Just Do It: Sports Reads for Second Grade & Younger

Board Books

  • Colman, Michelle Sinclair. Sporty Babies Wear Sweats. 2010.
    This book showcases the athletic prowess of trendy tykes who dribble, huddle, sprint and do pull-ups—all to secure a special spot in their family's Hall of Fame.
  • Jordan, Christopher. Hockey ABC. 2011.
    The letters of the alphabet introduce the teams in the National Hockey League, the history and equipment of professional hockey and other details about the sport, from the arenas where games take place to the Zamboni that cleans the ice.

Picture Books

  • Gurth, Per-Henrik. Hockey Opposites. 2010.
    Find out about opposites on the hockey rink with this fun picture book story.
  • Lord, Cynthia. Hot Rod Hamster! 2010.
    A hamster, with the help of a canine junkyard dealer and his mouse assistants, builds a hot rod and drives it in a race against some very large dogs.
  • Manning, Archie. Family Huddle. 2009.
    During a trip to visit both sets of grandparents in Mississippi, brothers Eli, Cooper and Peyton, and their father, Archie Manning, take advantage of every opportunity to play football, practice plays or play sports trivia games.
  • Nevius, Carol. Baseball Hour. 2008.
    Learn what to expect at a typical baseball practice. From warm ups to sliding feet first into home plate, up-close illustrations and rhyming text capture the exuberance of baseball practice.
  • Spradlin, Michael P. Baseball from A to Z. 2010.
    Learning about baseball has never been so much fun! From a pitching Ace to a strike Zone, this energetic alphabet book covers all the bases of America's favorite pastime.
  • Sylvester, Kevin. Splinters: This Girl Needs a Miracle. 2010.
    Cindy, a poor girl, but talented hockey player, must deal with the jealous blister sisters. Enter fairy goaltender for a "happily ever after" story.

Readers

  • Arnold, Tedd. Hooray for Fly Guy! 2008.
    Fly Guy joins Buzz's football team, despite Coach's misgivings, and hits the field for a special, secret play.
  • Heller, Alyson. After School Sports Club: Soccer Day. 2009.
    At the After School Sports Club, Sammy is not as good at soccer as the other children, but he keeps trying to improve before the parents come for Open House.
  • Hill, Susan. Strike Three, Marley!
    When Daddy and Cassie go to a baseball game with their dog in tow, Marley not only roots for the home team—he howls!
  • Sacks, Marcy Goldberg. Play Ball! 2009.
    Martha's an expert at playing catch, but her friend Truman is not. Can a dog teach a human new tricks?
  • Willems, Mo. Watch Me Throw the Ball! 2009.
    Gerald the elephant tries to tell Piggie that ball-throwing is serious business, but Piggie just wants to have fun.

Biographies

  • Playing to Win: the Story of Althea Gibson by Karen Deans. 2007. [JB Gibson Althea]
    Growing up in Harlem, Althea Gibson was heading down the wrong path until she found her calling. She went on to become the first African American women to be ranked as the number one woman tennis player in the world.
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Nascar Champions) by Nicole Pristash. 2009. [JB Earnhardt Dale]
    This biography introduces NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., discussing how he became involved in the sport, his early success in the Busch Series, and the progress of his career as a race car driver.
  • Day by Day with LeBron James. 2010. [JB LeBron James]
    Although James has been in the news for leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat, this is more about James himself, and the text paints his life in broad strokes: how he plays, his accomplishments and his charity work.
  • Eli Manning (Big Buddy Biographies) by Sarah Tieck. 2009. [JB Manning Eli]
    This brief biography profiles the life and career of New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
  • Jackie Robinson (Basic Biographies) by Cynthia Amoroso. 2010. [JB Robinson Jackie]
    A biography of Jackie Robinson, discussing his childhood and family, his athletic success in college, the racism he encountered in the Army and his baseball career with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
  • Wilma Rudolph (Pebble Books) by Eric Braun. 2006. [JB Rudolph Wilma]
    Simple text and photographs introduce the life of Wilma Rudolph, an Olympic runner, who overcame childhood illnesses to become the first American to win three gold medals in the Olympics.

revised April 2011