Tag Archives: sports

Swimming

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This nonfiction book gives a good overview of swimming, including four basic strokes. equipment and safety. labeled photos accompany the simple text, with bolded words that might be unfamiliar. Those words are then defined in the glossary at the end of the book. Typical nonfiction features (table of contents, index, resource list, text boxes, labels) are present. An additional feature, which makes this book stand out over others is the number of QR codes, which link to extra resources. Once accessed, there are activity pages to print, videos and many other extras that take this book a step above the rest. While it is a fine introduction to the sport of swimming for young readers, the extra features will engage students and the adults around them. Highly recommended.

Basketball Records

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Young basketball enthusiasts will devour this slim volume of records detailed in glossy photos and succinct prose. Both NBA and WNBA records are included, along with the former record-holders. While there are no long lists of the sport’s record-holders, readers will appreciate the information about the current top placer. Those that want more will use this book as a jumping off point for further research.

Typical nonfiction features, such as captions, table of contents, glossary, bold words and index are included. Fans wanting more information are advised to go to the publisher’s ‘Factsurfer’ website.

Soccer Records

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Soccer is gaining in popularity at a fast pace and this book will satisfy your young sports enthusiasts’ craving for information. Both male and female athletes and teams are highlighted, with glossy photos an short descriptions of their record-breaking feats.

Typical nonfiction features are included: index, glossary, table of contents, bold words and captions. Suggested websites for further exploration are included. This book is attractively laid out and will not be on your shelves very often!

Baseball Records

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Baseball has been around for a very long time. As a result, there are many records that have been achieved and broken over the years. This book, part of the Incredible Sports Records series, goes into many team and individual records. Readers will learn about the longest game on record (26 innings!) to pitcher Cy Young’s long-time win record set in 1911. Not only are current, record-holders described; their predecessor is listed as well.

Young sports enthusiasts can rejoice in a book chock full of information about baseball greats over the long history of the sport. Glossy pictures and short write-ups detailing important records in the baseball are a pleasing addition to a somewhat crowded field of sports trivia books. Recommended.

Pro Wrestling

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Pro Wrestling is a high/low book that describes the sport, gives some history and sprinkles in some fun facts. All of this information is presented in short paragraphs with highlighted words that might be unfamiliar and are defined in the glossary. Photos typically spread over two pages and text is attractively inserted within. Wrestlers are varying in ethnicity and gender. This book is part of the Arena Events six-book series.

Pro wrestling is a big deal, even among the younger crowd. Many students are avid fans and this book will be a favorite. Written as a high interest/lower level volume, it will certainly attract its target audience of 3rd-6th graders, as well as those above and below. Pro wrestling has been around for sixty years and it doesn’t appear to be diminishing in popularity. So, the pop culture aspect of this book is somewhat moot. It should be relevant for some years to come. Update your sports section with this one!

Football Records

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Football Records, part of Blastoff! discover. Incredible sports records series, is a quick “dip your toes into the stats” kind of book. Glossy action shots of various record holders with short paragraphs and extras in scattered text boxes will leave the casual reader satisfied and the sports fanatic ready to explore more (which will be simple, given that there are extra print and internet resources listed in the back of the book). Highlighted words are defined in the glossary and an index is a nice quick reference. This will be a good purchase if you are looking to update your sports collection.

Olympic Records

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This slim book succinctly describes many of the greatest Olympic records and athletes of all times. Exciting photographs punctuate the bits of information, which will be jut enough for those sports buffs that don’t want to wade through lots of information in a larger reference book. Many of the athletes and sports will be familiar (example: Michael Phelps and swimming). But, some will be new to middle grade readers (example: coxless pair rowers Hamish Bond and Erick Murray).

Typical nonfiction features are present: table of contents, glossary, index. And potentially unfamiliar words are bolded. Olympic Records is part of the Blastoff! Discovery: Incredible Sports Records series and is a nice addition to those collections that need a boost of new material. Additional selection

NBA Finals

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Current and past NBA Finals are described in spare text within full-color pictures of this 24 page high interest-lower reading level nonfiction book. The history of the NBA is briefly described along with exciting photos of some of its starts will engage even those reluctant readers.

Typical nonfiction features are included: table of contents, index, glossary and further exploration. Unfamiliar words are bolded and a two page spread of the bracket used will entice young readers to keep this book in hand. Additional purchase

The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life

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Kwame makes a slam dunk with this Playbook. Fans of The Crossover and Booked will be lined up to read The Playbook. While this is not a work of fiction, there are many stories about Kwame’s life and the lives of other athletes told throughout the book. Every detail of the book is well thought out. The physical appearance of the book will engage readers – they will appreciate the textured pages, imagery and photos, and the color used throughout. Sports enthusiasts will appreciate the layout of the book as it is set up like a sports game complete with quarters, half time, and overtime. Kwame is engaging and authentic. Kids will know that the 52 rules presented throughout the book come from Kwame’s heart. A must purchase for middle school libraries.

On Guard

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On Guard, part of the Bounce (basketball) series, tells the story of a star point guard on her high school basketball team who is set to break the state record for shooting three-pointers. She’s being recruited by a prominent college basketball program, and is looking forward to a college scholarship. Her bright future is threatened when her sister is shot in a gang related drive by shooting, and her little brother appears headed in the same destructive direction as her sister.

How can Mercedes help her brother escape the crime of their old neighborhood in Birmingham, Alabama? How will she and her family recover and move on after the death of her sister? Will she be able to salvage her ability to play basketball, break the state record, and sign her letter of intent to play college ball?

This novel will appeal to both girls and boys who are interested in basketball, social and family issues, and overcoming adversity.