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Best Children's Basketball Books

The Crossover
But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood from Kwame Alexander. Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family. Gr 6–10—Twins Josh and Jordan are junior high basketball stars, thanks in large part to the coaching of their dad, a former professional baller who was forced to quit playing for health reasons, and the firm, but loving support of their assistant-principal mom. Jordan starts dating the "pulchritudinous" Miss Sweet Tea, and Josh has a tough time keeping his jealousy and feelings of abandonment in control. While there are some differences—Josh shaves his head and Jordan loves his locks—both twins adhere to the Bell basketball rules: In this game of life, your family is the court, and the ball is your heart. With a former professional basketball player dad and an assistant principal mom, there is an intensely strong home front supporting sports and education in equal measures.
Reviews
"My son absolutely loved this book!"
"Nice quick read for the sports minded."
"My son loved the book and its moral!"
"I teach middle school, and my students, boys especially, absolutely love it..... even though it is more like poetry than prose."
"Alexander is a genius!"
"My 9 year old son loved the characters and the story."
"I may not be a three pointer, but this book is relative on so many levels."
"**That's a huge compliment because Crossover is the only book Charles has read all year."
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Travel Team
For fans of The Bad News Bears, Hoosiers, the Mighty Ducks, and Mike Lupica's other New York Times bestselling novels Heat , The Underdogs , and Million-Dollar Throw , here is a book that proves that when the game knocks you down, champions stand tall. When he fails to make the seventh-grade travel team, he also fails to follow in the footsteps of his legendary father, Richie Walker, who led his own 12-year-old team to win the nationals and whose career was tragically ended by a car accident. Danny and the others cut from the travel team predictably form their own squad, coached by his father who battles alcoholism (and another car accident!). Danny Walker is crushed when he doesn't make the Vikings, the seventh-grade basketball team. He is told that he is too short, but he suspects that the real reason has something to do with the bad blood between his divorced father (a former NBA star whose career was cut short by a car accident) and Mr. Ross, the father of the team's best player.
Reviews
"Summer reading project. By: Gianni Leonardo. Travel team. Book review. This book is about a young basketball player named Danny Walker. They then won a couple of games and eventually made playoffs. After that, the best player, who breaks his wrist later on, joins the Middletown Vikings. I think if you play basketball or any sport in general and you are having trouble of making the team this book will show you to not have doubt, to be confident and keep trying."
"I ordered Travel Team and Hero by the same author Mike Lupica mainly for the book Hero which I had seen in a store and Travel Team because while researching Hero on Amazon.com it had good reviews. After finishing Travel Team I read Hero, a big disappointment."
"My son's favorite author!"
"I loved this book and everything about it!"
"This book is so so tragic, but has a sweet ending."
"My son absolutely love this book."
"I loved this book so much!!"
"It was very well written and had me at the edge of my seat through out the whole book wanting to know what would happen next!"
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LeBron James: The Children's Book: The Boy Who Became King
This Fully illustrated picture book biography tells the story of a young boy and his loving, single mother and their struggle to make it on their own. Author/Illustrator, Anthony Curcio has a B.A.
Reviews
"This children's book about the life of LeBron James, an award winning professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, is filled with positive values and heart warming acts of kindness that no doubt helped to shape the life of this exceptional man known as King James."
"The illustrations are amazing."
"Aside from the fact that Lebron is a great player, my grandson was amazed at Lebron’s philanthropy."
"What an awesome story about LeBron James."
"We love this book my 7 year old son makes time to read it over and over lol."
"Anthony did a great job portraying the life of one of the best basketball players ever."
"I plan on reading it to my students for our college and career unit."
"Absolutely loved the book."
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Best Children's Baseball Books

Goodnight Baseball (Fiction Picture Books)
A sweet, nostalgic goodnight to the thrill of a baseball game. A fun, comforting bedtime story for sports fans.-Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canadaα(c) Copyright 2013. Father and son enter through a turnstile, find their seats, buy hot dogs from a vendor, stand up for the seventh inning stretch, and watch a home run hit. In the book’s second section, the energetic four-beat lines of rhyming, rhythmic text slow to a gentler cadence mimicking lines from Goodnight Moon, as the boy and his dad wander across the field, through the dugout, out of the park, and homeward, saying good night to the grass, popcorn boxes, and so on. Though the story includes bits of mild fantasy, picture books about visiting a ballpark can be hard to find, and this one delivers the highlights of that experience in an easy-to-follow text illustrated with jaunty digital artwork.
Reviews
"One of my favorite books to read to my twins (who are 7 weeks old, jury is still out on if they like it or not lol)."
"This was SUCH a HIT!"
"Of course he falls asleep at the end (both the boy in the book and my son)."
"We love Goodnight Football but this one just doesn't have the same rhythm."
"Great buy."
"I sent this book to my grandson & he asks for it every night at bedtime."
"I am disappointed though because some of the pages are already falling out of the book."
"Our son loves the story and the pictures, but unfortunately the book itself was so poorly made (soft-back version) that the first five pages or so fell out within about a month and a half of gentle bedtime-story use."
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Best Children's Football Books

Crash
Cocky seventh-grade super-jock Crash Coogan got his nickname the day he used his first football helmet to knock his cousin Bridget flat on her backside. "Without being preachy, Spinelli packs a powerful moral wallop, leaving it to the pitch-perfect narration to drive home his point" -- Publishers Weekly. Ever since first grade "Crash" Coogan has been tormenting dweeby Penn Ward, a skinny vegetarian Quaker boy who lives in a tiny former garage with his aged parents. And when his beloved grandfather Scooter is severely disabled by a stroke, Crash no longer sees the fun in playing brutal pranks and begins to realize that there are more important things in life than wearing new sneaks and being a sports star. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. Grade 5-8?A winning story about seventh-grade Crash Coogan's transformation from smug jock to empathetic, mature young man.
Reviews
"This book was easy to read for a guy who doesn't like to read much."
"Here down in Missouri (no, I don't have that ol' south accent, you know what I'm talking about) it won the Mark Twain Nomination for the 1998-99 School Year."
"Great book about a bully from his perspective and the perspective of the bullied."
"It's a great read especially for your boys who really love sports."
"Great story of dealing with loss via teenage ankst."
"This was a reading assignment for school."
"Read the book you'll laugh, and have your own thoughts defiantly."
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Best Children's Hockey Books

Z is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet (Sports Alphabet)
Matt Napier's "breakaway" rhymes and "hard-checking" expository text team up with the "top-shelf" illustrations of Melanie Rose to elucidate this increasingly popular game for every beginning hockey aficionado. Kindergarten-Grade 4-From "A is for Arena./The game is played in here,/a building where the fans all gather/to clap and boo and cheer" to "-Zamboni for Z-/a machine that cleans the ice,/ensuring for tomorrow's game/a surface smooth and nice," this volume introduces various aspects of the sport and some highlights from its history. L. R. Little, Penticton Public Library, British Columbia, Canada Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. "This volume introduces various aspects of the sport and some highlights from its history...
Reviews
"My hockey player and hockey obsessed son loves reading this to his little baby sister."
"It's a board book, so nothing too big to report on that part, but whoever illustrated and wrote this book, was creative and spot on!"
"Bought it as part of a shower gift for my hockey fan boss- the book itself is great but it arrived a little dinged up."
"Adorable book for any hockey lover."
"Looks like a little kids book, but very detailed."
"Grandson loves hockey so he enjoyed it!"
"Another book for hockey loving children."
"Super cute baby shower gift!"
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Best Children's Gymnastics Books

I Got This: To Gold and Beyond
Gold medal-winning Olympic gymnast and Dancing with the Stars champion Laurie Hernandez shares her story in her own words in this debut book for fans of all ages—with never-before-seen photos! Laurie Hernandez is an American gymnast, an Olympic gold medalist, and a beloved cast member on Dancing with the Stars .
Reviews
"You can read about her life and summer olympics how she get back from her injury."
"book bought for a school.to .teach kindness and courage."
"Interesting read, more for a younger reader."
"bought for my niece, she loved it."
"My daughter loves the book."
"I watched Laurie Hernandez compete in the Olympics and Dancing With the Stars."
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Best Children's Soccer Books

Tangerine
The chaos is compounded by constant harassment from his football–star brother, and adjusting to life in Tangerine isn’t easy for Paul—until he joins the soccer team at his middle school. Living in surreal Tangerine County, Fla., a legally blind boy begins to uncover the ugly truth about his football-hero brother. PW praised Bloor for "wedding athletic heroics to American gothic with a fluid touch and flair for dialogue."
Reviews
"Highly engaging and beautiful book for middles schoolers (7th grade and up would enjoy this book, especially if they are into soccer)."
"So good the school put it on the required reading list."
"I picked this book up because my seventh grade boys are reading it for English, and I wanted to be able to discuss it with them, and I can't wait for them to get further in. Most importantly, the book follows seventh grade Paul in his journey toward personal integrity."
"granddaughter's for school - states it was okay."
"I'm a 46 year-old Mom and I bought this book because of the great reviews, but I didn't know which son to give it to. It's well-written, it's gripping, it's multi-layered, and it manages to keep track of multiple story arcs within itself without dropping any or using any sort of deux ex machina to get out of any. Not that the reading level is too difficult, but I think the content is too dark and the layers perhaps too subtle for a 10 year-old."
"Loved this book, my 7th grader was given it as assigned reading for English class and I wanted to see what they were reading."
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Best Children's Camping Books

S Is for S'mores: A Camping Alphabet (Alphabet Books)
Veteran camper Helen Foster James tackles topics such as unique camping environments, equipment necessities, famous conservationists, and national parks and other attractions. Whether your idea of "roughing it" is a blanket in your own backyard or the subarctic ecosystem of Alaska's Denali National Park, S is for S'mores is a fun and informative guide that is sure to help campers of all ages make the most of their wilderness adventures.Helen Foster James started researching this book when she was four years old - that's when she went on her first camping trip. Helen Foster James, author of S is for S’Mores: A Camping Alphabet , started researching for this book when she was just four- years old---when she went on her first camping trip!
Reviews
"Gave this to my daughter as a gift for her camping themed birthday party."
"Oh you will love this book with its beautiful pictures and nice story."
"Books for kids are always fun!"
"Excellent book for our granddaughter, age 4."
"I love the illustrations and detail with every page."
"great book, great service."
"The cutest book for a family who loves the outdoors, camping, and/or traveling."
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Best Children's Martial Arts Books

Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja 3: Rise of the Red Ninjas (a hilarious adventure for children ages 9-12)
Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja 3: Rise of the Red Ninjas is a funny thriller that's entertaining for children, middle school students, and adults.
Reviews
"This is a great book for any kid who simply wants to enjoy reading."
"My 9 year old son hates to read ...but he LOVES these and it keeps him reading without complaint!"
"First chapter book my eight year old son has enjoyed."
"Grandkids love the Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja series."
"I bought this book for my 9 year old son and he loved it!"
"I know the kid will like it because I like it."
"It was a gift to my grandson."
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Best Children's Cycling Books

Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah's inspiring true story—which was turned into a film, Emmanuel's Gift, narrated by Oprah Winfrey—is nothing short of remarkable. A triumph.—Kathryn Diman, Bass Harbor Memorial Library, Bernard, ME Awards: Winner of the ALA Youth Media Awards Schneider Family Children's Book Award An Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Notable Children's Book for 2016 Listed in CCBC Choices 2016 by the Cooperative Children's Book Center Recipient of a 2015 Eureka Honor Award from the California Reading Association Finalist for the 2015 Cybils Award for Elementary/Middle Grade Non-Fiction Finalist for the 2016-2017 Georgia Children's Picturebook (Gr.
Reviews
"When Emmanuel loses his mother as a teenager, he is determined to honor her by showing everyone “that being disabled does not mean being unable.” Emmanuel organizes and completes a 400-mile bike ride across Ghana to bring attention to the difficulties the disabled in the country face."
"This is a lovely story, beautifully illustrated."
"Inspiring story, perfect for a child with special needs who must overcome huge obstacles."
"The moving true story of a boy in Ghana who has the courage to overcome a disability and become a respected adult."
"Beautiful Story!!!"
"Looking for children's book that explained inclusion amongst diverse cultures."
"bought for a school to teach abt kindness and courage born w one leg ..he became a great cyclist."
"My son loves this book!"
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Best Children's Water Sports Books

Peppa Goes Swimming (Peppa Pig)
An all-new storybook featuring Peppa -- a lovable, slightly bossy little piggy!
Reviews
"It's also got value as a book to let a kid read by herself because it's simple and they can get the entire story just from the pictures. But the other Peppa books are better if you're looking to buy only 1 or 2."
"Great book."
"My Grand daughter loves Peppa & its a great stocking stuffer!"
"I read this book every night to my daughter at bedtime."
"This little story is one of my 2 year old's favorites."
"Very cute."
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Best Children's Motor Sports Books

Monster Trucks! (Step into Reading)
It’s a monster truck! Susan E. Goodman has written numerous works of historical fiction and nonfiction for kids, including the Ultimate Field Trip series and beginning readers such as the Step into Reading titles Motorcycles!
Reviews
"Grandson loves monster trucks."
"My Nephew is crazy about monster trucks, he lives in India and you do not find books on monster truck."
"My son (3) loves monster trucks."
"This is probably my problem....I bought it for my 5 year old grandson and found it way more advanced than expected."
"This book comes up when you do a search for grave digger, which is my son's favorite monster truck."
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Best Children's Winter Sports Books

Stone Fox (Harper Trophy Book)
Willy and his brave dog Searchlight must face off against experienced racers, including a Native American man named Stone Fox, who has never lost a race. No one has ever beaten Stone Fox, an imposing and silent Native American, but little Willy trains daily for the race with his beloved dog, Searchlight. The fact that one sentence was left out of the narration of Stone Fox and a few words were dropped from Top Secret might deter purchase of this audiobook for a read-along program. Teresa Wittmann, St. Anthony School, Renton, WA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. “Gardiner’s description of the race and sudden climax (based on legend) is fast-paced and enveloping.”.
Reviews
"My son's fourth grade class read this for a book report."
"My grandson's second grade teacher reads this book to the class every year."
"my son, husband, and mother in law loved reading this book."
"I love this book so much it diverse more than one hundred golden globe awards I'm 12 yrs old now and I hate writing and reading sometimes I threw way homework but after I read this I think that other kids like me the type of kids that rather play video games than go to school but after kids like me read this were gonna change."
"Great Book."
"One of my students' favorites."
"Not a fan of this book, nor is my son."
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Best Children's Olympic Sports Books

Unbroken (The Young Adult Adaptation): An Olympian's Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive
In this captivating and lavishly illustrated young adult edition of her award-winning #1 New York Times bestseller, Laura Hillenbrand tells the story of a former Olympian's courage, cunning, and fortitude following his plane crash in enemy territory. On a May afternoon in 1943, an American military plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a sinking raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Featuring more than one hundred photographs plus an exclusive interview with Zamperini, this breathtaking odyssey—also captured on film by director Angelina Jolie—is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the ability to endure against the unlikeliest of odds. Gr 9 Up—Adapted from the best-selling adult book of the same name, this riveting account tells the story of Louis Zamperini, a thief turned track star, Olympian, airman, castaway, and prisoner of war. Though this is a strong, well-written work, the adult version is accessible and engaging; students are better off sticking with the original.—Stephanie Farnlacher, Trace Crossings Elementary School, Hoover, AL “This adaptation of Hillenbrand’s adult best-seller is highly dramatic and exciting, as well as painful to read as it lays bare man’s hellish inhumanity to man.”-- Booklist , STARRED. "This captivating book emphasizes the importance of determination, the will to survive against impossible odds, and support from family and friends.
Reviews
"The changes were immediately apparent: On the first page, the previous version read: Somewhere on the endless expanse of the Pacific Ocean, Army Air Forces bombardier and Olympic runner Louie Zamperini lay across a small raft, drifting westward. The new version read: Somewhere on the Pacific Ocean, American military airman and Olympic runner Louie Zamperini lay on a small raft, drifting. In a nutshell, Hillenbrand deleted "the endless expanse of," and simplified Zamperini's title from "Army Air Forces bombardier," to "American military airman." He is easily the bravest, most remarkable person I've ever read about, and a fine example of what we hope our young people will choose to emulate."
"I would recommend this book specifically to younger audiences because if you are an adult you should read the more complex version as it is more deep."
"Read at school, good for young adults."
"He was one of the most remarkable men I have ever read about. The recounting of their time in the raft, that they survived is due to the courage of the men, especially Louie."
"Good book, my son (12) loves WWII stories."
"Here is a hero who changed his life from a boy always getting into trouble to a high school athlete, Olympic athlete, and outstanding member of WWII armed forces."
"It shares such am amazing story with so many things to learn and to apply to our own lives."
"Got this book for my 11 year old."
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