PickyKidPix went to Italy this summer to play soccer with her indoor team and we were able to watch her play during the last few weeks of the World Cup. What a great time to be in Europe with soccer fans!
Because of our great love for Lionel Messi, we root for Argentina and that was a great pick this World Cup! My family is obsessed with Lionel Messi. We root for FC Barcelona, we visited Barcelona to see Camp Noa, and we went to New Jersey to watch a “friendly” Argentina vs. Brazil.
When we went to the Argentina vs Brazil friendly, we weren’t able to meet Lionel Messi but we did snap a photo with Pablo Zabaleta who was a clutch player during the World Cup! When Candlewick Press offered me some soccer picture books, I was too slow to blog on them in time for the World Cup but I offer them up now to fill that void that the World Cup has left now that it’s ended.
How about you? Did you watch the World Cup? Who did you root for?
Multicultural Soccer Picture Books
Mina vs. the Monsoon by Rukhsanna Guidroz, illustrated by Debasmita Dasgupta
This isn’t a picture book about the monsoon rains. It’s really a story about a young girl who loves soccer. There is a surprise about who else likes soccer that you can discover drinking chai, eating samosas, and, of course, playing soccer! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
G is for Golazo: The Ultimate Soccer Alphabet by James Littlejohn, illustrated by Matthew Shipley
Learn the alphabet in this multicultural picture book celebrating all things soccer. Female players include Mia Hamm, Alex Morgan, and Marta in this all-star lineup of soccer legends from past and present. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
Maisy Plays Soccer by Lucy Cousins (A Maisy First Experiences Book)
The first children’s book my husband ever bought our kids was Maisy’s ABC when I was pregnant with our oldest. It’s become one of our favorite series of all time! This is a new series (and I would know because, at one point, we owned every single one!) about First Experiences. It’s perfect for preschoolers to introduce them to soccer as Maisy and her friends play soccer. Win or lose, they have a lot of fun and it’s hard to score on a big goalkeeper like Eddie!! [picture book, ages 1 and up]
Soccer Star by Mina Javaherbin, illustrated by Renato Alarcão
This picture book should have been the 2014 World Cup designated picture book. Set in Brazil, it’s an homage to all the children who work for a living but manage to rise from poverty through the game of soccer. Paulo Marcelo Feliciano works on a fishing boat by day and his captain also coaches their pick-up team. They play to win but when one player gets hurt, will Paulo’s little sister finally be able to join the boys? [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Happy Like Soccer by Maribeth Boelts, illustrated by Lauren Castillo
Sierra lives with her aunt in a small apartment in the inner city. She’s made an elite soccer team that plays far from her neighborhood. The other players’ parents are able to cheer for their kids but Sierra’s aunt has to work. Saturdays are busy days at the restaurant. For the last game, her aunt’s boss offers her a different shift so she can attend her niece’s game but it’s rained out. Sierra figures out a solution but is she brave enough to ask her coach [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Clever Carmel Creates Her Own World Cup Style by Henrietta Nwagwu-Rochford, illustrated by Jason Lee
Carmel is mixed-race so it’s hard for her to decide which country to support for the World Cup. When she can’t find a jersey that represents two countries, she decides to make one herself. The mixing of cultures goes beyond football jerseys in her house! Her father makes a feast that celebrates Nigerian and English culture. Her teacher appreciates her creativity and Carmel wins the World Cup prize at school. [picture book, ages 6 and up]
Three Amazing Soccer Videos
This is an amazing flip book rendition of the highlights from the 2014 World Cup. Bend it like Beckham? Ever wonder how soccer players bend the ball? Here’s the physics behind bending the ball!
Multicultural Soccer Picture Book GIVEAWAY
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We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- California Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Honor Book Award
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
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Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
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- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
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Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
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Great giveaway! We’re hoping kid #2 will enjoy soccer more than kid #1. 🙂
Hi Jeanette,
Soccer is a hit or miss thing I’ve noticed. I’ve heard other parents say that sometimes trying soccer again after a year or so break helps too.
What a fun experience for your daughter and family to be in Italia during the World Cup–so exciting.
We were rooting for Germany! My husband’s German, and we were lucky enough to be in Berlin for the last game. There was so much excitement when Germany finally won–so many fireworks, German flags flying and lots of celebrating!
Mina Javaherbin has another soccer picture book called Goal. You might also like The Soccer Fence, by Phil Bildner, which is a story about apartheid and friendship (and soccer of course)
Hi Maria,
Thanks for your great book recommendations! I will try to get my hands on a copy! Your family must have had so much fun rooting for Germany. We flew Lufthansa and the flight attendants on the way home all had German flags face painted on their cheeks! The German team played magnificently!
My oldest granddaughter, Ava, loves playing soccer. She would love these books!
We were rooting for Germany in the World Cup……so glad that your daughter got such a great opportunity this past summer.
Hi Barbara,
Thanks so much for entering and what a nice grandmother you are trying to win the books for her!!
This is a really great giveaway. Where were these books when my grandsons were young. Couldn’t find a thing for them to read. Six of our grandsons and a granddaughter played soccer. These are great reads.
Hi Patricia,
Thanks so much! My kids also love reading books that reflect with sports interests though we didn’t find many soccer books either when they were young.
We love watching soccer. We root for our heritage-Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Italy & Hurgary. 🙂
Hi Nicole,
That’s a great mix of teams! I think you might have a world cup winner every time with that grouping!!!
Oh my goodness. We are big Argentina and Messi fans. Your comment system won’t let me share a link, but there’s a video on my blog of my husband teaching our 3 year old daughter to “kiss the badge.” He’s committed to continuing the tradition! 🙂
Hi Sarah,
YAY! Another Messi and Barca fan!!
I think I found the link: http://www.alifewithsubtitles.com/2014/03/the-euphoria-begins-world-cup-wives.html
Thanks so much for sharing it!
You found it! Haha! They are so hilarious (of course, I may be a bit biased). 😉 Also, Argentina beat Germany yesterday and my hubby was over the moon. (Sure… it’s only a few weeks late…)
Hi Sarah,
So cute! Yay!!! Messi looked a little exhuasted during the World Cup at the finals so I’m glad the team is playing better. I will have to find video that watch that game though I bet my husband has taped it! (Better late than never!!!)
Awww, Maisy Plays Soccer, how cute!
Weird coincidence, my husband and I just watched Bend it Like Beckham last night!
Great giveaway! Favorite team – very hard to pick! But I would have to say Colombia because they played with real heart in the World Cup and really surpassed expectations! Thanks!
What a fun experience to go to an Argentina/Brazil friendly. My husband loves soccer, I thought my son would love it too. He doesn’t. LOL!
Thank you for linking up with Creative Style Linkup! Have a blessed weekend!
Your co-host, April
Hi April,
Thanks so much for stopping by! You never know; sometimes kids will find a love for soccer at a later age. My husband loves soccer now but it’s only recently that he’s become obssessed with it; before it was golf as his favorite thing to watch on TV.
I just made a Maisy quilt for my daughter. That Maisy book would make an excellent one to read while relaxing on the quilt.
Hi Jenny,
I love the idea of a Maisy quilt! I can’t believe you made one! You must be very talented with a sewing machine! Thanks for entering!
USA soccer is my favorite team.
Hi Denise,
They did really well this past World Cup! We were in Italy at the Italian National Soccer Musuem and the curator said that the USA has gone further than Italy for the past two World Cups and that was inconceivable back in the day (40 years ago) and that Italy had to change their training methods.
I have to say Brazil is my favorite team, out of loyalty to Johnny 🙂
Hi MaryAnne,
Is Johnny loyal to Brazil? They are always a contender!
He was on the Brazil team for soccer camp this past summer and has been teaching himself Portuguese ever since 🙂
Hi MaryAnne,
That’s so awesome that soccer camp made such a big impression!!
Oh my! How cool that you got to meet Zabaleta!! I’m pretty excited by that! lol Thanks for sharing in the Kid Lit Blog Hop and I’ve tweeted about your giveaway.
Hi Renee,
I saw him from afar but we prodded our kids to ask for a photo because everyone was swarming him and he was kind enough to oblige. He played so great in the World Cup!