Instructions Prizes Booklist

Preschool – Recommended for birth – age 5

Need some ideas for what to read? Check out these recommendations:

Picture Books:

[cover] Pigs on the Ball: Fun with Math and Sports
by Amy Axelrod

The Pig family visits a miniature golf course and learns about shapes, angles, and geometry.

[cover] Play Ball, Zachary
by Muriel Blaustein

Zachary the tiger cub is good at art and reading and not good at sports, but he proves to his athletic father that they can still do things together.

[cover] Clifford’s Sports Day
by Norman Birdwell

Clifford's enthusiasm knows no limits when Emily Elizabeth takes her big red dog to Sports Day.

[cover] Soccer Beat
by Sandra Gilbert Brug

The Rockets and Cheetahs, two spunky multi-animal teams, square off in this high energy, fast-paced game of soccer. Who will win this soccer meet?

[cover] Bunnies and Their Sports
by Nancy L. Carlson

Reveals bunnies involved in jogging, swimming, and exercising at the gym.

[cover] Hello, Bearcat!
by Mick Cronin

Follow Bearcat around the UC campus as he makes his way to Fifth Third Arena for a Bearcats basketball game.

[cover] Polka Palace Party: An Adventure in Teamwork
by Erica David

"Cowboys Tyrone, Pablo, Austin, and Cowgirl Uniqua are on their way to a polka palace party in Wyoming when they run into trouble and lose their instruments. Now they must work together as a team to be able to play at the party."

[cover] Ready, Set, Swim
by Gail Donovan

Rainbow Fish and his friends hold their own sports day, but soon Spike becomes a whining sore loser while Puffer becomes a boasting poor winner. It's up to Rainbow Fish and Dyna to set a good example and help everyone understand what it means to be a good sport and the importance of team spirit.

[cover] Let’s Play Sports
by Alison Inches

It's Sports Day, and everyone is outside playing their favorite sports: basketball, sailing, football, soccer, and more! But Dora needs your help. Lift the flaps to help her discover which sport Boots wants to play!

[cover] Luke Goes to Bat
by Rachel Isadora

Luke is not very good at baseball, but his grandmother and sports star Jackie Robinson encourage him to keep trying.

[cover] Goal!
by Mina Javaherbin

In a dangerous alley in a township in South Africa, the strength and unity which a group of young friends feel while playing soccer keep them safe when a gang of bullies arrives to cause trouble.

[cover] Gymnastics
by Holly Karapetkova

Young readers will learn about gymnastics through simple sentences and highly supportive pictures. Look for other titles in this “Sports for sprouts” series.

[cover] Spongebob’s Slap Shot
by David Lewman

SpongeBob takes to the ice in this action-packed hockey story. Spotted by a scout as he expertly sweeps up the Krusty Krab, SpongeBob is drafted onto a pro-hockey team.

[cover] Froggy Learns to Swim
by Jonathan London

All frogs are supposed to be great swimmers, right? Not Froggy! Not only can't he swim, he's also afraid of the water. But thanks to his mother's patience and encouragement, Froggy even learns to do the frog kick.

[cover] Family Huddle
by Archie Manning

During a trip to visit both sets of grandparents in Mississippi, brothers Eli, Cooper, and Peyton, and their father, former NFL star Archie Manning, take advantage of every opportunity to play football, practice plays, or play sports trivia games.

[cover] Just Fishing with Grandma
by Gina Mayer

Little Critter wakes up one morning ready to go fishing. But no one will take him… until his grandma volunteers.

[cover] The Worst Best Friend
by Alexis O’Neill

When a new boy named Victor arrives at school, Conrad temporarily forgets about his best friend Mike, but when Victor's desire to win makes him not want Conrad on his team, Mike and Conrad discover that they are still best friends after all.

[cover] Dunk Skunk
by Michael Rex

Sport actions rhyme with the names of animals that love to play, such as Goal Mole, Dunk Skunk, and Hurdle Turtle.

[cover] Morgan Plays Soccer
by Anne F. Rockwell

Morgan Brownbear has trouble playing soccer until his coach, Mr. Monkey, finds the perfect position for him.

[cover] Sergio Saves the Game
by Edel Rodriguez

Although Sergio the penguin loves to play soccer, he is very clumsy and uncoordinated and he practices day and night, hoping he can help his team win the big game against the Seagulls.

Beginning Reading:

[cover] Kickball Game
by Joseph Anderson

During a game of kickball, Danny thinks he has made a horrible mistake, but Jenny shows him the humorous side of what he did.

[cover] Slower Than a Slug
by Larry Dane Brimner

A Rookie Reader

[cover] Cork & Fuzz: Good Sports
by Dori Chaconas

Cork is a short muskrat that likes to win at games. Fuzz is a tall possum who also likes to win at games. Two best friends.

[cover] Hooray for the Dandelion Warriors
by Bill Cosby

When Little Bill and his friends join the baseball team, they learn how to have fun, how to win, how to lose, how to cooperate, and how to compromise.

[cover] Cori Plays Football
by Christine Florie

Cori wants to join the football team, and she scores a touchdown at tryouts.

[cover] Brian’s Big Break
by Tisha Hamilton

After Brian injures his wrist playing baseball, he is worried that he will be unable to be a great sports star.

[cover] I Can Ski
by Melanie Davis Jones

A boy goes to ski school and learns to ski.

[cover] Good Luck Charlie
by Jennifer E. Kramer

Charlie tries to use lucky charms to win a baseball game, but all he really needs is his lucky pitching arm.

[cover] No One Can Play
by Mercer Mayer

What can Little Critter find to do when his friends are all busy and cannot play with him?

[cover] Try Your Best
by Robert McKissack

Ann doesn't think she is very good at sports. Will she have any fun at her school's Sports Day? There's only one way to find out — she'll have to try her best!

[cover] Race Team
by Dennis Shealy

Red-hot race car Lightning McQueen and his faithful trailer, Mack, are back on the road and headed to another big race!

Juvenile Nonfiction:

[cover] Gymnastics
by Cynthia Amoroso

A very simple introduction to the sport of gymnastics along with descriptions of some of the basic skills and equipment.

[cover] Ballet Dancing
by Kathryn Clay

Ballet dance is smooth and graceful. Read along as ballet dancers pli and turn to the music.

[cover] Score! 50 Poems to Motivate and Inspire
by Charles Ghigna

Fifty energizing poems for children, parents, teachers, and coaches filled with fun metaphors and reassuring rhymes.

[cover] A is for amazing moments : a sports alphabet
by Brad Herzog

Following the alphabet from A to Z, amazing and memorable sports moments are introduced with two-tier writing — poems and detailed side-bar text.

[cover] Sports! Sports! Sports! A Poetry Collection
by Lee Bennett Hopkins

A collection of poems celebrating the joy and anguish of baseball, basketball, football, ice hockey, soccer, skating, swimming, and running races.

[cover] Splashing By The Shore: Beach Activities for Kids
by Lisa Mullarkey

Beach-themed activities and crafts for the shore or at home!

[cover] Good Sports
by Jack Prelutsky

Exhilarating, all-new, kid-friendly rhymes capture the range of emotions, from winning to losing to the sheer joy of participating.

[cover] Shapes in Sports
by Rebecca Rissman

Can you spot the shape? Read this book to find out about the different shapes you can find in sport.

[cover] Ice Skating
by Bob Temple

A very simple introduction to the sport of ice skating along with descriptions of some of the basic skills and equipment.