Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Topic: Seasonal Events

Sportopedia

Non-fiction

Sportopedia is your ultimate guide to the exhilarating world of sport. Learn amazing facts about all your favourite sports, and discover new ones you may not have come across before.

Whether you’re into team sports, target sports, track and field, or aquatic sports, this book showcases a diverse array of athletes – male, female, able-bodied and Paralympians – and celebrates the unique talents of sportspeople everywhere, making it a treasure trove for all the family to share.

With basic tenets and rules as well as more niche facts all explained, this book serves as a complete encyclopedia to the sporting world.

Covering ball sports , such as soccer, rugby, volleyball, lacrosse, rugby and cricket; racket sports such as tennis, table tennis and badminton; athletics and gymnastics ; target sports such as shooting, archery and golf; as well as combat sports such as judo, karate and boxing, this book covers everything from very well known activities to the more niche sporting hobbies such as boccia and kabaddi.

Sport-loving kids will find hours of entertainment and fascinating information in this awesome encyclopedia.

Black Brother, Black Brother

Jewell Parker Rhodes

Chapter book

Black Brother, Black Brother is a powerful story of a boy’s path to finding his voice against racism and discovering who he is.

The Ellison family have moved to Boston from New York and brothers Donte and Trey are new arrivals at Middlefied Prep, a private school. Trey is immediately popular – however, Donte struggles to fit in. As sons of a biracial family, Donte soon finds out that having a different colour skin from his brother means that he is treated differently. The pupils view him with suspicion and it is not long before Donte is the focus of taunts and jibes of ‘Black Brother’ called his way, fuelled by ‘king’ Alan. After a seemingly trivial incident during which Donte is wrongly accused, events quickly escalate and he is arrested and suspended from school. Wanting others to see him for who he is and tired of feeling invisible, Donte decides to try and beat Alan at his own game: fencing. Donte journeys to inner city Boston – a world away from the rich white suburbs where he currently lives – to enlist the help of a once Olympic fencer. But will he help Donte? Will the children and headmaster at his school ever accept him? Will Donte find out who he is inside?

This is an important story that highlights the discrimination and inequalities that many face due to the colour of their skin, bringing it into sharp focus in a way that is accessible for middle grade children. This is a story demanding to be read and I found it difficult to put down until it had reached its conclusion. I was both shocked and moved by the sheer unjustness of Donte’s situation. This is truly a children’s story for our times. A thought-provoking and important book for ages 11 and above.

Individual Sports at the Paralympics

Matt Bowers

Non-fiction

Find out all about Paralympic sports for individuals and the people who participate in them in this exciting photo-illustrated book.

Events covered include cycling, archery and triathlon competitions for both male and female athletes with disabilities. Information about the rules of the events and how they differ from their Olympic counterparts is also provided.

Along with accessible text and vibrant sports photography, this volume also includes a Q&A feature that will help to engage young readers.

Dream Big

Barry Root & Deloris Jordan

Long before he became a professional All-Star basketball player, Michael Jordan had dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal–and with dedication and perseverance, that’s exactly what he did. This heartwarming picture book, written by Michael’s mother and illustrated by Barry Root, gives a rare glimpse into a sports hero’s childhood and emphasizes the role that good values play in success. An ideal companion to the New York Times bestselling Salt in His Shoes, this is an inspirational story for sports fans, go-getters, and anyone with big dreams!

The Corinthian Girl

Christina Balit

Picturebook

In Ancient Athens, a young slave is known only as ‘The Corinthian Girl’ in a reference to where she had been found, left by her father who couldn’t afford to keep her. She grows up learning to serve her new Athenian family by fetching, carrying, cleaning and scrubbing. Girls were unimportant; slave girls even less so. Very occasionally, she is able to play with the youngest son and her athletic talents are noticed by the master of the house, himself a famous athlete. He forms an ambitious plan for her – will it succeed?

This inspiring short story is based on the Heraean Games, a real event held every four years in honour of Hera and only open to female athletes. It is accompanied by gorgeously subtle but graphic watercolour illustrations that suit the subject matter perfectly both in style and colour palette. Readers who have enjoyed Escape from Pompeii, which has been used in classrooms for years alongside the Romans topics – will immediately recognise Christina Balit’s distinctive style.

It is pleasing to see these lesser-known Greek games brought to light to counterbalance the male perspective, which dominates the study of Ancient Greece. A highly recommendable picturebook to share alongside the study of Ancient Greece.

Go Mo, Go!

Marta Kissi & Mo Farah & Kes Gray

Chapter book

From Olympic gold medal winner Mo Farah and bestselling author of Oi Frog!, Kes Gray, comes a fun fiction series which will get kids reading, and running too!

After returning home from a long cross-country run, it’s time for Mo and his friends to decide where to go on their next running adventure. Sandwiches at the ready, the friends head somewhere beautiful, with glistening snow and sparkling lakes … The Rocky Mountains!

But crossing states is tiring work, and with lots of new creatures (and monsters!) to meet along the way, will Mo and friends ever get time for a sandwich break?

Here comes Bigfoot … RUN!

Follow Mo on his madcap adventures as his running skills go from strength to strength.

The perfect book to share and read aloud.

Flying Fergus: The Best Birthday Bike

Clare Elsom & Sir Chris Hoy

Chapter book

The first in a fantastically fun, magical cycling adventure series from Sir Chris Hoy.

Fergus Hamilton is a boy with a big imagination. Living with his mum and grandad and his dog, Chimp, he dreams of a state-of-the-art Sullivan Swift and becoming the most brilliant boy cyclist in the world. So when he gets a rusty second-hand bike for his ninth birthday he can’t help feeling a bit disappointed. But then he discovers something amazing when he takes it for a ride. . .

Written with award-winning author Joanna Nadin, with fantastic illustrations from Clare Elsom.

Gus the Famous Football Cat

Tom Palmer

Chapter book

Set during this year’s World Cup in Russia, a Syrian refugee living in the UK discovers her rescue cat can predict England’s football scores. But can Gus handle his fame?

The Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Dog Goes for Gold!

Jeremy Strong

Chapter book

From The Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Dog to karate princesses and hot cross bottoms, there’s a Jeremy Strong story to suit every child’s sense of humour. Jeremy’s readers range from 7 to teen, perfect for fans of Roald Dahl and Andy Stanton.

Guess what’s coming to town! The Animal Games!

There’ll be show-jumping for horses AND rabbits, and discus for dogs – so of course I have to enter Streaker. Mum says a CARROT is more obedient than my dog, but I think she can do it – Streaker can go for GOLD!

Sports Heroes

DK & Lucy Semple

Non-fiction

How do little kids become sporting superstars? Find out in this inspiring board book for little ones.

Everyone, from Usain Bolt to Simone Biles, was once a small child learning about the world. Read how a diverse array of sporty kids found what they loved to do, worked hard, and followed their passions all the way into adulthood.

With adorable illustrations of top sports stars as typical young kids, then as superstar adults, sporting greats will seem like friends to your little one, and kids will see that sporting greatness is achievable.

Meet Lionel Messi when he was a small child learning to play football, Usain Bolt before he became a super sprinter, Ellie Simmonds as she developed a love of water, and figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu when he joined his sister on the ice and became a figure skater.

Let your child turn the pages and see that, like their heroes, the experiences and passions they have now can lead to incredible achievements.

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