His mission is to encourage children worldwide to live by values they learn by playing the game of soccer: courage, teamwork, and friendship.
Jan Birck began his career as a freelance illustrator in an atelier in Munich, working for renowned advertising agencies.
Birck has earned his reputation as one of the world's finest illustrators of children's books, with drawings that have appeared in hundreds of publications.
Since the first book was published in 2002, the Wild Soccer Bunch series has gained immense popularity and commercial success in German-speaking countries and around the world.
Five live-action feature films have been produced, generating ten million box office admissions in German speaking territories alone.
Five of the books - Kevin the Star Striker, Diego the Tornado, Zoe the Fearless, Julian the Mighty, and Max the Golden Boot - have been translated into English by Helga Schier, PhD, edited by American screenwriter and author Michael Part, and released in the US and Canada by Sole Books.
These books are included in the Accelerated Reader program, and each contain a personal message from the American soccer player Landon Donovan, who has officially endorsed the series.