Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Topic: Football

Branching Out: Books for Fans of Ultimate Football Heroes

If you like Ultimate Football Heroes, try these…

The Ultimate Football Heroes books score big with football-loving children in Key Stage 2. With over 50 books in the collections, these biographies tell the life story of a famous footballer, covering the journey from each player’s earliest childhood moments to their latest successes on the pitch and beyond.

We’ve compiled a list of ten similar books for fans of Ultimate Football Heroes. Readers who enjoy discovering all the facts about real footballers might like Football School Star Players or Three Lionesses. If you want to get stuck into some gripping football-themed fiction, try Tom Palmer’s Football Academy series or I Am Lenny Brown. For interesting historical stories of footballers from the past, we recommend A Different Kind of Freedom or Respect: The Walter Tull Story. Children looking for a fun adventure series from a well-known football hero might like to try Marcus Rashford’s Breakfast Club Adventures. For more ideas, you can also check out our list of children’s books about football.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for what to read next after Ultimate Football Heroes…

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Football Rules the World

Dan Green & Simon Mugford

Non-fiction

We love the Football Superstars series, which is responsible for getting a lot of football fans reading!

Simon Mugford’s informative text set alongside Dan Green’s fun and realistic illustrations make for an engaging read that will leave children knowing a lot more about the history of football around the globe.

The text is designed in such a way that it can engage a range of children, including readers embarking on their first chapter books as well as older reluctant readers. Interspersed throughout the book are a range of jokes that children will enjoy. The text is displayed in a range of interesting ways, including speech bubbles, fact boxes and comic style sequences. The variety on layout keeps readers engaged, while the narrative is simple to follow.

This book is a member of a fantastic series of ‘Football Superstars’ books, showcasing the best modern-day footballers around. The books in the series lend themselves well to being collected, swapped and shared like football cards.

Football’s Greatest Moments

Tom Palmer

Non-fiction

The Ultimate Football Heroes books score big with football-loving children in Key Stage 2. With over 50 books in the collections, these biographies often tell the life story of a famous footballer, covering the journey from each player’s earliest childhood moments to their latest successes on the pitch and beyond.

Some of the books in the series bring together stories from different footballers or teams into one book. This new book by popular children’s author Tom Palmer brings together a hundred key moments from footballing history – from well known moments like the magic of Pele at the World Cup and the more recent Lionesses’ victories to more surprising moments like the significance of the first goal after the end of World War 1.

A winner for football fans!

Books About Girls’ Football

Following the meteoric rise in popularity of girls’ and women’s football over the past few years, we are delighted to bring you this list of the best children’s books featuring girls’ and women’s football teams.

From historical fiction to non-fiction texts written by some of today’s brightest footballing stars, this list has something to offer all football-mad readers. So why not kick off your reading with these inspiring books about girls’ football?

You Can Do It

Marcus Rashford

Non-fiction

A positive-thinking manual full of insights from one of the nation’s favourite football personalities, who inspires both on and off the pitch.

Everyone struggles with bouncing back from difficulties at times, even footballing heroes. In this easy-to-read book, Marcus Rashford shares insights into his experiences of finding confidence in the face of adversity and focusing instead on making a positive impact in the world. The book encourages readers to persevere when things get tough, to learn to reframe negative thinking and how to improve self-confidence when doubts settle in, as well as to find a voice against injustice and make a difference in the world.

An inspiring book that football fans will love to pick up. Even those without a passion for the sport will be inspired by the key messages.

Ronaldo Rules

Dan Green & Simon Mugford

Non-fiction

Filled with quizzes, stats and little known facts, plus illustrated and told with all the fun of a Tom Gates novel, the Football Superstars series is perfect for young readers five and up.

Is Cristiano Ronaldo your ultimate football hero? He has scored over 700 goals, won the Champions League five times and was the fastest player on the pitch in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Discover how he went from kicking bottles in the streets of Madeira to becoming a football superstar at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.

The Most Incredible True Football Stories: The England Edition

Matt Oldfield

Non-fiction

Think you know everything about the Three Lions and the Lionesses?

Have you heard of . . .
*The naughty pitch-invading dog that stole the show at the 1962 World Cup?
*The English amateurs who achieved Olympic gold?
*The spy who snuck into training?
*The incredible comeback of the England women’s team?
*The infamous World Cup handball that sealed England’s fate?
*The Lost Lionesses who made it big in Mexico?

The beautiful game has always reigned supreme in England. These incredible and sometimes ridiculous stories may give you some idea of why. From penalty pain to unbelievable comebacks, discover some of the best true tales of our beloved national teams.

Compiled by bestselling author Matt Oldfield, this is the third book in the award-winning Unbelievable Football series and the perfect World Cup gift for football fans everywhere.

Football Atlas: A journey across the world and onto the pitch

Buckley James Jr. & Eduard Altarriba

Non-fiction

A comprehensive exploration of football, covering players, teams, stadiums and competitions through a mix of illustrations, photographs, maps and diagrams. Follow the story of how football began, learn about World Cup winners, meet some of the top players and discover amazing facts and figures in this action-packed atlas.

Planet Football

Chris Mould & Michelle Robinson

Picturebook

Jackson lives and breathes football – he knows all the players, the fixtures, the scores. Then, one grey stormy day, Jackson kicks his ball, and it goes up … and up … and UP! All the way to the moon! Overnight, Jackson becomes an international footballing sensation, and before you know it, he’s kicked ALL of the Earth’s footballs into space. The moon-folk – the aliens! – don’t know the rules of the game, but they become football mad all the same. It’s up to Jackson to bring football home…

Bronze Rules

Dan Green & Simon Mugford & Simon Mugford & Football Superstars

Non-fiction

Filled with quizzes, stats and little-known facts, plus illustrated and told with all the fun of a Tom Gates novel, the Football Superstars series is perfect for young readers five and up.

Is Lucy Bronze your ultimate football heroine? The current England lionesses vice-captain is a three-time Women’s Champions League champion with superclub Lyon. She is a two-time French League winner and also earned third place for England at the Women’s World Cup in 2015.

Playing in her best position as a roving right-back, Bronze loves to get forward on the pitch and has scored some sensational volleys in huge matches for club and country! Her story is one of defying the odds: she overcame career-threatening knee injuries and was told she would never again play for England to become one of the finest and most-decorated English players in women’s football. An inspiration to young girls and boys alike.

The Football Superstars series is aimed at building a love of reading from a young age, with fun cartoons, inspirational stories, a simple narrative style and a cast of characters chipping in with quotes, jokes and comments.

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