, glossary, index, and bibliography. There are also short, interest-catching fact boxes. Reviewer: Phyllis J. Perry

Publisher: Bearport Publishing (January 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1597168556
ISBN-13: 978-1597168557

Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
The life of the multiple gold medal–winning swimmer is covered in simple text with plenty of color photographs in this addition to the Defining Moments: Super Athletes series. Much of the emphasis is on Phelps’ younger days as he struggled in school with ADHD but found swimming the perfect outlet for his energy. The story climaxes with his dramatic 2008 Olympic wins (of course, this came out too early to include the recent highly publicized marijuana controversy involving Phelps). Back matter includes a glossary, short bibliography of other age-appropriate books, and a Web site that links to two of the NBC Olympic sites. There’s not much here beyond the usual gee-whiz, ain’t-he-great material often found in youth books about athletes; still, this is good for younger kids looking for basic information on the Olympic star. Grades 2-4. --Todd Morning