There are not enough books about sports for young people. If I had three times as many soccer books in my library, it still would not be enough.

Here are 13 recent and upcoming titles that incorporate a wide range of sports and experiences, including baseball, football, soccer, and even powerlifting. From picture books and middle grade novels to encyclopedias and graphic novels, these works raise a high bar and meet their mark.

Picture Books

Hurts, Jalen. Better Than a Touchdown. illus. by Nneka Myers. 40p. Penguin/Flamingo. Mar. 2026. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9798217040308.
K-Gr 3–It’s Jalen’s first day of school, and this is the year he’ll be allowed to try out for football. Dad is there to send him on his way with advice to always give his best. But once he arrives at school, friend Trey confirms that football has been canceled for the year. The garden club planted vegetables over the summer, and now there is no practice field. From classroom teacher Ms. Lee and corner store owner Mr. Muhammad, Jalen learns that challenges will make him stronger and that 90 percent of life is how one responds to what happens. The next day, considering all of this advice, Jalen proposes working during recess with the gardening club to clear and empty the field. “They dug, they planted, and they hoped.” Jalen reminds everyone, “We can’t lose if we don’t quit!” A week later football is back on. Myers’s illustrations are bright and cartoonish with the children often showing expressive, mangalike eyes. VERDICT With Eagles QB Hurts’s star power, this celebration of perseverance and teamwork should be an easy sell for budding football fans.

Rothman, Scott. Soccer World. illus. by Daniel Duncan. 48p. Candlewick. Apr. 2026. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781536235845.
Gr 1-3–Soccer-loving twins Pete and Zoe play for the same team, Pete as keeper, Zoe a striker. To celebrate a win, their parents take them to the Soccer World store to pick out new balls. After a dispute, the twins chase a fumble and suddenly find themselves in Soccer World, an alternative reality with a “glacier of goalies” and a monumental sculpture of shin guards. A match breaks out around them involving top-notch players, and the kids, now magically in brand-new uniforms, are drafted to play. Sibling rivalry disputes draw attention from Ref Jeff and add a focus on sportsmanlike behavior. Before joining the championship match, they have to pass through the Sportsmanship Indicator 2000 for scanning. When Zoe’s bicycle kick goal edges out the vile Side Tackling Jackals for the championship, teammates toss the twins in the air in celebration, and they land back at the store. Duncan’s dynamic illustrations feature simple, expressive caricatures and lots of action. VERDICT A light fantasy with soccer and gamesmanship at the heart, an additional selection for elementary sports fiction collections.

Shea, Bob. Bearsuit Turtle Plays a Game. illus. by author. 40p. Abrams. May 2026. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781419771576.
PreS-Gr 1–Two turtles, one in a bear suit, its head appearing within the suit’s gaping mouth, are trying to find a game to play. Baseball is ruled out since they lack “hot dogs and ample parking,” and soccer is rejected because there is no loyal and enthusiastic fan base. Bearsuit proposes a secret game of bearsketball, leaping from rock to rock over the “hot lava” grass to keep a ball from touching the ground. After hunting for the biggest stick and rolling down a hill “with grace and aplomb,” Bearsuit settles on guessing a number between one and a million. They choose the same number, so both win. The art is simple, the turtles appearing as blotches of color that sometimes overflow or don’t quite fill their black inked outlines, like hastily sketched Keith Haring figures. Backgrounds are oversaturated washes of subdued browns, greens, and blues. This is the second outing for Shea’s absurdist reptile (Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend.) VERDICT While not explicitly sports focused, the title’s rejection of organized games for spontaneous imaginary play makes for a light, spirited romp for readers.

Middle Grade

Joshi, Anjali. Fast Break. 144p. (Orca Currents). Orca. Apr. 2026. pap. $10.95. ISBN 9781459842632.
Gr 4-8–Seventh grader Arjun is new to his middle school and his town, having moved recently with his family from California to a small town east of Toronto. The school is in the middle of a makeover—new gym, new cafeteria, abundant support for athletic programs—all at the expense of a new sponsor, OmniBoost, maker of popular energy drinks. When Arjun becomes sick after having one of the drinks from the ubiquitous vending machines, he and new friend Demar, both basketball fanatics, notice their performance flagging. Arjun and Demar create a video for a health project calling attention to the effects of excessive sugar. With help from Demar’s sister, the student council president, the video goes viral on social media and puts heat on OmniBoost. A rushed ending has the company abruptly pulling out of the school and the sponsorship assumed by the Toronto Raptors. This high readability text is written at a third-grade reading level. VERDICT A contemporary story that centers athletic performance and health, this will engage striving elementary and middle school readers.

Liu, Sylvia. Stealing the Score. 256p. Scholastic. Feb. 2026. pap. $8.99. ISBN 9781546178910.
Gr 3-7–Venezuelan footballer Luis “El Botín (the Boot)” Alamilla is 21 and already the greatest player of his generation—a star for AC Miami and his national team, which has qualified for the upcoming World Cup for the first time. He credits his success to his magical handmade cleats. When the cleats go missing, El Botín disappears, prompting some sleuthing by middle school fans Ethan and Sasha, and from social media phenom Mateo. There is much misdirection, with suspicious behavior by Mateo’s dad, a team executive, and Sasha pumping for information from Irina, Alamilla’s girlfriend, a catering client of her mother’s. In the end, after stowing away on a luxury boat to Alamilla’s estate on a private island, they manage to get El Botín to compete in a three-on-one soccer match and an online tournament with champion Sasha and convince him to return. Though the focus is primarily on the mystery story, much attention is given to the sport, with occasional intricate descriptions of game play. VERDICT A soccer-filled mystery adventure, fun for upper elementary and middle school fans of the “beautiful game.”

Nonfiction

Early Elementary

Alonso, Nathalie. ¡Viva Valenzuela! Fernandomania Erupts in Los Angeles. illus. by John Parra. 40p. Astra/Calkins Creek. Mar. 2026. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781662680274.
Gr 2-5–It’s April 9, 1981. On the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers is 20-year-old Fernando Valenzuela, the first rookie pitcher to start opening day for the club. A southpaw with a mean screwball, he not only shuts out the Astros but will also go on to win his first eight starts. Short, squat, with long hair, the youngest of 12 children from a farming family in northern Mexico, he seemed an unlikely candidate for the “Fernandomania” that erupted. He excited a wild fandom not only among Mexican Americans in Los Angeles, who had felt segregated from baseball, perceived as a white man’s game, but became a hero across Mexico for fans who started listening to games on the radio. After a lengthy player’s strike, Fernando helped the Dodgers beat the Yankees for their first World Series title since 1965. Lavish, visually rich illustrations by Parra are done in a folk style with flat colors and figures that appear almost like cutouts. Back matter includes a bibliography, author and illustrator’s notes, sidebars on Latinos and the Dodgers, and more. VERDICT Beautifully presented, written with deep admiration; recommended for elementary libraries, especially where baseball is popular.

Middle School

Dickens, AnnaSofia. We Run This House: The Girls’ Guide to Flag Football. 192p. Triumph Bks. Oct. 2025. Tr $22. ISBN 9781637279472.
Gr 7-10–More kids play flag football in the United States compared to the tackle variety, in part because it requires less equipment, is safer, and is open to a wider range of kids. The sport will debut at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, and Dickens will be ready. The author is a high schooler from California and wide receiver for a number-one ranked team in Orange County. She also wrote and recorded “We Run This House,” a pop theme song for the NFL’s Females in Flag promotion. In addition to an outline of the sport, Dickens lays out some athletic psychology, stresses self-discipline and responsibility (make sure you get your homework and chores done), and describes extensive training exercises and drills organized by position. The text is punctuated by interviews with players of both flag and tackle football, including Mexican national team captain and QB Diana Flores and veteran tackle and TV commentator Andrew Whitworth. The interviews can be watched on YouTube. VERDICT A perfect introduction to this popular and fast-growing sport, with a particular focus on girls, recommended for middle and high school collections.

The Kingfisher Baseball Encyclopedia. 144p. Kingfisher. Aug. 2025. Tr $22.99. ISBN 9780753481301.
Gr 5 Up–More companion than true encyclopedia, this copious reference title opens with a far-reaching introduction on aspects of the history and social significance of the game. Succeeding chapters outline how the game is played, equipment, ball parks, the various positions, game strategy for hitting and fielding, youth baseball, and officiating. Capsule sketches profile major players throughout history—Cy Young, Mookie Betts—as well as all of the MLB teams categorized by division, standout managers, and leagues in other parts of the world, particularly Japan and Latin America. Illustrations are often lavish; one photo spread showcases Negro League slugger Josh Gibson, another Bobby Thompson’s “shot heard ‘round the world” in the Giants’ 1951 NL pennant race. Every page is elaborately laid out yet simply and colorfully organized around photos, lists, charts, topic articles, and sidebars. Some of the sidebars are recurring features, such as Fact File and brief narratives around statistics. VERDICT Whether for newbies to the game or deep-roots fans brushing up on details, this is a must for elementary and middle schools.

The Kingfisher Football Encyclopedia. 144p. Kingfisher. Jan. 2026. Tr $22.99. ISBN 9780753481196.
Gr 5 Up–American football is the number one spectator sport in the U.S. and the most popular sport for boys in 43 states. This volume takes a deep dive into the game and covers a wide range of topics, from Yale coach Walter Camp, who adapted much of the game from rugby in the 19th century, to Super Bowl LVIII. Each spread typically covers a single topic like fans or NCAA football. Longer sections offer profiles of all the league’s teams, divided by conference and division. Layouts are visually striking, with multiple narratives broken into chunks of text set off with blocks of color, sharing the page with abundant photos, charts, lists, and sidebar features. Profiles of players (Troy Polamalu, Emmitt Smith), coaches (Andy Reid, Mike Tomlin), and many others are included throughout. Offensive and defensive positions, the evolution of equipment, scoring, coaching, stadiums (Chicago’s Soldier Field is the oldest, Lambeau Field in Green Bay is the coldest), strategy, and technique all get full treatment. VERDICT A handy reference or a comprehensive overview, this football compendium will be deservedly popular in virtually any school.

Sylvester, Kevin. Soccerology: Supercool Facts You Never Knew. illus. by author. 92p. Annick. Apr. 2026. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9781834020655.
Gr 4-7–Opening with an overview of ancient, soccerlike games and moving through early English versions, beginning in the eighth century with a bloody contest involving a sheep’s bladder stuffed with feathers, Sylvester brings us to what we know as association football, or soccer, codified in 1863 with the formation of the Football Association. The treatment is expansive, including history of the women’s game, African and Asian participation in the World Cup, referees, and the gendered pay gap, as well as history of the ball, equipment, stadiums, and even a reference to Madison Hammond of the OL Reign, the first Indigenous woman to play professionally in 2020. Small, green soccer balls appear throughout the text, calling attention to relevant facts such as how the world’s oldest club, Sheffield FC, formed in 1857. The desultory format lends itself equally to reading through as an overview of the game or for dipping in for factoids and shorter narratives. Offbeat cartoons and vibrant illustrations break up and complement the text. VERDICT A fun, informative fan companion for newbies or hardcore fans alike, a must have for elementary and middle schools.

Great Books Graphic Novels

Barish, Chris. Lionel Messi’s World Cup Triumph. illus. by Nate Sweitzer. 136p. (History’s Greatest Games: Bk. 1). Abrams/Fanfare. Mar. 2026. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9781419779398.
Gr 3-7–In this graphic novel series opener, Barish celebrates Messi’s role in capturing the 2022 World Cup from France and superstar Kylian Mbappé in Qatar. Though he had won more trophies than any other player, Messi had never played on a cup-winning team and lived forever in the shadow of his countryman, soccer giant Diego Maradona. An outline history of the Great Depression sets up FIFA president Jules Rimet’s establishment of the first World Cup in Montevideo in 1930. Eventually the narrative tightens to focus on Messi and the details of the thrilling final, Messi’s go-ahead goal in the second period of extra time, Mbappé’s equalizer penalty kick, and the thrilling PK shootout that tipped the scale for Argentina. Images and text are cleverly organized to pack information and perspective in a generous format. Recurring sidebars feature highlight soccer trivia and complementary stories, such as Pelé’s 1969 exhibition match in the middle of the Nigeria-Biafra War. VERDICT Packed with world history and soccer lore, this is a promising and visually fertile series starter. Highly recommended for middle and high school libraries.

Frick H, Fernanda. Raise the Bar. illus. by author. 352p. Dial. Aug. 2026. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780593407325.
Gr 5-8–More than anything, Chilean teen Sam Sanchez wants to be like Eva Dos Santos, a (fictional) Brazilian powerlifter and Olympic champion. When it is announced that Eva will be coming to coach weightlifting at Corazón’s High Performance Center, looking for the next Olympic champion, Sam is certain of her purpose. In a qualifying competition—despite a failed lift, battles with her misunderstanding parents, and a wraithlike personification of self-doubt—Sam impresses Eva and is invited to train at HPC. Living away from home is tough, and she struggles to find her place with star American lifter Barb, fencer Karen, judoka Jojo, and queer Argentine triathlete Cris, as well as friendly Tom, son of the center’s cook. But with coaching, perseverance, and burgeoning team spirit, Sam achieves a soaring personal record. Alongside Sam’s story, Frick loads the text with background on lifting events and competition, as well as training strategy and psychology. Frick’s drawings are simple but detailed and nuanced, recalling the work of Raina Telgemeier. VERDICT An inspiring story of athletic challenge and the struggle to excel, highly recommended for upper elementary and middle school readers.

Rutile. Colossal. illus. by Diane Truc. 256p. (Colossal: Bk. 1). Abrams/Fanfare. May 2026. Tr $26.99. ISBN 9781419777820.
Gr 9 Up–High schooler Jade, the daughter of a cash-poor but aristocratic French family, is on the lookout for an auspicious match to help turn the family’s fortunes around. But her heart is truly in powerlifting. Working out in a secret gym in an unused room in the mansion’s basement and sneaking out to lift with professional trainers, Jade is not trying to lose weight. She just wants to build bigger muscles and feel strong. Everything is complicated by her deepening crush on hunky Alexander, the slightly older equine-obsessed groom from the stables of wealthy arriviste Eloise. The current volume, initially a popular webtoon, closes with a first date at a horse show, setting up a sequel. Truc’s page designs can be provocative and often complex, with sparse use of muted color and mangalike layouts incorporating shifts in perspective, sudden closeups, and overlapping panels. Rutile, a native of Mauritius, is the author of more than a dozen comics in France. VERDICT While much of the story hews to the various class and gender dramas, Jade’s focus on exercise physiology and self-improvement will appeal to strength trainers. Recommended for high school libraries.

Bob Hassett, Luther Jackson M.S., Falls Church, VA