Back to School Reading!
Going back to school after the long summer break can be difficult for kids. The transition can be especially hard for kids going into Kindergarten and First Grade, as they are often adjusting to going to a new school, taking the bus for the first time, or making new friends. We hope these stories will provide an enjoyable means to ease the transition.
To celebrate the beginning of a new school year, here is a selection of books especially for kids going into Kindergarten!
Berenstain, Stan
Sister Bear, nervous about entering Kindergarten, overcomes her fears when she discovers that school is really fun.
Carlson, Nancy Henry's 100 Days of Kindergarten
To celebrate the one-hundredth day of Kindergarten, each student brings in an example of 100 for show-and-tell, including a 100-year-old relative and 100 jelly beans.
Even though Henry is looking forward to going to Kindergarten, he is not sure about staying once he gets there.
Dexter knows everything there is to know about Kindergarten and is not scared about his first day there, but his stuffed dog, Rufus, is very nervous.
Tom is not happy that his younger sister, Alice, is starting kindergarten at his school.
This book identifies in English and Spanish objects and people found at school.
Rhyming text follows an excited little girl as she counts down the days before the start of Kindergarten.
A young boy lists all the things he will have to take with him on his first day of Kindergarten.
Harrison and Tucker always act and think alike as they are growing up, but when they go to Kindergarten and end up in different classrooms, they start to develop differences.
During his day at school, Max listens to and writes a story, plays on the playground, and eats lunch.
This book is a simple story about kindergarteners, and their teachers introduce the letter “k.”
Five-year-old Olivia's new neighbor is in her kindergarten class, and they must overcome feelings of jealousy and competitiveness to be friends.
Ten days before the start of kindergarten, a preschooler cannot tie her shoes by herself and fears the worst.
On the first day of school, after their kindergarten teacher scolds them for not sharing, a boy and a girl share their clothes and shoes.
A boy visits the classroom where he will attend kindergarten the following fall and finds out what is in store for him.
A young preschooler accompanies her big brother into kindergarten and discovers a fun atmosphere, full of blocks and books, paints and puzzles.
This book is a cumulative counting verse in which a child enumerates items in the kindergarten classroom, from the whole alphabet, A to Z, to twelve eggs for hatching.
Sam decides to send his toy monkey Timbo to kindergarten in his place, but after telling Timbo about his school friends and what his day is really like, he realizes he wants to go himself.
Activities in a happy, busy kindergarten classroom introduce the numbers one to ten.
From Adam throwing his hat too high to Zach setting the butterflies free, the students in Miss Bindergarten's class contribute to one wild day in kindergarten.
A brother and sister describe the things they love to do during their day at kindergarten.
Emily, a small rabbit, describes how she and her animal classmates learn from their kind teacher.
It's that time of year again! Here is a selection of books especially for kids going into 1st Grade!
Each member of the first grade class, as well as their teacher, principal, and bus driver, express excitement, worry, and hope as the first day of school begins.
Henry tells his mother that he did not like his first day of first grade, but as he describes what he did and what he learned, he begins to realize that he might enjoy it after all.
The first grade is distressed about an intelligence test which fails to measure true aptitude.
Alex has a hard time adjusting to his new first grade and tells wild stories to impress the other students.
Although she is smart, Tera must learn the importance of working together in a group project.
Gilbert's excitement over starting first grade turns to worry that the teacher will be mean, the work too hard, and his classmates too unfriendly, but throughout the day, there are pleasant surprises.
Maccarone, Grace Fun With First Grade Friends: The Lunch Box Surprise When Sam's mother forgets to pack his lunch, his friends in the first grade come to the rescue.
When his class goes to the zoo, Sam fails to keep up with the rest of the group and gets lost.
Everyone in Miss Conner's first-grade class loves their visitor, Sparky the bunny, except Reza, who tries to overcome his fear when the teacher gives him a special job.
Junie B. thinks first grade is a flop when her kindergarten friend Lucille prefers the company of twins Camille and Chenille and Junie B. needs glasses.
A small boy wonders what first grade will be like, but isn't sure that he wants to find out.
First-grader Haley wishes she were back having fun in kindergarten with her old teacher, until she finds out that first grade is special too.
Despite his older sister's dire warnings of all the terrible things that could go wrong on the first day in the second grade, Ben has a wonderful time.
We hope you enjoy this great list of sports fiction for young readers of all ages!
Click on each link to see if a book is currently available.
Picture Books & Early Readers
Picture Books and Early Readers are typically suitable for children ages 2 – 7, and encompass books that can be shared as well as books for children to read on their own. Picture books can be found in the Picture Book Room, and Early Readers span the wall before Juvenile Fiction in the Youth Services Department. To distinguish them from other collections, Early Readers have a blue stripe across their spine label. Both collections are shelved alphabetically by the author's last name.
Carlson, Nancy Get Up and Go!
Chaconas, Doris Cork and Fuzz: Good Sports
Clayton, Elain A Blue Ribbon For Sugar
Corey, Shana Players in Pigtails
Egan, Tim Roasted Peanuts
Farrell, John It's Just A Game
Foreman, Michael Wonder Goal!
Friend, David Baseball, Football, Daddy and Me
Haas, Jessie Scamper and the Horse Show
Hamm, Mia Winners Never Quit
Heine, Helme The Boxer and the Princess
Kennedy, X. J. Elympics
Koch, Ed Eddie: Harold's Little Brother
Kolar, Bob Racer Dogs
Kuskin, Karla The Dallas Titans Get ready for Bed
Lasky, Katherine Tumble Bunnies
London, Jonathan Froggy Plays Soccer
Madison, Alan Pecorino Plays Ball
McKissack, Robert Try Your Best
Rex, Michael Dunk Skunk
Rockwell, Anne Chip and the Karate Kick
Seastar Books Sport Stories You'll have a Ball With
Shaughnessay, Dan The Legend of the Curse of the Bambino
Taylor, Sean Boing
Juvenile Fiction
Juvenile Fiction is typically suitable for children ages 8 – 13. This collection is housed in the back area of the Youth Services Department, in alphabetical order by the author's last name. The paperback books are shelved in a separate area, closer to the Youth Services Desk.
Bledsoe, Lucy Jane Hoop Girlz
When ten-year-old River, who is crazy about basketball, is not chosen to play in the tournament set up in the town of Azalea, Oregon, she decides to organize her own team and accepts the help of her older brother.
Barry McGee, hit-away batter for the Peach Street Mudders, enjoys winning so much that he has the tendency to bend the rules; then the dirty tactics of the pitcher on a rival team give him a new perspective on sports ethics.
This book is a collection of sport stories by such authors as Enid Bagnold, P.G. Wodehouse, Ring Lardner, and Teresa Duder.
Hamilton High's basketball team needs help desperately in order to climb in this year's standings. The new transfer student, Chris Patton, could be their answer, but insists he's not interested. This book is a compelling story for a young man's struggle to make peace with his past and himself.
While trying to focus on a winner soccer season, thirteen-year-old Tess becomes involved in local politics when she learns that all sports programs at her school will be stopped unless a tax levy is passed.
Thirteen-year-old Whisper, who hates sports, is torn when she gets a chance to win a million dollars by kicking a goal against a local soccer hero.
When Michael Brown's mother remarries and Michael's last name changes to Jordan, the kids at his new school expect him to be like his namesake on the basketball court, but unfortunately this Michael is terrible at sports.
Hughes, Dean Home Run Hero
The players on his summer league baseball team, the Scrappers, have some talent, but Wilson is discouraged because they have an attitude problem and trouble working together as a team.
Krensky, Stephen Arthur and the Recess Rookie
Arthur challenges Francine to a game of kickball to prove to her that a person does not have to be a great athlete to be important to the team.
Napoli, Donna Jo Sly the Sleuth and the Sports Mysteries
Sly users her detective skills to solve the case of the soccer switch, the kick craze and the basketball blues.
Paratore, Coleen Mack McGinn's Big Win
Whether the prize is a soccer trophy or the esteem of Danville's elite, the McGinn family believes in winning, but while striving to prove he can be best at something, sixth-grader Mack inadvertently demonstrates to his parents and older brother what really matters most.
Already downhearted due to the loss of her mother and her father's overwhelming grief, thirteen-year-old Fran decides to give up her dream of becoming the first female in professional baseball after a coach attacks her just for being a girl.
As a dedicated runner, a teenage boy has always managed to distance himself from other people until the experience of coaching one of his teammates on the track team gradually helps him see the value of giving and receiving.
Wallace, Rich Losing Is Not An Option
This book contains eleven episodes in the life of a young man, from sneaking into his tenth football game in a row with his best friend in sixth grade to running his last high school race, the Pennsylvania state championships.
West, Tracey Sporty Sprite
Violet's team is ready for the big soccer game, but the older team has a secret weapon – Sport. Sport thinks her team should always win, and she'll cheat to help them score goals. Will Violet and Sprite be able to defeat Sport's magic?
YA Fiction
YA Fiction is typically suitable for young people ages 14 - 17. This collection is housed in the back area of the Youth Services Department, in alphabetical order by the author's last name. To distinguish them from other collections, the books have a “YA” sticker on their spines. The paperback YA books are shelved in a separate area, closer to the Youth Services Desk.
Candum, Michael Heat
A teenage diving champion must deal with the aftermath of a diving accident and her attorney's father's remarriage and subsequent arrest for fraud.
Candum, Michael Redhanded
Since he cannot depend on his father, Stephen feels as though his only chance to make it to the big boxing tournament is to go along with the dangerous plan of a local tough guy to whom he has been introduced by a thrill-seeking friend.
Carter, Alden R. Love, Football, and Other Contact Sports
Love and football are just the tip of the iceberg in this poignant and raucously funny series of interconnected stories. Here, an unforgettable cast of students—from football player to artsy brain and quiet outcast—learn the rules of football, of love, and of life.
Gallo, Donald Ultimate Sports: Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults
This book is a collection of sixteen short stories about teenage athletes written by well-known authors in the field, including award-winning novelists Robert Lipsyte and Chris Crutcher.
Hoobs, Will Downriver
Fifteen-year-old Jessie and the other rebellious teenage members of a wilderness survival school team abandon their adult leader, hijack his boats, and try to run the dangerous white water at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
Shoeless Joe is about baseball, but it's also about love and the power of dreams to make people come alive. Will you be among the Iowa dreamers who can see a cornfield stadium filled with baseball's greatest heroes?
Recruited by a small Midwestern college to play basketball, a boy from Harlem has many new experiences, including working with child who needs physical therapy and dealing with corruption in college sports.
A teenage basketball player from Harlem is befriended by a former professional who, after being forced to quit because of a point shaving scandal, hopes to prevent other young athletes from repeating his mistake.
Sixteen-year-old Slam Harris is counting on his noteworthy basketball talents to get him out of the inner city and give him a chance to succeed in life, but his coach sees things differently.
Seventeen-year-old Sticky lives for basketball and plays at school and at the Lincoln Rec Center in Los Angeles, but he is unaware of many dangers—including his own past—that threaten his dream of playing professionally.
Ever since he went up against the locals and broke into the lineup, Kai has had his own crew. Spazzy is a summer kid with a lot of fancy gear. But on the board he's good—despite everything going against him. Spazzy wants to be in the local competition, but he can't do it without Kai.
Two high school basketball stars—one black and one white—experience the justice system differently after committing a crime together and getting caught.
“Get in the Game: Read!” here is a list of some sporty selections for young readers
J E Non-Fiction
A Picture Book of Jesse Owens by David A. Adler
Campy: The Story of Roy Campanella by David A. Adler
Andy Roddick by David Armentrout
Teammates by Tiki and Ronde Barbe
Score! You Can Play Soccer by Nick Fauchald
My Baseball Book by Gail Gibbons
Hank Aaron: Brave In Every Way by Peter Golenbock
H is for Home Run: A Baseball Alphabet by Brad Herzog
Rock Climbing: A Level Two Reader by Cynthia Klingel
Skateboarding: A Level Two Reader by Cynthia Klingel
What is an Athlete? by Barbara Lehn
Karate Boy by Ann Morris
Float Like a Butterfly by Ntozake Shange
Wilma Rudolph by Victoria Sherrow
Juvenile Non-Fiction
by Maya Ajmera and Michael J. Regan
A variety of text and photographs from around the world to focus on various aspects of sports, including physical benefits, the importance of practice, and teamwork.
By Tiki & Ronde Barbe
Inspired by the childhood of NFL superstars Tiki and Ronde Barber, Kickoff is a story of teamwork, perseverance, and what it takes to be a champion.
by Evaleen Hu
This book discusses the commercial aspects of professional sports, examining sportsmanship, contracts, broadcasting rights, salaries, and more.
by Daniel King
King's book introduces the rules and strategies of chess, as well as the game's history with information on some of the great players and matches.
by Kathleen Krull
This compilation presents twenty true stories of athletes—mostly admirable, occasionally quirky—whose physical accomplishments create a world of thrills and spills.
by Sanoe Lake
This easy-to-read, how-to manual has sections on surfing culture, history, and just about everything else related to the sport.
by Adam Lerner
In this imaginary football game, the players become team general managers who are responsible for assembling the best possible team for an upcoming contest.
By Pellom McDaniels III
This book presents the struggles, failures, and successes of people of different backgrounds who aspired to be professional athletes and suggests ways to lay the foundation for a sports career.
by Sue Macy and Jane Gottesman
This book portrays the joy and dedication of women athletes participating in a variety of sports.
by Sue Macy
By using photographs, this book tells the story of women in sports throughout history, and how they have changed sports for girls today.
By Jeffrey A. Margolis
This book discusses the issues related to manifestations of violent behavior in sports at all levels of competition and the effect of this violence on society.
by Don Nace
This book presents a clear, step-by-step approach to learning and succeeding in bowling.
by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo
Here's a book full of amazing stories that may have made headlines in local newspapers, but have been forgotten over the years.
by Ken Rappoport
This book examines the lives of ten professional basketball players who overcame various obstacles on their way to success in the NBA.
by Leslie Strudwick
This book chronicles the lives of and achievements of talented women athletes, including speed skater Bonnie Blair, gymnast Nadia Comenici, and track star Wilma Rudolph.
