Kids in Sports
Teamwork, belief in yourself, and humility are just a few of the themes found in these books that feature young athletes as their main characters.
Younger Readers
Louise, Soccer Star? by Stephen Krensky, illustrated by Susanna Natti
Louise's love of soccer is challenged by jealousy of her team's new player, who gets Louise's favorite number and her favorite position too!
The Magic Hockey Stick by Peter Maloney, illustrated by Felicia Zekauskas
A young girl becomes her team's star player when her parents win Wayne Gretzky's hockey stick at an auction. The problem? Now Gretzky is playing at his all-time worst!
Grade School Readers
El Chino by Allen Say
This true story is enhanced by its illustrations, pictures that go from sepia to vibrant color as Billy Wong realizes his dream to become the first Chinese bullfighter. Learn more.
Running Girl: The Diary of Ebonee Rose by Sharon Bell Mathis
Ebonee Rose desperately wants to win the all-city track meet, and she pumps herself up by filling her diary with the quotes and stories of female African-American athletes and artists.
Skinnybones by Barbara Park
Alex Frankovich, known as "Skinnybones," is his baseball team's smallest player and biggest loudmouth. Can his skills at talking help him when he challenges the best player in the Little League?
The Boy Who Saved Baseball by John H. Ritter
Reality and magic meet in this story of a 12-year-old boy who needs to save his town by leading his baseball team to an almost impossible victory.
Grades 6 and Up
The Contender by Robert Lipsyte
A high-school dropout from Harlem starts a successful boxing career, but has to face some serious decisions about what makes a person truly a winner. Learn more.
Crash by Jerry Spinelli
Crash Coogan is his school's star football player — and biggest bully. But the sudden illness of his grandfather and his unusual relationship with his oddball neighbor help him realize what really matters to him. Learn more.
The Moves Make the Man by Bruce Brooks
This Newbery Honor book centers around two teenagers who form an unlikely friendship on the basketball court. Learn more.
Slam! by Walter Dean Myers
Greg "Slam" Harris can do anything with a basketball, but he struggles with his life off the court. Learn more.
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
This award-winning book tells the story of a legally blind boy whose skills at soccer are overshadowed by his football-playing brother . . . although he's the only one who can see what his brother is really like. Learn more.
12/18/06
Reproducibles:
- Shelf Talker: Sports (PDF)
