Sports

• Picture (Easy) Books
• Young Readers
• Middle Readers
• Older Readers

Picture (Easy) Books

Alexander, It's Time for Bed! by Alex Lluch A delightful story of an adventurous young boy who does not want to go to bed.

Bats at the Ballgame by Brian Lies Two teams of bats play an exciting nighttime baseball game.

Clifford's Sports Day by Norman Bridwell Clifford's enthusiasm knows no limits when Emily Elizabeth takes her big red dog to Sports Day.

Family Huddle by Archie Manning During a trip to visit both sets of grandparents in Mississippi, brothers Eli, Cooper, and Peyton, and their father, former NFL star Archie Manning, take advantage of every opportunity to play football, practice plays, or play sports trivia games.

Froggy Plays Soccer by Jonathan London Froggy is ready for the big soccer game--his team is playing the Wild Things for the City Cup. All Froggy has to do is remember not to use his hands. But Froggy is busy doing cartwheels and picking daisies.

Gymnastics by Holly Karapetkova Young readers will learn about gymnastics through simple sentences and highly supportive pictures. Look for other titles in the "Sports for Sprouts" series.

Hello, Bearcat! by Mick Cronin Follow Bearcat around the UC campus as he makes his way to Fifth Third Arena for a Bearcats basketball game.

Just a Baseball Game by Gina Mayer Little Critter is on his first Little League team, and he can’t wait to play! But when it’s time for the first game to begin, the Critterville Critters see who they’re up against–the Dinosaurs! They’re big, and they know how to hit the ball. Find out who’s the pro at sportsmanship!

Let's Play Sports! by Alison Inches It's Sports Day, and everyone is outside playing their favorite sports: basketball, sailing, football, soccer, and more! But Dora needs your help. Lift the flaps to help her discover which sport Boots wants to play!

Luke Goes to Bat by Rachel Isadora Luke is not very good at baseball, but his grandmother and sports star Jackie Robinson encourage him to keep trying.

Morgan Plays Soccer by Anne Rockwell Morgan Brownbear has trouble playing soccer until his coach, Mr. Monkey, finds the perfect position for him.

Pigs on the Ball: Fun with Math and Sports by Amy Axelrod The Pig family visits a miniature golf course and learns about shapes, angles, and geometry.

Ready, Set, Swim! by Gail Donovan Rainbow Fish and his friends hold their own sports day, but soon Spike becomes a whining sore loser while Puffer becomes a boasting poor winner. Suddenly no one is having fun. It's up to Rainbow Fish and Dyna to set a good example and help everyone understand what it means to be a good sport and the importance of team spirit.

Sergio Saves the Game by Edel Rodriguez Although Sergio the penguin loves to play soccer, he is very clumsy and uncoordinated and he practices day and night, hoping he can help his team win the big game against the Seagulls.

Soccer Beat by Sandra Gilbert Brug The Rockets and Cheetahs, two spunky multi-animal teams, square off in this high energy, fast-paced game of soccer. Who will win this soccer meet?

SpongeBob's Slap Shot by David Lewman SpongeBob takes to the ice in this action-packed hockey story. Spotted by a scout as he expertly sweeps up the Krusty Krab, SpongeBob is drafted onto a pro-hockey team.

The Tortoise or the Hare by Toni Morrison An updated twist to the old race between the tortoise and hare!

What Am I Playing? by N/A Illustrations accompany words describing different sports and games.

The Worst Best Friend by Alexis O'Neill When a new boy named Victor arrives at school, Conrad temporarily forgets about his best friend Mike, but when Victor's desire to win makes him not want Conrad on his team, Mike and Conrad discover that they are still best friends after all.

Young Readers

Ballet Dancing by Kathryn Clay Ballet dance is smooth and graceful. Read along as ballet dancers pli and turn to the music.

Brian's Big Break by Tisha Hamilton After Brian injures his wrist playing baseball, he is worried that he will be unable to be a great sports star.

Cori Plays Football by Christine Florie Cori wants to join the football team, and she scores a touchdown at tryouts.

Cork & Fuzz: Good Sports by Dori Chaconas Cork is a short muskrat who likes to win at games. Fuzz is a tall possum who also likes to win at games. Two best friends. Both like to win. What will happen when they play games against each other?

Dunk Skunk by Michael Rex Sport actions rhyme with the names of animals who love to play, such as Goal Mole, Dunk Skunk, and Hurdle Turtle.

Football by Cynthia Amoroso A very simple introduction to the sport of football and how it is played. Look for other titles in the "Jump into Sports" series.

Good Luck Charlie by Jennifer E. Kramer Charlie tries to use lucky charms to win a baseball game, but all he really needs is his lucky pitching arm.

Hooray for the Dandelion Warriors! by Bill Cosby When Little Bill and his friends join the baseball team, they learn how to have fun, how to win, how to lose, how to cooperate, and how to compromise.

I Can Ski! by Melanie Davis Jones A boy goes to ski school and learns to ski.

The Kickball Game by Joseph P. Anderson During a game of kickball, Danny thinks he has made a horrible mistake, but Jenny shows him the humorous side of what he did.

Play Ball by Mercer Mayer Little Critter tries his hand at a variety of sports, including baseball, basketball, and soccer, while his dog Blue does his best to keep up.

Play Ball, Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish Amelia Bedelia, who knows very little about baseball, stands in for a sick player during a game.

Race Team by Dennis R. Shealy Red-hot race car Lightning McQueen and his faithful trailer, Mack, are back on the road—and headed to another big race!

Slower Than a Slug by Larry Dane Brimner A boy and his little sister argue in rhyme over who is faster, in this story told using opposites.

Sports! Sports! Sports!: A Poetry Collection by N/A A collection of poems celebrating the joy and anguish of baseball, basketball, football, ice hockey, soccer, skating, swimming, and running races.

Try Your Best by Robert L. McKissack Ann doesn't think she is very good at sports. Will she have any fun at her school's Sports Day? There's only one way to find out--she'll have to try her best!

Middle Readers

The Accidental Cheerleader by Mimi McCoy Sophie and her best friend, Kylie, are the perfect team. But when Kylie signs them both up for cheerleading tryouts, it's Sophie who lands in the spotlight -- and Kylie ends up on the sidelines.

Alice the Tennis Fairy by Daisy Meadows While everyone in Fairyland is getting ready for the Fairy Olympics, Jack Frost's goblins steal the Sports Fairies' magic objects, and Rachel and Kristy must snag Alice's magic racquet, the goblins are going to win --- game, set, and match!

Basketball Bats by Betty Hicks Henry and his basketball teammates, the Bats, take on the Tigers, and Henry learns a lesson about working as a team.

Bravo, Mia! by Laurence Yep Mia's chances of skating in regionals are threatened by a family crisis, but she determines to face the possibility that she won't get to compete with determination and grace.

Cheerleading Really Is a Sport by Julie Gassman Alicia's brother Danny and his friends are always putting down cheerleading, but she is determined to change their minds.

The Cincinnati Reds by Mark Stewart Presents the history, accomplishments and key personalities of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. Includes timelines, quotes, maps, glossary and website.

Game Day by Tiki Barber Twin brothers Tiki and Ronde Barber share a story of perseverance and teamwork from when they were growing up and playing for the Cave Springs Vikings before they became NFL superstars.

Goal! by Mina Javaherbin In a dangerous alley in a township in South Africa, the strength and unity which a group of young friends feel while playing soccer keep them safe when a gang of bullies arrives to cause trouble.

Good Luck, Ivy by Lisa Yee In 1976, Ivy must choose between participating in a gymnastics tournament and attending a family reunion.

Good Sports: Rhymes about Running, Jumping, Throwing, and More by Jack Prelutsky Exhilarating, all-new, kid-friendly rhymes capture the range of emotions, from winning to losing to the sheer joy of participating, that children experience as they discover the games of their choice.

Hot Hand: A Comeback Kids Novel by Mike Lupica In the wake of his parents' separation, ten-year-old Billy seems to have continual conflicts with his father, who is also his basketball coach, but his quiet, younger brother Ben, a piano prodigy, is having even more trouble adjusting, and only Billy seems to notice.

A Is for Amazing Moments: A Sports Alphabet by Brad Herzog Following the alphabet from A to Z, amazing and memorable sports moments are introduced with two-tier writing--poems and detailed side-bar text.

The Kids' Guide to Classic Games by Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt Are you and your friends bored out of your minds? Have no fear, The Kids' Guide to Classic Games is here. From ping-pong soccer to ultimate disc toss, this book is sure to keep the summer fun for all!

Moon Runner by Carolyn Marsden When Mina discovers that she can run faster than her athlete friend, Ruth, she thinks she must choose between running and friendship.

Players in Pigtails by Shana Corey Katie Casey, a fictional character, helps start the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which gave women the opportunity to play professional baseball while America was involved in World War II.

Porkopolis by Loren Long In the late 1800s, a baseball with strange powers belonging to their late father works wonders for three children and a travelling baseball team which must raise $10,000.

Score!: 50 Poems to Motivate and Inspire by Charles Ghigna Fifty energizing poems for children, parents, teachers, and coaches filled with fun metaphors and reassuring rhymes.

Slumpbuster by Kevin Markey Eleven-year-old slugger Banjo "The Great Walloper" Bishbash is overcome by a nasty hitting slump as he tries to lead the Rambletown Rounders to the division baseball championship. (Super Sluggers, Book 1)

Sports Camp by Rich Wallace Eleven-year-old Riley Liston tries to fit in at Camp Olympia, a summer sports camp where he is one of the youngest boys.

The Story of the Cincinnati Bengals by Sara Gilbert The history of the Cincinnati Bengals professional football team from its first season in 1968 to today, spotlighting the team's greatest players and most dramatic moments.

Three Cheers For-- Who? by Nancy Krulik When Katie's interest in cheerleading and Suzanne's jealousy threaten to cause a full-fledged spirit war to break out in class 4A, the magic wind switches Katie into the body of a real cheerleader, at the top of a pyramid.

Top of the Order by John Coy Ten-year-old Jackson lives for baseball, but becomes distracted by the approach of middle school, his mother's latest boyfriend, and the presence of a girl--his good friend's sister--on his team.

Older Readers

15 Minutes by Steve Young Seventh-grader Casey Little is always late until he discovers a magic watch that takes him back in time, a trick he uses both on and off the football field.

The 25 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time by Len Berman Who are the greatest baseball players of all time? Are there any Cincinnati Reds on the list? Short bios and wonderful pictures highlight each player's accomplishments.

Basketball (or Something like It) by Nora Raleigh Baskin Hank, Nathan, Jeremy, and Anabel deal with the realities of middle school basketball, including family pressure, a series of coaches with very different personalities and agendas, and what it means to be a team--and a friend.

Breakaway by Andrea Montalbano When seventh-grade soccer star LJ befriends Tabitha, who could not be more different from her, LJ learns to curb her competitive nature, which has been slowly alienating her friends.

The Desperado Who Stole Baseball by John H. Ritter In 1881, the scrappy, rough-and-tumble baseball team in a California mining town enlists the help of a quick-witted twelve-year-old orphan and the notorious outlaw Billy the Kid to win a big game against the National League Champion Chicago White Stockings.

Football Genius by Tim Green Troy, a sixth-grader with an unusual gift for predicting football plays before they occur, attempts to use his ability to help his favorite team, the Atlanta Falcons, but he must first prove himself to the coach and players. (Football Genius, Book 1)

Football Hero by Tim Green When twelve-year-old Ty's brother Thane is recruited out of college to play for the New York Jets, their Uncle Gus uses Ty to get insider information for his gambling ring, landing Ty and Thane in trouble with the Mafia.

The Girl Who Threw Butterflies by Mick Cochrane Eighth-grader Molly's ability to throw a knuckleball earns her a spot on the baseball team, which not only helps her feel connected to her recently deceased father, who loved baseball, it helps in other aspects of her life, as well.

The Million Dollar Goal by Dan Gutman Brother and sister twins, Dawn and Dusk, love hockey. Unfortunately, their dad hates the game, and their grandmother thinks they ought to be doing their homework. But, when their dad gets free tickets to a Canadiens game, he takes the whole family. The lucky fan who will get a chance to take a shot on goal for one million dollars will be chosen at the end of the game. Will Dawn or Dusk be the lucky one?

Slam Dunk! by Sharon Robinson At Harlem's Langston Hughes Middle School, eleven-year-old Elijah "Jumper" Breeze and his friends compete against Nia and her girlfriends on the basketball court, in a video dance tournament, and for a Student Council seat, and, meanwhile, several of the students face issues with their fathers.

Soccer Chick Rules by Dawn Fitzgerald While trying to focus on a winning 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.

Summer Ball by Mike Lupica Thirteen-year-old Danny must prove himself all over again for a disapproving coach and against new rivals at a summer basketball camp.

This is just a sample of some of the great books in our collection. Ask a librarian for more suggestions!
Interested in reading one of these books? Call or visit your favorite library and ask for it! You can also check the Library Catalog.