For many, sports are a welcome distraction from day-to-day life. Getting swept up into the fervor surrounding a big game not only provides a break from everyday troubles, but also engenders a sense of camaraderie and comfort as we all cheer for (or against!) teams or individual athletes in their pursuit of greatness. Many of the nonfiction titles below highlight the best of the bests, the GOATs who are just as easy to love as they are to despise. If reading about GOATs doesn’t fit the bill, perhaps learning about inspirational athletes who fight for social change is more your readers’ speed. And if their “speed’ is more of a “need for speed,” some extreme sports books might do the trick. From Olympic record breakers to pro-sport changemakers, we’ve got the perfect picks for you. Time to get your head in the game and focus on drafting the best options to stack your stacks!

Elementary

Banks, Anita. Rally Car Racing. ISBN 9781637381533.
Boone, Mary. Surfing. ISBN 9781637381571.
Boswell, Bettie. Skateboarding. ISBN 9781637381540.
Gaertner, Meg. Mountain Biking. ISBN 9781637381526.
––––. Snowboarding. ISBN 9781637381557.
O’Neal, Ciara. Motocross. ISBN 9781637381519.
Walker, Hubert. BMX Racing. ISBN 9781637381502.
––––. Snowmobiling. ISBN 9781637381564.
ea vol: 32p. (Extreme Sports). North Star Editions/Apex. Jan. 2022. Tr $28.50.
Gr 2 Up –For readers whose athletic interests are a little more extreme, this hi-lo series will get their adrenaline pumping. Each book begins with the history and evolution of the sport. Rally car races have always included hazards on normal roads, but the roll cages and driver safety gear was not always standard. Interestingly, many of these sports evolved from each other. Surfers invented snowboarding and kids who wished they could be doing motocross created BMX (which is shorthand for “bicycle motocross”). Many of the titles also include mini-bios of GOATs like Chloe Kim and Shaun White in Snowboarding and Tony Hawk in Skateboarding. The text is concise and while asides are included, they do not distract from the flow of the chapters. Each book is capped off with comprehension questions. The utilitarian writing isn’t particularly compelling, but gets the job done. VERDICT Fine additional purchases for most libraries.

Gish, Ashley. Alpine Skiing. ISBN 9781640264922.
––––. Curling. ISBN 9781640264939.
––––. Figure Skating. ISBN 9781640264946.
––––. Freestyle Skiing. ISBN 9781640264953.
––––. Ice Hockey. ISBN 9781640264960.
––––. Luge. ISBN 9781640264977.
––––. Snowboarding. ISBN 9781640264984.
––––. Speed Skating. ISBN 9781640264991.
ea vol: 24p. (Amazing Winter Olympics). The Creative Company/Creative Education. Jan. 2022. Tr $31.35.

K-Gr 2 –Beautiful photos and simple, straight-forward text introduce young readers to the basics of a range of popular winter Olympic events. Some sports, like hockey, curling, and speed skating, cover one event, while others describe a great many. Freestyle skiers may all use similar equipment, but the events—aerials, moguls, slopestyle, big air, halfpipe, and crosscountry—are drastically different in both the skills required and time it takes to complete the courses. In addition to describing how each event rolls out, the books include equipment needed to participate, like sleds in luge or the different skates used in figure skating and hockey. Each book ends with a spotlight of a famous athlete, like the incredible Ester Ledecká, who is the first person ever to win gold in two separate sports (snowboarding and skiing). As far as informational picturebooks go, these are fine specimens. VERDICT A recommended first purchase.

Peters, Katie. Being a Good Teammate. ISBN 9781728440934.
––––. Following the Rules. ISBN 9781728440941.
––––. Losing Well. ISBN 9781728440910.
––––. Playing Fair. ISBN 9781728440927.
––––. Trying My Best. ISBN 9781728440958.
––––. Winning Well. ISBN 9781728440903.
ea vol: 16p. (Be a Good Sport). Lerner. Jan. 2022. Tr $23.99.
K-Gr 2 –Repetition is the name of the game in this evolving reader series that focuses on social-emotional learning. Using colorful photos to illustrate the concepts, topics like good sportsmanship, following the rules, playing fair, and accepting losses are discussed, some more successfully than others. Losing Well shows images of teams, telling readers they all lost the games they played, however their feelings surrounding the loss aren’t discussed. Particularly when encouraging resilience in readers, it would be helpful to name the emotions associated with playing games. Each book ends with a section asking readers to recall a time when they either were a good sport or a bad one. Without a caring adult by their side to help make the connections, these books might not accomplish their SEL goals. VERDICT Fine for evolving readers, less impressive as SEL learning aids.

Upper Elementary to Middle School

Andral, Dolores. Athletes for Social Justice. ISBN 9781663965981.
Jaycox, Jaclyn. Athletes for Gender Equity. ISBN 9781663965950.
Nash, Sibylla. Athletes for Racial Equity. ISBN 9781663966001.
Smith, Elliott. Athletes Against War. ISBN 9781663965929.
ea vol: 32p. (Sports Illustrated Kids: Activist Athletes). Capstone. Jan. 2022. Tr $29.32.
Gr 5-8 –Readers interested in social justice movements will find inspiration in this standout series. Readers may remember Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protests, Naomi Osaka’s face masks with the names of victims of racial violence, and the Milwaukee Bucks’ boycott of game 5 of the 2020 NBA finals—Athletes for Social Justice recounts these moments that moved people all over the world to demand change. Athletes for Gender Equity covers Billie Jean King’s famous “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match against Bobby Riggs, plus the endless struggle of female athletes to be paid the same as their male counterparts. Jackie Robinson’s breaking the color barrier is a well-known story, but readers may be less familiar with the monumental achievements of Black tennis players Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe outlined in Athletes for Racial Equity. With direct writing and truly moving stories, this series is essential. VERDICT A first purchase.

Dyer, Kristian R. Innovations in Soccer. ISBN 9781532195068.
Hustad, Douglas. Innovations in Auto Racing. ISBN 9781532195013.
––––. Innovations in Baseball. ISBN 9781532195020.
––––. Innovations in Football. ISBN 9781532195044.
––––. Innovations in Hockey. ISBN 9781532195051.
Sheridan, Chris. Innovations in Basketball. ISBN 9781532195037.

ea vol: 48p. (Sports Innovations). Abdo/SportsZone. Jan. 2022. Tr $34.21.
Gr 5-8 –No game has stayed the same since its invention, a truth highlighted in this interesting series. Some of the biggest innovations in soccer haven’t involved tech, but have instead revolutionized play, like total football, tiki-taka, and pressing/counter-pressing. Auto-racing innovations haven’t just made the cars more powerful and efficient, but have made the sport safer for spectators (thanks, barriers!) and drivers (thanks, head and neck restraints!). Baseball is still played as much as it was in its early days, though standardization of bats and balls have made strides to even the playing field (even though the fields themselves aren’t completely standardized!). Football helmets have evolved massively over the course of the sport, but readers may not realize that forward passing wasn’t legal until nearly 40 years after the first football game was played. Filled with fascinating facts and engaging writing, this series is a real winner. VERDICT A first purchase.

Flynn, Brendan. Girls’ Basketball. ISBN 9781532196331.
––––. Girls’ Gymnastics. ISBN 9781532196348.
––––. Girls’ Lacrosse. ISBN 9781532196355.
––––. Girls’ Soccer. ISBN 9781532196362.
––––. Girls’ Softball. ISBN 9781532196379.
––––. Girls’ Volleyball. ISBN 9781532196386.
ea vol: 48p. (Girls’ SportsZone). Abdo/SportsZone. Jan. 2022. Tr $34.21.
Gr 4-7 –Young athletes interested in learning how to play like the pros will find a lot of sage advice in this engaging series. Each book follows a similar format, describing an amazing performance by a respected female athlete and then breaking down the components, sharing practice tips for readers looking to up their game. WNBA’s Elena Delle Donne’s breathtaking jumpshot and Sue Bird’s legendary ball-handling prowess will inspire readers to get on the court. Gymnastic gold medalists Simone Biles and Laurie Hernandez have both power and grace, plus mental resilience, and imagining pulling off their powerful moves is fuel for readers’ wildest dreams. Anyone who’s watched the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team would jump at the chance to learn shooting and passing tips from Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe. Packed with engaging writing and an extra emphasis on teamwork and resilience, this series is a must-have. VERDICT A recommended first purchase.

Flynn, Brendan. The MLB Encyclopedia for Kids. ISBN 9781532196904.
––––. The NBA Encyclopedia for Kids. ISBN 9781532196911.
––––. The NFL Encyclopedia for Kids. ISBN 9781532196928.
McDougall, Chrös. The Olympics Encyclopedia for Kids. ISBN 9781532196935.
ea vol: 192p. (Sports Encyclopedias for Kids). Abdo/Abdo Reference. Jan. 2022. Tr $41.36.
Gr 3-7 –For browsers who want a Guinness Book experience, but with a laser focus on sports, this series is clutch. Each book follows a similar formula, starting with a history of the sport and the formation of formal competition. For MLB, NBA, and NFL, the league history is followed with the backstories, best players, and lifetime stats of each individual team. Mini bios of star athletes are followed by lists of ­all-time leaders across a variety of statistical categories. The Olympics Encyclopedia for Kids starts with the history of the games, then breaks down the individual events for both summer and winter games. There’s a section dedicated to the Paralympics, as well as past events that were discontinued and memorable milestones. Each encyclopedia includes references to times when sports weren’t equitable for athletes of ­color, early and often. The bite-sized, honest history makes this an ideal add. VERDICT A first purchase.

Graves, Will. GOATs of Football. ISBN 9781532196508.
Hewson, Anthony K. GOATs of Baseball. ISBN 9781532196485.
––––. GOATs of Hockey. ISBN 9781532196515.
––––. GOATs of Soccer. ISBN 9781532196539.
Mahoney, Brian. GOATs of Basketball. ISBN 9781532196492.
Price, Karen. GOATs of Olympic Sports. ISBN 9781532196522.
––––. GOATs of Tennis. ISBN 9781532196546.
Rule, Heather. GOATs of Auto Racing. ISBN 9781532196478.
ea vol: 48p. (Sports GOATs: The Greatest of All Time). Abdo/SportsZone. Jan. 2022. Tr $34.21.
Gr 4-7 –Browsers will flock to this fast-paced, exciting series. The 20 best athletes for each sport are lauded in snappy bios that break down their phenomenal careers. GOATs of Football includes offensive and defensive players, like quarterback Peyton Manning and defensive end Reggie White. GOATs of Baseball regales readers with the stories of heavy hitters like Willie Mays and Mike Trout, but most notably includes Josh Gibson, a Negro Leagues player who would have been one of the greatest MLB players of all time if he had been allowed in the league. Of course, no hockey list would be complete without Wayne Gretzky, no soccer list can exist without the likes of Pelé and Marta, and tennis lists need Venus and Serena Williams. Readers will be happy to see recent Olympians get shout outs and to learn more about Jim Thorpe and his revoked medals. VERDICT Recommended for general purchase.

Lowe, Alexander. G.O.A.T. Baseball Outfielders. ISBN 9781728441108.
––––. G.O.A.T. Baseball Pitchers. ISBN 9781728441092.
––––. G.O.A.T. Baseball Shortstops. ISBN 9781728441115.
––––. G.O.A.T. Soccer Goalkeepers. ISBN 9781728441139.
––––. G.O.A.T. Soccer Midfielders. ISBN 9781728441146.
––––. G.O.A.T. Soccer Strikers. ISBN 9781728441122.
ea vol: 32p. (Greatest of All Time Players (Lerner ™ Sports)). Lerner. Jan. 2022. Tr $29.32.
Gr 4-6 –When determining sports GOATs, how do you compare heavy-hitter Hank Aaron to all-star pitcher Randy Johnson? You just can’t! This series breaks down the greatest players of all time not just by their sport, but by their positions. Using statistics and logic, each book counts down the top ten best athletes to ever play. Readers may find themselves questioning the rankings—even narrowing down the GOAT based on position is contentious!—but Lowe demonstrates excellent persuasive writing, rationalizing the selections and their placement. For instance, number two pitcher Walter Johnson may have more wins than number one pitcher Greg Maddux, but with his four Cy Young and 18 Golden Glove awards, it’s hard to argue against Maddux as the true pitching GOAT. Each book ends by inviting readers to research and then create their own top ten list. There’s much to explore in this engaging series. VERDICT A first purchase.

Troupe, Thomas Kingsley. Basketball. ISBN 9781039646032.
––––. Cheerleading. ISBN 9781039646025.
––––. Football. ISBN 9781039645998.
––––. Soccer. ISBN 9781039646018.
––––. Volleyball. ISBN 9781039646001.
––––. Wrestling. ISBN 9781039646049.
ea vol: 32p. (Top High School Sports). Crabtree/Blossoms. Jan. 2022. Tr $26.60.
Gr 3-8 –Young athletes interested in learning more about a new game will appreciate this hi-lo series. Following a steady format, each book covers the history of its sport before breaking down positions, equipment, rules, and basic skills. In Wrestling, readers also learn about the different weight classes, though there’s no mention of the possibility of coed teams, which is not uncommon in small communities. While the importance of practice is discussed in each book, practice and “camps,” week long intensive training, is described in Cheerleading and after reading about cheer competitions, few will doubt that cheerleaders are talented athletes. Most of the books make an effort to include a diverse array of athletes, both male and female; however, none of the athletes in Football appear to be female. While the writing is not particularly intriguing, the series is a useful set for most libraries. VERDICT A fine additional purchase.

From the wealth of knowledge in “Sports Encyclopedias for Kids” to the history of innovation in “Sports Innovations,” plus lessons from top athletes in “Girls’ Sports Zone,” Abdo made its mark on sports nonfiction this spring. Capstone’s “Activist Athletes” is sure to inspire some young readers to enact change in the world around them. Between Lerner’s “Greatest of All Time Players” and Abdo’s “Sports GOATs: The Greatest of All Time,” we’re not sure which one is better, but we know who comes out on top—the readers! Creative Education pulls off a beautiful addition to early nonfiction collections with “Amazing Winter Olympics,” which many readers will have just finished enjoying by the time these books hit your shelves. Snag some of these top-tier series and your patrons will be calling you the GOAT!