America is a nation of immigrants whose contributions "gave" us America, and taught us what it means to be "free". This book profiles three pre-1950 athletes and another nine contemporary athletes (12 profiles); in a biography examinging where they came from, and their notable contribution(s) in America. From China's Yao Ming who made his 7 foot 6 inch mark playing basketball for the Houston Rockets, to Cuba's Jose Canseco who had a record-breaking baseball career, to Czechoslovakia's Martina Navratilova who was one of the world's top tennis players, this book will inspire readers with stories of possibility and grit.and emphasizes how they made our country great. Backmatter includes 4 extra mini-bios of other amazing American citizens who we never think of as "immigrants." Note the additional and up-to-the minute resources available at 12StoryLibrary.com: Editor-selected news articles; videos; online resources; teacher resources; live Twitter and RSS feeds.