Tony Hawk

**The multimillion-copy bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series** Discover the inspiring story of Tony Hawk, the groundbreaking skateboarder who defined the sport’s culture for a generation. Born in San Diego, California, little Tony was a kid full of energy. When his brother gave him his old skateboard, Tony was hooked and finally felt he had a place to channel his energy. It didn’t matter how many falls he had or tumbles he took, he got back up every time, determined to keep going. These early rides would be the start of a life-changing career. Every day after school, Tony spent hours at the skatepark, practicing and learning. Soon, he was winning local competitions and joined a team of talented skaters called the Bones Brigade. Supported by his father, Tony turned professional aged just fourteen. A few years later, he was crowned world champion—a title that he held for a record-breaking twelve years. Throughout his career, Tony competed in hundreds of competitions, invented new tricks for the sport, launched a phenomenally successful skateboarding video game, helped set up hundreds of public skateparks, and transformed skateboarding into a worldwide, mainstream phenomenon. He made sports history when he landed the historic ‘900’ trick—the first person to ever do so. His incredible devotion to the sport has marked him as one of the most famous skateboarders of all time. This inspirational book features stylish illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of Tony’s life. Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling biography series for kids that explores the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.   This empowering series of books offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. With rewritten text for older children, the treasuries each bring together a multitude of dreamers in a single volume. You can also collect a selection of the books by theme in boxed gift sets. Activity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children. Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS! Select praise for the New York Times Bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series: “…cute and quirky…”– USA Today, in praise of Dolly Parton “…address[es] not only setbacks but also their strength to persevere and reach their goals.”– Buzzfeed, in praise of RuPaul “…introduc[es] kids to important figures in Latinx history.” – Good Housekeeping, in praise of Frida Kahlo “…[an] extraordinary series…” – TheEverymom, in praise of Mindy Kaling “…a fabulous way to teach little ones about the extraordinary lives of influential people…”—Town & Country, in praise of Vincent Van Gogh “...handled in an age appropriate way…” – Parents.com, in praise of Amanda Gorman “…particularly great for this age…” – NY Magazine, in praise of Prince “…encourages kids to dream big to ‘achieve incredible things.’” – Rolling Stone, in praise of Kamala Harris