Tournament of Champions

by Phil Bildner (Author) Tim Probert (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: Rip and Red

It's spring of their fifth-grade year and Rip and Red have a thrilling opportunity to participate in a weekend basketball tournament with a few other members of Clifton United. While the tournament is only a short bus ride away, both boys will travel outside their comfort zones. Ultra-competitive Rip must play on a team with kids he doesn't like. But he faces an even bigger hurdle when someone from his past returns, someone he hasn't seen in years, someone who just may derail the entire weekend. As for Red, because of his autism spectrum disorder, he's never traveled anywhere without his mother. Will he muster the courage to take the trip? Fortunately for both boys, also on the team is an unlikely addition, a source of inspiration who helps everyone discover the true meaning of the word champion.

Tournament of Champions is the third book in Phil Bildner's Rip and Red series.

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Review quotes

Rookie of the Year

"This fast, fun read featuring characters who love books as much as basketball will appeal to sports fans and nonathletes alike." —School Library Journal

"A diverse cast of characters highlights this good-natured, high-spirited slice of life." —Kirkus Reviews

A Whole New Ballgame

"The book depicts the evolution of a group of fifth graders who learn a lot, grow a lot, and help one another . . . The charming and diverse characters [are] pure fun with a lot of heart." —School Library Journal

"If the students are inspiring, so is [their teacher] Mr. Acevedo, who risks his job to do such radical things as reading aloud and encouraging free reading. (He's supposed to be preparing the kids to take tests!) Probert's cartoonish illustrations lend energy and personality to the likable cast of characters." —Kirkus Reviews

"This warm slice-of-life novel from Bildner engages and entertains . . . Probert's energetic illustrations match the positive exuberance of the story." —Publishers Weekly

"With its energetic and authentic story and artwork, this is a fresh, fun book about school, sports, and friendship." —Children's Book Council

Phil Bildner
Phil Bildner is a former New York City public school teacher who lives in Newburgh, New York. He spends much of his year visiting schools and libraries around the country and world. He is the author of over twenty books including the middle grade novel A Whole New Ballgame and picture books Marvelous Cornelius, The Soccer Fence, The Hallelujah Flight, and Twenty-One Elephants. Along with Loren Long, he is the coauthor of the New York Times bestselling Sluggers series. Visit him online at PhilBildner.com.

Tom Booth, illustrator of Jeter Publishing's Night at the Stadium, and the author and illustrator of Don't Blink, has worked in both animation and publishing since graduating from Hamilton College. Tom made his earliest marks--sometimes on his parents' antique kitchen table--growing up in Pennsylvania. Now living in Brooklyn, New York, Tom is currently at work on several picture books at a table all his own.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780374305079
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
Publication date
June 20, 2017
Series
Rip and Red
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV039150 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Special Needs
JUV032020 - Juvenile Fiction | Sports & Recreation | Basketball
Library of Congress categories
Friendship
Families
Family life
Basketball
Basketball stories
Friendship in adolescence
Contests
Best friends

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