My son has a poet in residence for fourth grade. For three sessions, he’s learning to write poetry. There are even homework assignments that he agonizes over. He’s had a poetry unit every year — in 2nd grade, he wrote a color poem based on Mary O’Neill, but this is the first year that the poetry seems to flow out of him. To encourage the poet inside him, I’m introducing books about sports that use poetry to tell the story.
Hoops by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Stephen T. Johnson
The ball
like a piece
of the thin long reach
of your body.
Even kids who don’t play basketball will appreciate the feel of the basketball in your hand, the frozen moment in time as the ball takes off in an arc towards the basket, and the inexplicable thrill as it sinks through the hoop. Rober Burleigh captures the small thrilling moments of the game while Stephen T. Johnson’s beautiful pastel illustrations give us a front-and-center seat.
This is a poetry picture book that will grab and pull kids in, especially those who like sports! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Crossover by Kwame Alexander
A crossover dribble is a basketball maneuver in which a player dribbling the ball switches the ball rapidly from one hand to the other, to make a change in direction.
If you haven’t read this year’s Newbery winner, you are in for a treat. A coming of age story of two twin brothers with some serious basketball skills, first love, and the bond of family. [novel in verse, ages 9 and up]
My son actually plays soccer so I’ll add this poetry picture book to draw him into poetry.
Soccer Hour by Carol Nevius, illustrated by Bill Thomson
There’s also a crossover move in soccer also used to fake out your opponents.
We toss the ball up in the air
and juggle it to keep it there.
We try to bounce a steady beat
with heads and thights as well as feet.
With rhyming text, Soccer Hour captures the excitement and work required to win a scrimmage. Try this picture book for young soccer players, both boys and girls and then ask them to write their own poem about their soccer team. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
For the soccer maestro at changing directions to fake out opponents, we love Lionel Messi.
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I’m not a big sports fan, but when I read Crossover (and yes, I had to look up what a crossover is), I knew this might be the kind of book that would interest kids but especially reluctant readers. I’ll have to check out the other two books. Thanks for sharing these on the Kid LIt Blog Hop
Hi Alex,
LOL, I had to look up Crossover too (which is why I added the video!). I think boys would love these books even if basketball is not their sport.
I loved The Crossover (even though I’m not much of a sports or basketball fan).
I would recommend anything by Douglas Florian, and artist & poet. His poetry is funny & punny. He has a new baseball book called Poem Runs (haven’t read it yet), and I love this title: Poem Depot: Aisles of Smiles. His books are fun to read aloud, and the art is zany & whimsical.
I haven’t read these, but know that Lee Bennett Hopkins has some sports-oriented anthologies:
Extra Innings, Sports, Sports, Sports & Opening Days.
Hi Maria,
Thanks for your great author recommendations!
Great post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved The Crossover (even though I’m not much of a sports or basketball fan).
Thanks Faruk! I’m just a huge fan of Kwame Alexander that I’ll read anything even if it’s a sport that I don’t follow either!