Explore a curated collection of sports-themed titles from our top publishers that offers valuable lessons in teamwork, perseverance, leadership, and resilience. These stories highlight the power of sports to bring people together, reinforce essential life skills, and inspire personal growth.
Audience: Middle School
Since 1896, the modern Olympic Games have thrilled onlookers around the world. Olympic Sports looks at the histories of several popular events, from the athletes who shined at the games to the moments that will live long in the memories of global sports fans.
Audience: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School
Abrams Books for Young Readers and Amulet present star-powered athletics in Travis Jonker's Just One Wave, a follow-up to Just One Flake. You also won't want to miss Caboose, a hilarious picture book about classroom lineup antics illustrated by Ruth Chan.
Audience: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, Young Adult
From March Madness to spring training and opening day, Candlewick Press has the perfect lineup of books for every young sports enthusiast! Whether your child is gearing up for the excitement of the NCAA tournament, dreaming of big league baseball, or excited to hit the field themselves, Candlewick offers engaging stories that bring the thrill of the game to life.
Audience: Upper Elementary
The Sports Illustrated Kids: Stars of Sports series of high-interest biographies is sure to be a winner with everyone, from young sports fanatics to first-time report writers on a deadline. Each story goes beyond basics and statistics to include the tales of defining moments, sportsmanship, and determination that make each of these superstars unique.
Audience: Middle School
The Big Game series gives readers the inside scoop on the biggest sporting events – including tennis, soccer, baseball, football, horse racing, and basketball. Written with reluctant readers in mind, this series includes considerate vocabulary, engaging content, fascinating facts, clear text and formatting, and compelling photos.
Audience: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, Young Adult
All teams want to win, but rivals play each other with extra toughness, year after year. Learn about epic rivalries between NFL, UEFA, NCAA Big Ten Football, NHL, NBA, and MLB teams over the decades with iconic games from Seahorse Publishing. Full-color photographs and limited text encourage all readers to learn more about these famous rivalries.
Audience: Lower Elementary
From gravity-defying skateboard tricks to lightning-fast BMX races, Extreme Sports dives into the adrenaline-fueled world of action sports while uncovering the STEM secrets that make these feats possible. How do skateboarders flip and spin in midair? Why are BMX racing bikes crafted with ultralight metals? Each title in this dynamic series blends high-octane adventure with engaging STEM insights to captivate young minds.
Audience: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, Young Adult
HarperCollins Children’s Books offers sports-themed books for all interest levels, perfect for emerging readers. In Pete the Cat: Rocking Field Day, Pete enjoys fun activities, like water balloon toss and tug-of-war. Gordan Korman’s hilarious Slugfest follows a group of underdogs forced to attend summer school after failing PE.
Audience: Middle School
From trick shots to mind-bending stunts to setting absurd records, this book offers a full-color, at-home, screen-free adventure for young people eager to accept the challenge of performing the same unbelievable maneuvers that have made Dude Perfect a cultural phenomenon.
Audience: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, Young Adult
Read about the world's greatest athletes and compare their careers in a fun and exciting head-to-head format. In each book, two familiar sports superstars face off. Readers explore their stats and greatest moments, think critically about what makes a better player, and then choose a winner.
Audience: Upper Elementary
The Greatest of All Time series explores the inspiring stories of world-renowned athletes who have conquered significant challenges to achieve extraordinary success. Each book provides a closer look at their dedication, their resilience, and the remarkable feats that made them legends in their sports.
Audience: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary
Get ready for action-packed stories featuring active, diverse kids! From picture books to middle grade reads, these tales celebrate teamwork, confidence, and imagination. They’re perfect for budding athletes and playground pros, inspiring readers to chase goals on and off the field. Ready, set, read!
Audience: Upper Elementary, Middle School
Step onto the gridiron and explore the history of your favorite NFL teams! Each book in this series offers an action-packed look at a team's greatest players, from the legends of the past to the superstars of today. Short paragraphs provide easy-to-read text, while vivid photographs make the book engaging and accessible. These books have a reading level of Grades 3-4; however, the imprint is specifically designed for older readers, with interest levels of Grades 3-9.
Audience: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, Young Adult
This collection of books focuses on sports, outdoor activities, and exercise. In Game Changers, 13 hijabi athletes share their stories of inclusion. In Barefoot Skateboarders, a new skate park brings a community together. In Jordan and Max, Race Day, a school race highlights sportsmanship and doing your best. And in In It to Win It, discover how playing sports can impact the environment.
Audience: Upper Elementary
Sports stories from Fred Bowen! Award-winning author and Washington Post KidsPost sports columnist Fred Bowen supplies play-by-play action and tackles important topics in his Sports Story series, perfect for young readers who love sports.
Audience: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, Young Adult
From contemporary athlete heroes to stories about everyone’s favorite sports, these books span all grade levels and have something for every student. For the kids who dream about playing but don’t make the team, to the kids who can’t put down their ball long enough to read a book, this collection will fit every need and help get even struggling readers onboard!
Audience: Middle School
No one knows hard work and dedication like Valentina Camacho. And Vale’s thing is fencing. She’s the top athlete at her fencing gym. Or she was . . . until the accident. In this moving novel from the Newbery Honor—winning author of Iveliz Explains It All, one girl finds her way back to her life’s passion and discovers that the sum of a person's achievements doesn’t amount to the whole of them.
Audience: Upper Elementary
This thrilling series captures the excitement of beloved sports teams, competitors, and record-breaking events. Young sports buffs will love learning about famous athletes, both men and women, and the jaw-dropping feats that have gained them a place in sports almanacs.
Audience: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Young Adult
Raam Patel, determined to prove himself after not making the middle school basketball team, faces off with the camp's golden boy at Hoop Con, right in front of his NBA idol. Lying low in a new town, he encounters fresh courts, new kicks, and tough competition, shifting his perspective on the game. He's got the skill; now he must unlock the mental game.
Audience: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, Young Adult
Discover inspiring sports books designed to promote inclusive physical literacy for young readers! Endorsed by elite athletes and authors, these books emphasize the fun of participation and the power of play. With titles available in English and select ones in Spanish, there's something for everyone. Dive into the world of sports and unlock your potential!
Audience: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, Young Adult
Discover trailblazing athletes from across history with The Story Of series, which promotes independent reading with short chapters and simple language and activates critical thinking by teaching kids the who, what, where, when, and why of their favorite sports heroes.
Audience: Middle School
Give students more choice by offering sports titles in an accessible large print format. Large print books have been proven to increase student engagement, elevate reading comprehension, and support the development of positive, lifelong reading habits.
Audience: Lower Elementary
Sri Lankan soldier Ranatunge Karunananda is the first runner to ever represent his country in the 10,000-meter race in the Olympic Games. Despite the lack of support and resources, he stands on the track in Japan, determined to represent Sri Lanka and his family. Ultimately, he wins not the race, but the hearts of the 70,000-person crowd, inspiring people across the world to stay steadfast in the race for their dreams.
Audience: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary
Play ball with World Book! Our exciting sports selections will have readers ready to hit it out of the park. Learn about the Olympic Games, fun sports facts, and video game history with our True or False? series. These collaborative learning sets will get students excited to learn!