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Topic: Arts and Sports

Girls FC

Chapter book

Join the Girls FC as they show the world what it really means to play “like a girl”!

“My name is Megan Fawcett and this is the story of how I set up the best football team in the world. Get ready for kick-off!” Nine-year-old Megan Fawcett loves football and is desperate to be on her school team. She tries everything to get the coach to notice her (even wearing a tiara!), but nothing seems to do the trick. Then Megan has her big brainwave: she could start her own team. An all-girls team! Now she just needs a pitch, a coach – oh, and ten other players… This is the first in a series of fun, topical early readers; join the Girls FC as they take the world by storm!

Dead Ball

Chapter book

Russian billionaire Dmitri Tupolev and a mystery Englishman agree to fix an important match in Russia’s favour by intimidating the England goalie, Alex Finn. But Alex goes against their wishes. His punishment: an ‘accidental’ car crash and he’s out of the return game in Russia.

Something is going on with England’s replacement goalie, and Danny soon finds himself caught up with the criminals of the footballing underworld. Will he unravel the match-fixing mystery?

football academy

Football Academy

Chapter book

Boys United: the first book in the Football Academy series by Tom Palmer

Jake loves football and dreams of becoming a professional footballer. He’s worried about his height though – what if he’s too small for football? But on the day of his trial Jake is quick on the ball and scores – he’s made it! Jake can’t wait to pull on his shirt and join the team. But someone at the club wants to make his life difficult. Can Jake face up to the bullies and become man of the match again?

Stay on the ball this season with the first four stories following the boys in United’s under-twelves.

Macbeth United

Chapter book

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2021 CHILDREN’S TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARD!

This season, get ready for a striking reimagining of William Shakespeare’s classic tale, Macbeth. 12-year-old striker Macbeth has a promising talent on the field. He also has a burning desire to become captain of Shotfield football team, and he is prepared to do whatever it takes.

Macbeth’s hard-hearted mother also pushes him to succeed – getting ahead to get spotted by academy scouts, even if it means dirty tricks.

So when the whistle blows for the big game, fair is foul and fouls are definitely fair!

A back-of-the-net retelling of Shakespeare’s classic play from bestselling author Michael Rosen and beloved illustrator Tony Ross.

The Kick Off

Chapter book

The first book to kick off the Jamie Johnson football series – as seen on CBBC! An epic tale of dreaming big and chasing glory.

Jamie’s desperate to become Highwood School’s star football player (and in his dreams, Hawkstone United’s, too).

But after he wrecks his chances at the trials, the pressure’s on to prove himself.

Perfect books for every young football/soccer fan

Author Dan Freedman has been a writer for the FA, the Premier League and attended two World Cups with the England team.

The Animals of Madame Malone’s Music Hall

Chapter book

Summer by the seaside isn’t working out as Callie hoped. Instead of enjoying sunshine and ice cream, she’s stuck helping Gran’s drama group put on a show to save the local theatre. Worst of all, they’ve asked her to star in their play. With Callie’s stage fright, there’s not a chance that’s happening.

But when she goes exploring backstage, Callie stumbles into an altogether different world – another theatre, run by a wise fox and her troupe of rather quarrelsome talking animals. Forced to face her fears, will Callie be able to put on a good show in the final fight to save Madame Malone’s Music Hall?

A cast of creative creatures take centre stage in this theatrical Barrington Stoke debut from Blue Peter Book Award shortlisted author Laura Wood.

Bizzy Bear Football Player

Picturebook

Five easy to move sliders, a rhyming story and lots to spot and say in this series of bright, interactive board books for toddlers!

Bizzy Bear is a football player today and it’s time for the big game! Help him make passes to his teammates and score goals! A funny little story with loads of details to spot and chat about.

This story needs YOU! By pushing, pulling and turning the mechanisms, little hands can move the story onto the next scene and bring the rhyming text to life! The high level of interaction builds confidence and engagement with books, which is a key stepping-stone to reading for toddlers.

Illustrated by multi-award-winning Benji Davies, illustrator of The Storm Whale, and Grandad’s Island.

Spot Plays Football

Picturebook

It’s a lovely day and Spot and his friends are ready to play football together.

Spot and Helen are captains of the red and blue teams, but who will score the most goals?
Join the group of animal friends and the much-loved Spot as they learn it’s the taking part that counts – and, most importantly, have fun.

Topsy and Tim Play Football

Picturebook

Topsy and Tim are always finding fun adventures in the real world, and this story is reassuring for young children having first experiences of their own.

Topsy and Tim join the local football club. Along with their friends, they practice their skills, including dribbling a ball around cones. Then they play a proper game. It’s so much fun that Topsy and Tim want to play football every day! Children who are starting to be interested in football will love to read about all the details of the club.

Harry and the Dinosaurs United

Picturebook

Harry’s football team are trying their best, but they just keep getting in each other’s way. But, luckily, Harry soon learns the best trick of all… teamwork! So together Harry, his friends and their mascotauruses win the best prize ever…

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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