OLYMPICS & SPORTS BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
With the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic games in mind, it is a great time to delve deep into books about sports and to learn all about skills such as teamwork and perseverance, "meet" athletes and find out what makes them successful (and sometimes not!), as well as delve into some of the different sports that are played around the world! Please find lists of ideas below to get your sports reading started. And if you have more ideas to add to this page (because there are many more!), please let us know your favorites at rifnova@gmail.com.
Interested in getting into the Olympic spirit? Learn some of the facts! Did you know, for example, that "the last time the Summer Olympics were held in Paris in 1924, women made up 5% of the athletes. One hundred years later, women will make up 50% of athletes for the first time ever! The 2024 Paris Olympic Games will be the first Games to reach full gender parity. Out of the 10,500 athletes participating in the Games, 5,250 will be men and 5,250 women." -- via The female athlete project.
More Olympic facts "that will blow your mind" may be found here. This blog notes that the first Olympic Games took place in the 8th century BC/BCE in Olympia, Greece. They were held every four years for 12 centuries. Then, in the 4th century AD/CE, all pagan festivals were banned by Emperor Theodosius I, and the Olympics were no more until 1500 years later.
Interested in getting into the Olympic spirit? Learn some of the facts! Did you know, for example, that "the last time the Summer Olympics were held in Paris in 1924, women made up 5% of the athletes. One hundred years later, women will make up 50% of athletes for the first time ever! The 2024 Paris Olympic Games will be the first Games to reach full gender parity. Out of the 10,500 athletes participating in the Games, 5,250 will be men and 5,250 women." -- via The female athlete project.
More Olympic facts "that will blow your mind" may be found here. This blog notes that the first Olympic Games took place in the 8th century BC/BCE in Olympia, Greece. They were held every four years for 12 centuries. Then, in the 4th century AD/CE, all pagan festivals were banned by Emperor Theodosius I, and the Olympics were no more until 1500 years later.
Olympics related books...
• Popsugar has a list of 20 picture books "for kids to read before the Summer Olympics" that are both inspirational and motivating!
• Learning through Literature has created a list of great books to introduce children to the history and traditions of the Olympics as well as some inspiring Olympic athletes. In addition, the link offers some fun learning and activity ideas to go with Olympic-inspired reading! Find that link by clicking here.
• Bookroo offers a list of 42 "best Olympics kids books," with a separate listing at the same site of its top ten. Find that here.
• Author and literacy advocate Maya Smart has curated a list of 25 "inspiring picture books to celebrate the Olympics, saying, "These inspiring picture books will have your little ones dreaming big!" Click here for her suggestions.
• A Mighty Girl offers a listing a books about girls and women in sports and the Olympics that can be found by clicking here.
• The We Are Teachers website site offers a list of 21 books celebrating the Olympics. That's here!
• Staying Cool in the Library has curated a list of 10 suggestions to "get kids excited for the Olympics." Click here for that!
• Book People offers several pages of ideas for book purchases about the Olympics, Paralympics, athletes, and sports more broadly. That link is available here.
• A list of Olympics chapter books can be found on the Peanut Butter Fish Lessons website by clicking here.
• For a list of the "Best children's books about the Olympics and Paralympics" curated by Books for Topics (a site that lists books for classrooms by age group and topic), click here.
Sports books beyond the Olympics...
• All About Learning Press, a program helping students learn how to read and spell, has compiled a group of books for sports lovers here!
• The Cardboard Connection has a list of "32 Beautiful Picture Books that capture sports magic and history." It can be found here.
• Elementary Librarian, a community of elementary school librarians, has a list of the best picture books about sports here!
• Pocket of Preschool has a list of 58 Sports Books for Little Learners.
• Bookroo has curated a list of sports and recreation books; find it here.
• Brightly offers a list of sports books for kids of all ages, ranging from babies (0-2) to teens (13+). Find details here!
• For books to introduce kids of all ages to female sports trailblazers, visit the A Mighty Girl “Sports & Games” book section by clicking this link.
• The Scholastic Teacher Store has many sports books for purchase. Find that here.
• Epic! offers a list of nonfiction books about a variety of sports -- from soccer to basketball to martial arts. Books can be selected by parents, educators, and even students! Find that list here.
• Popsugar has a list of 20 picture books "for kids to read before the Summer Olympics" that are both inspirational and motivating!
• Learning through Literature has created a list of great books to introduce children to the history and traditions of the Olympics as well as some inspiring Olympic athletes. In addition, the link offers some fun learning and activity ideas to go with Olympic-inspired reading! Find that link by clicking here.
• Bookroo offers a list of 42 "best Olympics kids books," with a separate listing at the same site of its top ten. Find that here.
• Author and literacy advocate Maya Smart has curated a list of 25 "inspiring picture books to celebrate the Olympics, saying, "These inspiring picture books will have your little ones dreaming big!" Click here for her suggestions.
• A Mighty Girl offers a listing a books about girls and women in sports and the Olympics that can be found by clicking here.
• The We Are Teachers website site offers a list of 21 books celebrating the Olympics. That's here!
• Staying Cool in the Library has curated a list of 10 suggestions to "get kids excited for the Olympics." Click here for that!
• Book People offers several pages of ideas for book purchases about the Olympics, Paralympics, athletes, and sports more broadly. That link is available here.
• A list of Olympics chapter books can be found on the Peanut Butter Fish Lessons website by clicking here.
• For a list of the "Best children's books about the Olympics and Paralympics" curated by Books for Topics (a site that lists books for classrooms by age group and topic), click here.
Sports books beyond the Olympics...
• All About Learning Press, a program helping students learn how to read and spell, has compiled a group of books for sports lovers here!
• The Cardboard Connection has a list of "32 Beautiful Picture Books that capture sports magic and history." It can be found here.
• Elementary Librarian, a community of elementary school librarians, has a list of the best picture books about sports here!
• Pocket of Preschool has a list of 58 Sports Books for Little Learners.
• Bookroo has curated a list of sports and recreation books; find it here.
• Brightly offers a list of sports books for kids of all ages, ranging from babies (0-2) to teens (13+). Find details here!
• For books to introduce kids of all ages to female sports trailblazers, visit the A Mighty Girl “Sports & Games” book section by clicking this link.
• The Scholastic Teacher Store has many sports books for purchase. Find that here.
• Epic! offers a list of nonfiction books about a variety of sports -- from soccer to basketball to martial arts. Books can be selected by parents, educators, and even students! Find that list here.