Dickie V's ABCs and 1-2-3s: A Great Start for Young Superstars

Well, Dickie V's ABCs and 1-2-3s, the first little book in the Dick Vitale Children's Literacy Initiative, is AWESOME, BABY!

It's a children's alphabet and counting book from the legendary ESPN college basketball analyst, Dick Vitale. Dick is a grandfather of five and a passionate advocate for early childhood development.

In the book, children learn their alphabet through high-energy basketball words that Dick uses in his national broadcasts. For example, "D" is for "dunk" and "J" is for "jump." In the counting section of the book, Dick leads kids in counting 1 to 10 using colorful basketballs.

The book has a special interactive feature the child can press to hear a digital, voice-recorded message from Dick Vitale.

Vitale's roots are in teaching the game he's loved since he was a child. This new book launches the Dick Vitale Children's Literacy Initiative, which has as its mission to advance the literacy skills of children and to advocate literacy as a critical element in the development of a globally competitive society.

The book is richly illustrated with a colorful menagerie of characters and typefaces that attract the interest of young readers (and adult readers, too!).

Endorsed by early childhood development specialists, Dickie V's ABCs and 1-2-3s is a wonderful gift for a child's birthday, for baby showers, for Christmas, Hanukkah, or "just because."

The book, published by Ascend Books, who also published Dick Vitale's Fabulous 50 Players and Moments in College Basketball, is the first in a series of books from Vitale for young readers. Future titles feature subjects on virtues and values, personal development and accountability, and the importance of education as part of the Dick Vitale Children's Literacy Initiative.