Start your kid off on a lifetime reading habit with these excellent books about the beautiful game
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With so much technology out there like games consoles and TV shows, it can be hard to get kids into reading.
Reading is so important, it’s where children can learn empathy and about different cultures, it’s where dreams can be lived out between the pages and where they can learn how the top footballers become the best.
These books have been proven to appeal to even the most reluctant of readers and are guaranteed to entertain any girl or boy who’s football crazy. From galactic football matches to inspiring refugee teams, there’s sure to be something kids, teens and grown-ups of all ages will enjoy.
Recommended reading age: Older children and teenagers
This recently published debut novel from the super striker Ian Wright was inspired by his own story. This uplifting follows 13-year-old Jerome Jackson who dreams of being a world-class footballer but struggles with his difficult home life.
Recommended reading age: 5-7 years
This beautifully illustrated board book teaches little ones lots about football including history and how to run a local club.
Recommended reading age: 12-15 years
Based on the adult bestseller, this true story has been specially adapted for young readers. It tells the story of the Fugees, a football team brought together by a young Jordanian immigrant who created a programme for kids from war-torn countries which inspired a community.
Recommended reading age: 10-14 years
Rashford’s charitable influence has helped feed hungry children up and down the country, and his goals have inspired many. He wrote this motivational book to help kids reach their full potential, use their voice for change and feel comfortable in their skin.
Recommended reading age: 7-12 years
Girls FC is a 12 book series about 12 friends who start an all-girls football team aka “the best football team in the world” after struggling to get the attention of the school coach. Each humorous book follows a different teammate’s unique story for a rollercoaster journey of friendship and football.
Get them from Amazon for £5.25
Recommended reading age: 12-17 years
Author Kwame Alexander is a poet who has written this novel about a football-obsessed 13-year-old boy entirely in verse. The story unfolds through an attention-grabbing medium that kids and especially reluctant readers love.
Recommended reading age: 12-16 years
Fictional South American journalist Paul Faustino sits down with three interesting characters during this series and takes the reader on a journey full of mystery and intrigue. They tackle subjects such as slavery and Amazonian environmentalism whilst doubling as a football-themed thriller for kids.
Get them from Amazon for £6.29
Recommended reading age: 8-12 years
Jaz Santos vs The World is the first in a new book series about a young girl’s self-made football team for fans of Jacqueline Wilson. It’s an awesome story of self-empowerment and belief that will get kids to dream bigger. The second book doesn’t come out until next year, so there’s still plenty of time to get reading.
Recommended reading age: 3-10 years
This football picture book has been charmingly illustrated by graphic artist Lawerta. It educates kids about 16 of the most important and iconic goals in football history. The fun rhymes are enjoyable for adults too and it makes for perfect bedtime reading.
Recommended reading age: 7-9 years
Does what it says on the tin, this is a book full of absolutely cheesy jokes that kids will love reading out loud. A highlight? “Q: Who’s in goal when the ghost team plays football? A: The ghoulie, of course.”
Recommended reading age: 7-11 years
Fans of Horrible Histories will love these books that are filled with silly facts and trivia such as “When do footballers poo?” and “What is a vomitory?”. There are even chapters on maths, biology and geography.
Get the boxset from Amazon for £12.34
Recommended reading age: 6-8 years
Legendary player Frank Lampard’s book series about a kid who wins a magic football at a carnival takes young readers all over the world. With adventures in ancient Rome, the Wild West and New York, New York to name but a few there is endless fun for kids with big imaginations. The paperbacks are about a fiver each or you can get all 20 in a boxset.
Get the first book on Amazon for £5.01 or the full collection for £22.49
Recommended reading age: 10-11 years (Year 6)
This football book is from the Pearl band range of the Collins Big Cat scheme. This is a mystery story where a little boy sees the football shirt he’s been saving up for pinned to a tree. The only problem is, it’s commemorating the death of a young boy. Ross takes it home with him anyway. The story teaches citizenship and plays with the idea of morality.
Recommended reading age: 3-8 years
This picture storybook tells the story of an all-night galactic game of football with players from all over the galaxy. It teaches children the importance of inclusivity and acceptance when things don’t always go to plan. It’s the perfect imaginative bedtime story to send your little ones off into dreamland.
Recommended reading age: 8-12 years
This quirky, heartfelt and humorous book is told from the perspective of Pickles the dog who loves playing football with his two-legged best friend, Elsie. It’s inspired by two real stories and through the football fanatics, there is the story of a Dad trying his best to provide for his little family.
Recommended reading age: 8-12 years
Minutes before winning the schools’ cup final, protagonist Scott scores an own goal. After the match, a nasty message is written on the wall about him. It’s a funny story about friendship and acceptance and owning up to your mistakes. This book has a dyslexia-friendly layout.
Recommended reading age: 6-12 years
From the creators of quarterly football magazine Mundial comes this whopper of a book that is cool, charming and full of quirky information. Serving as a guide to all things football, kids and adults alike will have hours of fun poring over all the fun details and colourful illustrations.
Recommended reading age: 6-10 years
This book aims to get disinterested kids interested in maths by using football imaging and ideas instead of regular numbers. This workbook covers addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, but also has fun little non-math activities scattered throughout to keep the child’s attention.
Recommended reading age: 12+ years
This book is part of the Bloomsbury High/Low reading scheme which aims to create exciting and age-appropriate stories for readers of 12+ with dyslexia, with English as a second language or who struggle to read. This coming-of-age story follows a boy from a tower block as he joins a Premier League academy.
Recommended reading age: 9+
Freaks United is a hilarious book perfect for reluctant readers. The main characters try out for their school football team, only they don’t make it and are labelled “freaks”. Instead of wallowing, they decide to create Freaks United, a team for the kids who don’t get picked.
Recommended reading age: 8+
Adults may remember Roy of the Rovers from back in the day, but he’s had a makeover and is repackaged and revived for today’s kids. Roy Race is 16 years old with dreams of playing for Melchester Rovers, and he’s finally about to get his chance. Scouted is the first in a series of six illustrated novels.
Get the first book from Amazon for £5.94
Recommended reading age: 5+
There are many books in the Football Superstars collection, with even more on the way, each totaling 128 pages. They’re designed for fans of Tom Gates books and are jam-packed with information about specific players including the story of how they got to become a superstar.
Get them from Amazon for £5.25
Recommended reading age: 7-12 years
The Charlie Fry series is an epic saga about achieving your footballing dreams and overcoming adversity. 11-year-old protagonist Charlie Fry has Cystic Fibrosis but that doesn’t stop him from playing football. There are 7 books in this series including The Football Girl Wonder.
Get them from Amazon for £3.63
Recommended reading age: 8-12 years
These books are uber-popular, with over a million copies being sold. What they are is simple (unofficial) biographies aimed at children, so they read like a story that will entertain. There are so many of these out there with all the best football players of all time getting a feature.
A box set like this with 20 books saves a lot of money in the long run and will keep football fans occupied for ages.
Get the boxset from Amazon for £38.99
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