Theme: Soccer

Hope For Haiti

By Book Importer | Published: December 17, 2010

A young boy finds hope when he is given an old soccer ball to play with in the wake of Haiti’s devastating earthquake.

Descriptors: Caribbean, Early Years (ages 2-6), Haiti, Picture Book, Primary (ages 6-9), Realistic Fiction » Other Themes: , , , , , » Leave a comment

Goal!

By Book Importer | Published: July 7, 2010

A lyrical, strikingly illustrated story celebrates the unifying power of soccer. In a dusty township in South Africa, Ajani and his friends have earned a brand-new, federation-size soccer ball. They kick. They dribble. They run. They score. These clever boys are football champions! But when a crew of bullies tries to steal their ball, will [...]

Descriptors: Africa, Picture Book, Primary (ages 6-9), Realistic Fiction, South Africa » Other Themes: , » 1 Comment

Young Pele: Soccer’s First Star

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

HOW DID A POOR BOY named Edson – who kicked rocks down roads and dribbled balls made from rags – go on to become the greatest soccer player of all time? While other kids memorized letters, Edson memorized the scores of soccer matches. And when Edson finally played in a youth soccer tournament in the [...]

Descriptors: Biography, Brazil, Primary (ages 6-9) » Other Themes: , , , » Leave a comment

Silent Music

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

Like other children living in Baghdad, Ali loves soccer, music and dancing, but most of all, he loves the ancient art of calligraphy. When bombs begin to fall on his city, Ali turns to his pen, writing sweeping and gliding words to the silent music that drowns out the war all around him.

Descriptors: Iraq, Picture Book, Primary (ages 6-9), Realistic Fiction » Other Themes: , , , , , » Leave a comment

Keeper

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

An enthralling story of a poor and gawky kid who mysteriously becomes the world’s greatest goalkeeper — a seamless blend of magic realism and exhilarating soccer action.”And you found it, this thing you were looking for?”It was darker now, and the city below Faustino’s office was a jazzy dance of neon signs and traffic. The [...]

Descriptors: Database » Other Themes: , , , , , , , , , » Leave a comment

The Composition

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

In a village in Chile, Pedro and Daniel are two typical nine-year-old boys. Up until Daniel’s father gets arrested, their biggest worry had been how to improve their soccer skills. Now, they are thrust into a situation where they must grapple with the incomprehensible: dictatorship and its inherent abuses. This sensitively realized story touches a [...]

Descriptors: Chile, Intermediate (ages 9-14), Latin America, Primary (ages 6-9), Realistic Fiction » Other Themes: , , , , , , , , , , , , » Leave a comment

Babu’s Song

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

Bernardi lives with his mute grandfather, Babu, who supports them by making toys. Bernardi wishes he could go to school, but they can’t afford it. When a tourist offers a handsome price for the music box Babu gave him as a present, Bernardi regretfully sells it, giving the money to Babu. Babu uses the money [...]

Descriptors: Picture Book, Primary (ages 6-9), Realistic Fiction, Tanzania » Other Themes: , , , , , , » Leave a comment

Dani Bennoni

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

In Belgium in the summer of 1939, with his brother serving in the military, ten-year-old Bing asks his older neighbor, Dani, to repay a debt by teaching him to play soccer, but Dani refuses and sets Bing and his friend Lenny on a course for revenge.

Descriptors: Belgium, Historical Fiction, Intermediate (ages 9-14) » Other Themes: , » Leave a comment

Sam Is Not a Loser

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

Sam loves to play games—but he doesn’t like to lose. So when his soccer team is playing against a team of bigger kids, Sam decides not to play. But if he doesn’t even play, how can he ever win? Given the popularity of children’s sports, especially soccer, this is a timely topic.

Descriptors: Belgium, Early Years (ages 2-6), Fantasy, Picture Book » Other Themes: , » Leave a comment

The Penalty

By Rebecca Ballenger | Published: October 29, 2008

Paul Faustino, known as the best soccer journalist in the business, reluctantly investigates the disappearance of eighteen-year-old Ricardo, a soccer prodigy known as “El Brujito,” while in alternate chapters a slave in old San Juan becomes a powerful voodoo priest.

Descriptors: Intermediate (ages 9-14), Latin America, Mystery, Realistic Fiction » Other Themes: , , , , , , , , , » Leave a comment