Kicker Rides a Bike is an interactive, animated children’s book that teaches sports, life and reading skills. Complete with a moral lesson, the story follows Kicker’s quest to learn how to ride a bike. Kicker is challenged to overcome his fear with encouragement from Coach Ann Marie and his fellow Sporties who remind him that perseverance and practice will make him a champion. The story captures this major milestone in every child’s life with pages full of unique animations including riding a bike, blowing a bubble and practicing the hula hoop. Built using Corona Labs eBook software, Kicker Rides a Bike includes “Three Ways to Read”* plus:

• 54 beautifully presented pages of text based on 23 original illustrations by Peter Panas
• Professional audio narration by Nikki Lowe
• 100’s of high quality animation and sound effects
• Text and voice overs for words, objects and Sporties characters
• Picture /Word association — words zoom up and are spoken when objects are touched
• Original lyrics for “Look Straight Ahead and Keep on Pedaling" by noted singer-song writer, Sally Taylor
• ‘Easy-Swipe’ page turn feature that offers endless picture book entertainment for pre- readers.

* "Read to Me"- listen to the narrated story with words highlighted as they are read. "Read it Myself"- read the book the traditional way. "Auto Play"- plays like a movie, automatically reading and turning pages. Great for all ages on the go or at bedtime!

Kicker Rides a Bike is the premiere of the MySporties series written by Deirdre Sullivan and illustrated by Peter Panas. Coach Ann Marie has taught sports to 10,000 children over the past 30 years, both at her real-life sports camp in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, and traveling around the world. She is oftentimes mistaken for a modern day Mary Poppins in the manner which she uses her Sporties characters, lyrics, and melodies to teach children good sportsmanship. For example, children are required to make eye contact, shake hands, and say “Thank You” and “Good Game” to one another. Ann Marie’s campers and the animated Sporties in Kicker Rides a Bike understand that proper etiquette and practice make you a champion – on and off the field.

The eBook is published by MySporties, Inc., an interactive publisher comprised of a creative team of writers, illustrators, and coaches dedicated to teaching children self-confidence at the earliest possible age. The MySporties project was incubated at the Harvard Innovation Lab (i-lab), an initiative of the university designed to foster team-based and entrepreneurial activities.