7 Inspiring Books on Sports for Kids
“A champion needs a motivation above and beyond winning.” – Pat Riley
While a lot of conversations on sports revolve around winning and losing, stories on sports and sportspersons are full of many valuable life lessons. These stories reflect the attitude of a person, their life experiences and what goes into making them a champion.
After winning seven medals including a Gold, we have not been able to stop talking about the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Can there be a better time to introduce our children to books that celebrate sports and sportspersons?
We have handpicked seven diverse children’s books that are great options to get started with.
1. Don’t Throw It to Mo! by David A. Adler
Winner of the 2016 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, this book is about Mo who loves to play football but is teased for being too little to catch the ball. However, his coach has a plan for him. Will Mo be able to help his team win? Young readers will surely relate to the story in this book.
Reading Level: Grade 2 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 32
2. Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream by Deloris Jordan
Almost everyone has heard of the basketball legend Michael Jordan. But did you know that as a child he almost gave up on his dream? Invaluable advice from his parents helped him understand the making of a champion.
Reading Level: Grade 3 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 32
3. Sisters: Venus & Serena Williams by Jeanette Winter
Well known picture book biographer, Jeanette Winter, shares the life story of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. The Williams sisters demonstrated a lot of grit and determination in their journey to becoming internationally acclaimed athletes. This book is sure to leave our young readers inspired.
Reading Level: Grade 3 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 48
4. Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon by Simran Jeet Singh
Fauja Singh broke world records and became the first one hundred year old to run a marathon. An inspirational and positive story about the kind of characters that are not usually found in children’s books, makes this a must-read for the young readers.
Reading Level: Grade 3 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 47
5. Becoming Muhammad Ali by James Patterson
This bestselling biography explores the first seventeen years of boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s life. The journey to winning his first Golden Glove was fraught with struggles and challenges. The book brings together prose, verse and illustration in a refreshing presentation.
Reading Level: Grade 4 and above I Interest Level: Middle and Teen Years I Page Count: 320
6. Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
In this outstanding graphic novel, 12 year old Astrid signs up for roller derby assuming that her best friend Nicole will sign up too. However, Nicole decides to sign up for ballet with another friend. This heartwarming story of friendship and sports leaves an important message for our young readers.
Reading Level: Grade 4 and above I Interest Level: Middle and Teen Years I Page Count: 240
7. The Flea: The Amazing Story of Leo Messi by Michael Part
Most football fans would agree that Lionel Messi is amongst the best soccer players in the world. This critically acclaimed biography narrates the transition of Messi from a shy four year old to becoming one of the shining stars of football. Rich with all the lesser known details, it is a captivating read for young soccer lovers.
Reading Level: Grade 4 and above I Interest Level: Middle and Teen Years I Page Count: 160
We hope that our kids will enjoy reading these books and will appreciate the hard work that goes into becoming a successful athlete. Hopefully, they will also learn that playing in the true spirit of sportsmanship is more important than winning and losing.
Pick from these or loads of other fun reads from around the globe, specially curated for BookGuru’s young readers. We will be happy to deliver them to your doorstep!
