“Can I get him?” he asked.
Mom glanced at Dad. “Let’s take the night to think about it.”
The next day Little Shaq took attendance and passed out snacks for the last time as Star of the Week. On Monday, it would be Barry’s turn.
In the final hour of school, Little Shaq set up his table for Show and Tell. He waved to his family in the back of the room. He noticed a cardboard box at Tater’s feet that was probably filled with toys to keep him busy.
“Before we start with Show and Tell,” said Ms. Terpenny, “let’s give a round of applause to our Star of the Week!”
The whole room clapped.
Little Shaq felt his cheeks get hot, but he wasn’t nervous this time. He said thank you and started his presentation. His seashell collection and the photo from Nana Ruth’s party were big hits, but his All-Star basketball blew everyone away.
Little Shaq passed it around so his class could see the signatures.
When the basketball returned to Little Shaq, he began to pack up his things.
“Wait!” Tater yelled just as the bell was about to ring. “You’ve got one more thing!”
Dad reached into the box. Tater clapped his hands with excitement.
“We thought you could tell your class about this guy,” Dad said.
Little Shaq couldn’t believe it. Dad was holding the kitten Little Shaq had picked out at the fair! He gave Dad a big hug and scooped up his new pet.
“Everyone,” said Little Shaq, “this is my cat, Tiger!”
That evening, Little Shaq watched TV with his brother, sister, and brand-new kitten. He was so happy he even let Tater watch his favorite show about lizards. After a few minutes, Tiger hopped down from the sofa and left the room. At the next commercial, Little Shaq followed.
But when Little Shaq walked out, he saw something strange. A roll of toilet paper was streaming from the bathroom. He ran over to pick it up, but Mom was already there. Tiger was shredding toilet paper all over the floor. Mom turned to Little Shaq and raised an eyebrow.
Little Shaq just laughed. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve got it!”
Shaquille O’Neal is the author of Little Shaq and Little Shaq Takes a Chance. He is also a retired basketball legend, a businessman, and an analyst on the Emmy award–winning show Inside the NBA on TNT. During his nineteen-year NBA career, O’Neal was a four-time NBA champion, three-time Finals MVP, and fifteen-time All-Star, and was named the 1993 Rookie of the Year. Since his rookie year, he has been an ambassador for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a group with which his relationship goes back to his youth in New Jersey. Passionate about education, O’Neal earned his undergraduate degree from LSU, an MBA from University of Phoenix, and a PhD from Barry University.
www.shaq.com • @Shaq
Theodore Taylor III is the illustrator of Little Shaq and Little Shaq Takes a Chance, and he was awarded the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award for his first picture book, When the Beat Was Born. An artist, a designer, and a photographer, Taylor received his BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University and lives in Washington, DC, with his wife and son.
www.theodore3.com
Also by Shaquille O’Neal and
illustrated by Theodore Taylor III
Little Shaq
Little Shaq Takes a Chance
Text copyright © 2016 by Shaquille O’Neal • Illustrations copyright © 2016 by Theodore Taylor III
All rights reserved
You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, printing, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
First published in the United States of America in October 2016 by Bloomsbury Children’s Books www.bloomsbury.com
Bloomsbury is a registered trademark of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
This electronic edition published in 2016 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Shaquille O’Neal™; Rights of Publicity and Persona Rights: ABG-Shaq, LLC. shaq.com
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: O’Neal, Shaquille. | Taylor, Theodore, III, illustrator.
Title: Little Shaq : star of the week / by Shaquille O’Neal ;
illustrated by Theodore Taylor III.
Description: New York : Bloomsbury, [2016]
Summary: Little Shaq has always wanted his own kitten, but his parents aren’t sure he is responsible enough. When Little Shaq is chosen as his class’s Star of the Week, he’s sure it’s his moment to prove that his parents can count on him. Will Little Shaq be able to show he’s ready for his very own pet?
Identifiers: LCCN 2015047031 (print) • LCCN 2016010115 (e-book)
ISBN 978-1-61963-879-2 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-61963-880-8 (e-book) • ISBN 978-1-61963-881-5 (e-PDF)
Subjects: LCSH: O’Neal, Shaquille—Childhood and youth—Fiction. | CYAC: O’Neal, Shaquille—Childhood and youth—Fiction. | Responsibility—Fiction. | Pets—Fiction. | African Americans—Fiction. | BISAC: JUVENILE FICTION / Readers / Chapter Books. | JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Basketball. | JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Friendship. | JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Parents. Classification: LCC PZ7.O549 Lk 2015 (print) • LCC PZ7.O549 (e-book) | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015047031
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