An introduction to the Green Bay Packers professional football team. Includes information about the team's history, stadium, star players, uniforms and more. Features a true or false quiz, photos, vintage trading cards reproductions, maps, and records. Includes access to the Team Spirit Overtime website which provides regularly updated information and photos. Aligns to Common Core State Standards requirements for Reading Informational Text. Table of Contents, glossary, additional resources and index.

Chicago, IL— How do you build a better sports book? Norwood House Press has tackled this challenge with the launch of Big Picture Sports for Fall 2016. The series covers each of the 32 pro football teams, and is aimed at Grades 1 through 3. The series author, Zack Burgess, is a veteran sportswriter who brings a deep knowledge of team culture and history to the educational marketplace, as well as a unique point of view.
“Children yearn to learn as much as they can about their favorite sports teams, as quickly as they can,” says Burgess. “However, with all of the information and competing media out there, it’s like drinking out of a fire hose. I saw it with my own kids. They are totally overwhelmed.
“We developed the Big Picture series to give kids a solid understanding of their favorite teams at a very basic reading level. The books are engaging and dynamic, with lots of images they’ve never seen before. This helps young fans master the information and also underscores the value of reading and learning at your own pace.”
Norwood House previously broke new ground in the sports genre with its lively Team Spirit series, aimed at Grades 4 through 6. These books focus on pro and college teams in the four major sports, and provide readers with “living” online team pages featuring bonus content and regular updates.
“For some time now, teachers, librarians and parents have been asking for a lower-level product that brings the innovation and authenticity of Team Spirit to a younger audience,” says Patti Hall, founder and president of Norwood House Press. “Working with Zack and the same research team that helped produce Team Spirit, we have a series that stands out as truly exceptional.”
Authenticity is a critical component in all of the company’s non-fiction series, Hall adds. She points out that Burgess has actually interacted with many of the athletes covered in the books. He has written for numerous magazines, newspapers and web sites and, while working at the Kansas City Star two decades ago, was the first African-American baseball beat writer.
As the series name implies, Big Picture Sports books explore the pro football experience from many different angles, including what it’s like to play for a team, and what it’s like to be a fan. Each 24-page title is formatted with self-contained two-page spreads and features a quiz, fun facts, team records, information on uniforms, and many collectibles artifacts. A short glossary and index are also provided.
Hardcover Library Bound books available July 15, 2016
For additional information or to arrange for an interview with Zack Burgess
please email: patti@norwoodhousepress.com or call 773-628-7796.
For sales information please contact: Frank Radell at: frank@norwoodhousepress.com
or call 585-310-7219.