Tony Dungy's memoir, "Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, & Priorities of a Winning Life" is a #1 New York Times Bestseller and has more than 500,000 copies in print.

Press Release

NEW YORK, Sept. 24 -- Little Simon Inspirations, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, announced today that Tony Dungy, former NFL player and current World Champion NFL head coach, will write an inspirational picture book entitled YOU CAN DO IT, which was acquired by Dee Ann Grand, Editor at Large for Howard Kids/Little Simon Inspirations, and is scheduled to be published in July of 2008. Coach Dungy became the first African-American head coach to win the Super Bowl in Super Bowl XLI. He is an active member of family, faith, and community-based organizations including All-Pro Dad, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Mentors for Life, Family First, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America.

"We are ecstatic to have such a true and inspirational figure share his personal life testimony -- 'Do your best and let God do the rest,' -- with our young readers," said Rick Richter, President of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

In YOU CAN DO IT, young Tony Dungy and his sisters Sheri and Lauren are following their dreams -- sports for Tony and medicine for the girls -- but younger brother Linden is still undecided ... until the very special day when his life's dream is revealed. Encouraged by both parents to dream big (their mother's mantra was "you can do it and you will," and their father always helped his family find a path to their dreams), Linden goes from being the class clown to a kid on a mission to follow his dream, and he always has his big brother there to encourage him ... well, in a big brother sort of way.

"Tony Dungy is a devoted father, respected mentor, and Super Bowl-winning head coach. Little Simon Inspirations could not be more thrilled to add 'children's author' to that already highly regarded list," said Valerie Garfield, Vice President, Publisher for Licensed and Novelty Books.

TONY DUNGY is a former NFL player and the current World Champion NFL head coach. His memoir, Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, & Priorities of a Winning Life, a #1 New York Times Bestseller, has more than 500,000 copies in print. Tony Dungy brings together his faith, love of children, and love of sports to tell a story of inspiration and encouragement.

Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, one of the leading children's book publishers in the world, is comprised of the following imprints: Aladdin Paperbacks, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Libros para ninos, Little Simon(R), Little Simon Inspirations(TM), Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Simon Pulse, Simon Scribbles, and Simon Spotlight(R). While maintaining an extensive award-winning backlist, the division continues to publish acclaimed and bestselling books for children of all ages. In addition to numerous Caldecott, Newbery, and National Book Award winners, Simon & Schuster publishes such high-profile properties and series as Eloise, Olivia, Raggedy Ann & Andy(TM), Henry & Mudge(R), The Hardy Boys(R), Nancy Drew(R), The Spiderwick Chronicles, Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts(R); from Nickelodeon(R): Dora the Explorer(R), Blue's Clues(R), and SpongeBob SquarePants(R); and Mirage Studios' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(TM). For more information about Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, visit our website at http://www.SimonSaysKids.com.

Simon & Schuster, a part of the CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Online, and international companies in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at http://www.simonsays.com

Source: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing