Children's Book Suggestions | Sports

A few of our favorite sports books for readers in Grades 3-7! More choices are available in the library catalog.

You can also search for books about your favorite sport. Some of the most popular are baseball, basketball, football, running, soccer, and swimming.

Nonfiction books about sports are shelved in 796 and biographies of famous athletes are shelved in 921 under the athlete's last name.

Updated August 16, 2024
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County)Oregon City Public Library
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Flipping forward twisting backward
Fullerton, Alma
Paper Book
A diagnosis of dyslexia could change everything for an aspiring fifth-grade gymnast struggling at school in this authentic, high-energy novel in verse. The print edition of this title is set in a font developed to be easy to read. The gym is where Claire shines and...

Gymnastics (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Much ado about baseball
LaRocca, Rajani
Paper Book
"Much Ado About Baseball is the best children's book I've read in the past 10 years!" -Brad Thor, New York Times bestselling author of the Scot Harvath series "A moving tale of baseball, magic, and former rivals who come together to solve a problem." -Kirkus...

Baseball (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Marshmallow & Jordan
Chau, Alina
Paper Book
Alina Chau's Marshmallow & Jordan is a middle-grade graphic novel about a disabled, sports-loving Jordan, and the magical elephant named Marshmallow who she befriends. Jordan's days as star player for her school's basketball team ended when an accident left her...

Water Polo (Children's Graphic Novel Grades 3-5)

The tryout
Soontornvat, Christina
Paper Book
STAND TALL. BE LOUD. GAME FACE ON. This pitch perfect graphic memoir about courage and competition, friendship and belonging is perfect for fans of Smile, New Kid, Rollergirl, and Real Friends. "A captivating...

Cheerleading (Children's Graphic Novel Grades 3-5)

Free throws, friendship, and other things we fouled up
Bishop, Jenn
Paper Book
"A beautifully crafted tale of friendship, family, and forgiveness, with characters so vivid and real you can't help but root for them, on and off the court." --Matt Tavares, New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of Hoops  Competitive...

Basketball (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Ghost
Reynolds, Jason
Paper Book
A National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature. Nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read. Ghost wants to be the fastest sprinter on his elite middle school track team, but his past is slowing him down in this...

Running (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Get a grip, Vivy Cohen!
Kapit, Sarah
Paper Book
In this perfectly pitched novel-in-letters, autistic eleven-year-old Vivy Cohen won't let anything stop her from playing baseball--not when she has a major-league star as her pen pal. Vivy Cohen is determined. She's had enough of playing catch in the park. She's ready to pitch...

Baseball (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Slugfest
Korman, Gordon
Paper Book
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unteachables comes a hilarious new story about a group of underdogs who come together when they are forced to attend summer school--for failing PE. Yash is the best athlete at Robinette Middle School. So good, in fact, that he's already been...

Sports (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Hands
Maldonado, Torrey
Paper Book
"Gorgeous and gripping, Hands is a poetic page-turner. You might just finish it in one sitting. Torrey Maldonado understands the kids he writes for at the deepest level." -Adam Gidwitz, Newbery Honor-winning author of The Inquisitor's Tale The author of What Lane?<...

Boxing (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Aniana del Mar jumps in
Méndez, Jasminne
Paper Book
Pura Belpre Author Honor Award ** Four starred reviews!** A powerful and expertly told novel in verse about a twelve-year-old Dominican American swimmer who is diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis by an award-winning poet. Aniana del Mar belongs in the water like...

Swimming (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The Beautiful Game
Mendez, Yamile Saied
Paper Book
A powerful story about family, fútbol, and playing like a girl, perfect for fans of Front Desk, The Academy, and, Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret from the award-winning author of Furia. At thirteen years old,...

Soccer (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Air
Roe, Monica
Paper Book
An action-packed, empowering middle grade novel about a girl who has to speak up when her wheelchair motocross dreams get turned upside down. Twelve-year-old Emmie is working to raise money for a tricked-out wheelchair to get serious about WCMX, when a mishap on a...

Wheelchair Motocross (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Ana on the edge
Sass, A. J.
Paper Book
Twelve-year-old Ana-Marie Jin, the reigning US Juvenile figure skating champion, is not a frilly dress kind of kid. So, when Ana learns that next season's program will be princess themed, doubt forms fast. Still, Ana tries to focus on training and putting together a stellar routine worthy...

Figure Skating (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Barely floating
Rivera, Lilliam
Paper Book
A dazzling story full of heart about how one twelve-year-old channels her rage into synchronized swimming dreams, from the author of The Education of Margot Sanchez and Never Look Back, Lilliam Rivera. Natalia de la Cruz Rivera y Santiago, also known as Nat, was...

Artistic Swimming (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Half Moon summer
Vickers, Elaine
Paper Book
Two seventh graders discover it takes more than grit and a good pair of shoes to run 13.1 miles. You've got to have a partner who refuses to let you quit. Drew was never much of a runner. Until his dad's unexpected diagnosis. Mia has nothing better to do. Until she realizes...

Running (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The crossover
Alexander, Kwame
Paper Book
Series streaming now on Disney+, with executive producers including NBA great LeBron James! Kwame Alexander's New York Times bestseller and Newbery Medal-winning The Crossover is vividly brought to life as a graphic novel with stunning illustrations by star talent Dawud Anyabwile. ...

Basketball (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Swim team
Christmas, Johnnie
Paper Book
"Combines wonderful characters and history to create a story that will make you want to dive right in!" JERRY CRAFT, author of the Newbery Medal-winning New Kid A splashy, contemporary middle grade graphic novel from bestselling comics creator Johnnie Christmas! Bree can't wait for...

Swimming (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Roller girl
Jamieson, Victoria
Paper Book
The Newbery Honor Award Winner and New York Times bestseller Roller Girl is a heartwarming graphic novel about friendship and surviving junior high through the power of roller derby--perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier's Smile!  For most of her...

Roller Derby (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

The breakaways
Johnson, Cathy G.
Paper Book
The Breakaways from Cathy G. Johnson is a raw, and beautifully honest graphic novel that looks into the lives of a diverse and defiantly independent group of kids learning to make room for themselves in the world. Quiet, sensitive Faith starts middle school already...

Soccer (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

We are big timeA Graphic Novel
Khan, Hena
Paper Book
SWISH! Cheer courtside for a Muslim teen as she joins an all-girls, hijab-wearing basketball team and learns that she's much more than a score. This energetic graphic novel is inspired by a true story! "A slam dunk!" --Minh Lê Aliya is new to Wisconsin, and...

Basketball (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Chunky
Mercado, Yehudi
Paper Book
In this full-color middle grade graphic memoir for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jerry Craft, Yehudi Mercado draws inspiration from his childhood struggle with his weight while finding friendship with his imaginary mascot, Chunky, as he navigates growing up in a working class Mexican...

Sports (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Tryouts
Sax, Sarah
Paper Book
It's warm up time in this newest installment in the Brinkley Yearbook series. Will Alexandra make the cut and help the historically boys baseball team defend their 9-year championship title? Alexandra, also known as Al, has been playing baseball with her older brothers for...

Baseball (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Play like a girl : a graphic memoir
Wilson, Misty
Paper Book
Debut author Misty Wilson chronicles her seventh-grade experience as the only girl on her town's football team in this empowering graphic memoir about teamwork, friendship, crushes, and touchdowns. Misty never shies away from a challenge, on or off the field. So when the boys tell her she...

Football (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)


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