Olympic Athlete Writes Children's Soccer Book

July 19, 2008 2:25 p.m. EST

Boulder, CO (AHN) - Erin Mirabella has finished a book for this summer that will attempt to speak with children ages 5 to 8 regarding the importance of team play and good sportsmanship. It is entitled Shawn Sheep the Soccer Star, and will be published this summer.

The books main character is Sean Sheep - a bit of a hothead kid who believes he's the best soccer player he knows. He beats defenders, shoots from corners, and basically does anything better than anyone else - according to his boasts.

But his own personality puts him into hot water with his team, and he begins making mistakes. He learns what he really has to do to lead a team to victory.

The book will be fun for the whole family, with lots of action and pictures. Sarah Davis has illustrated the novel, a freelance artist out of Sydney, Australia involved in many children's works.

Mirabella herself has represented the United States in both 2000 and 2004 in Cycling. In 2005, the U.S. Olympic Committee awarded Erin the Jack Kelly Fair Play award - typically given to an athlete, coach or official for an outstanding act of sportsmanship or fair play.

The cyclist has written books before - her first was Gracie Goat's Big Bike Race. The novel is written in the same vein, exhibiting Mirabella's own experiences in sports - the fun, and the life only lessons sports offer.