A quote on a mirror in Caitlin Clark’s childhood home inspires her new
children's book
[November 03, 2026]
By DOUG FEINBERG
NEW YORK (AP) — Caitlin Clark has been an avid reader since she was a
kid, thanks in huge part to her mother.
Now the Indiana Fever star can add writer to her ever-growing resume
with a new children's book, “EXTRAordinary! A Little EXTRA to Reach BIG
Dreams," that comes out Tuesday.
“I grew up loving to read books,” Clark said in a phone interview with
The Associated Press. “My mom was an English major in college. She's a
bookworm, she reads a lot of books, so she helped me a little bit with
this.”
It's a picture book published by Random House Books for Young Readers
that's written in rhyming verse. Clark first thought about not having it
rhyme, but she said it just worked better that way.
“Everything that you see, I always have a part in,” Clark said of her
involvement with the book. “I want people to know I put a lot of time
and effort into that.”
The book was inspired by a quote that's on a mirror in her childhood
home: "The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the little
EXTRA.” The mirror is still in her parents' house.
“It’s something that hopefully they’ll always have for me through life
and I'll maybe pass along to one of my kids one day,” Clark said. “I
don’t think it’s always something you realize or notice when you’re
looking in the mirror that it’s something motivational.”
The book focuses on teamwork, perseverance and the love of those around
her, including her family, friends and teammates.
“I think a lot of it is very true to my story, and the way I was
raised,” Clark said. “You know, my career as a basketball player, just
doing a little extra and believing in yourself a little extra. You’re
going to need a little extra love, or courage."
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This image provided by Random House Children's Books, shows the
cover of WNBA basketball star Caitlin Clark's upcoming picture book,
"EXTRAordinary! A Little EXTRA to Reach BIG Dreams." (Random House
Children's Books via AP)
 Clark just finished the third year
of her professional career short of her ultimate goal of winning a
WNBA championship. Her Fever team was eliminated in the first round
of the playoffs by the Las Vegas Aces. Unlike last year when she was
recovering from an injury, this year she’s healthy and able to
continue to work on improving her game.
Clark remembers when she was a kid her mom would always give her a
book for Christmas Eve. That tradition has continued.
“It’s obviously changed from picture books to short chapter books to
now motivational things or books by coaches or leadership books,”
she said. “Inside every book she writes a note. So books have always
been a part of my life growing up.”
Clark has always done a lot with children. Her foundation supports
youth and when she was at Iowa, the young star spent a lot of time
at the Iowa Family Children’s Hospital. The 24-year-old Clark even
has appeared in a commercial with Sesame Street character Cookie
Monster, whom she adored growing up while watching the show.
She would love to join Sesame Street for an episode.
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