Indies GO ALL IN: 6 Children’s Books to Read if You’re Into Sport

Ready, set, read! With the World Cup only just wrapped up and a summer of football still fresh in everyone’s minds, there’s no better time to celebrate the excitement of sport.

This July, our indies project for the National Year of Reading is going all in on books about sport, games and getting active. From football and cricket to cycling, animal athletics and action-packed adventures, these stories explore teamwork, competition, determination, resilience, achievement and the sheer joy of joining in.

Our June booklist celebrated books for Pride Month. This month, we are joined by Red Robin Books⁠, Book Island⁠, Old Barn Books⁠, Dinosaur Books⁠ and Wacky Bee Books⁠.

All the recommended titles are available for purchase here or in the links below! Stay tuned for next month's booklist!

1. Odwar vs. the Shadow Queen

Written by: Shiko Nguru

Illustrated by: Melissa McIndoe

Published by: Lantana Publishing

Buy this book: Odwar vs. the Shadow Queen

Reading age: 9–12

After their spectacular showdown against the Red Oloibon, Odwar and his friends are hoping for a bit of a breather. But Odwar has to find his Entasim – the powerful heirloom inherited from his warrior ancestor – and he has to find it now. The Shadow Queen, raging with anger at having been trapped in the shadow world for so long, has a new target in her sights. Can Odwar and his friends stop her from feeding on humanity’s darkest emotions and breaking into the light?

An action-packed story of bravery and determination in which physical strength fails but strength of heart conquers all.

2. Animal Antics

Written by: Neil Griffiths

Illustrated by: Janette Louden

Published by: Red Robin Books

Buy this book: Animal Antics

When the World Sports Week committee can find no reason in the rules not to allow the Animal Kingdom to compete in the competition, chaos ensues!

Join in the mayhem and hang out with baboons, wrestle with bears, sail with skate, sprint with cheetahs and swim with sharks in this amazing story of animal antics!

Introduce and discuss individual sporting events and there are great opportunities to introduce the animals of the world.

3. Kicked Out

Written by: A. M. Dassu

Published by: Old Barn Books

Buy this book: Kicked Out

Reading age: 10+

Ali and Sami are living their best lives, looking forward to a summer of playing football and swimming in Mark’s new luxury pool – then Aadam, already threatened with deportation,  is accused of theft. The boys are thrown out of Mark’s house and the future looks bleak. And just when he thinks things can’t get any worse, Ali’s father moves back to town. The boys are going to need each other more than ever now.

4. Last Girl In: Kerry-Ann Fights to Stay in the Game

Written by: Cheryl Diane Parkinson

Published by: Dinosaur Books

Buy this book: Last Girl In

Reading age: 8–12

Kerry-Ann loves cricket – of course she does – her Jamaican grandpa taught her to play as soon as she could hold a bat! Whenever she can, Kerry-Ann heads to the local club for a match with her friends.

But now some of the club’s elite cricketers want to keep the ground for themselves – and keep out Kerry-Ann and her team. So Kerry-Ann devises a daring plan to beat the bullies, and she's about to gain inspiration from a very unexpected place.

In this time-slip tale with a touch of magic, Kerry-Ann finds out about the obstacles that her grandparents faced when they first arrived in England as part of the Windrush generation... and how she must follow in their footsteps to fight for fair play, and continue enjoying the game she and her grandpa both love.

5. Panjir and the Bike with Golden Handlebars

Written by: Paul Moers and Ru de Groen

Illustrated by: Maren Bruin

Published by: Wacky Bee Books

Buy this book: Panjir and the Bike with Golden Handlebars

Reading age: 4–7

Panjir is about to start school. One day he will be King of the whole of Ulibar and get everything he wants, but all he really wants right now is to make friends. School seems like a good place to start. To get to school Panjir is given a bike with golden handlebars. The problem is, he has no idea how to ride it and, because he is not allowed any friends, he has no-one to teach him.

From teamwork and fair play to friendship, courage and bouncing back when things go wrong, these books show that sport is about much more than winning. The most important thing is finding something you love, giving it your all and enjoying the game.

Explore more of our indie booklists here!