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)

Power forward
Khan, Hena
Paper Book
From the critically acclaimed author of Amina's Voice comes the first book in an exciting new middle grade series about a fourth-grader with big dreams of basketball stardom. Fourth grader Zayd Saleem has some serious hoop dreams. He's not just going to be a professional...

Basketball (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)

Bump
Wallace, Matt
Paper Book
A moving and triumphant middle grade contemporary debut from award-winning author Matt Wallace about a heroic young girl--who dreams of becoming a pro wrestler--learning to find courage and fight for what she loves. Perfect for fans of Kelly Yang, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds' Track series...

Wrestling (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 fifth quarter. Volume 1
Dawson, Mike
Paper Book
Get ready to hit the court in this heartfelt, sporty, graphic novel, the first in Mike Dawson's middle-grade duology about a girl who deals with her insecurities through her love of basketball. Lori Block is dedicated to her fourth-grade basketball team, despite being...

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

Bounce back
Misako Rokkusu
Paper Book
Lilico, with the help of her cat, must learn to adjust to a new country, a new school, and new pressures in Bounce Back, a middle grade graphic novel from author/illustrator Misako Rocks! about finding your team and finding yourself. Lilico's life in Japan is going well...

Basketball (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)

Kenzie kickstarts a team
Rosewater, Kit
Paper Book
A highly illustrated middle-grade series that celebrates new friendships, first crushes, and getting out of your comfort zone Ever since they can remember, fifth-graders Kenzie (aka Kenzilla) and Shelly (aka Bomb Shell) have dreamed of becoming roller derby superstars. When Austin's city league...

Roller Derby (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Kid owner
Green, Tim
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author and former NFL player Tim Green comes a riveting stand-alone football novel about being a leader and finding your inner strength. Perfect for fans of Mike Lupica. When Ryan's estranged father unexpectedly dies, Ryan learns that he has...

Football (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

One last shot
Anderson, John David
Paper Book
The beloved author of Ms. Bixby's Last Day and Posted returns with a humorous and heartwarming story of family, friendship, and miniature golf. For as long as he can remember, Malcolm has never felt like he was good enough. Not for his parents, who have always seemed at odds with each...

Miniature Golf (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Samira surfs
Guidroz, Rukhsanna
Paper Book
A middle grade novel in verse about Samira, an eleven-year-old Rohingya refugee living in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, who finds strength and sisterhood in a local surf club for girls. Samira thinks of her life as before and after- before the burning and violence in her village in...

Surfing (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)

Slugfest
Korman, Gordon
Ebook
From Gordon Korman, the New York Times bestselling author of Restart, 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...

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)

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)

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)

Ana on the edge
Sass, A. J.
Paper Book
When twelve-year-old Ana-Marie Jin, the reigning the U.S. Juvenile Champion in figure skating, learns that they'll be portraying a princess in their new skating program, they're less than thrilled, to say the least. Ana's just not a frilly -- dress kind of girl, after all! Nevertheless, Ana's...

Figure Skating (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)

Lone stars
Lupica, Mike
Paper Book
An uplifting story about role models, football, and tackling fear set in the heart of Friday Night Lights country--from the bestselling author of Heat, Travel Team, and Fantasy League. Clay is a quarterback's dream. When he zips across the field, arms...

Football (Young Teen Fiction 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)

Aniana del Mar jumps in
Méndez, Jasminne
Ebook
Pura Belpré 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...

Swimming (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Tryouts
Sax, Sarah
Ebook
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)

Epoca : the tree of Ecrof
Pochoda, Ivy
Paper Book
#1 New York Times Bestseller From the mind of basketball legend, Academy Award-winning, and New York Times-bestselling storyteller Kobe Bryant comes a new tale of finding your strength against all odds. Set in an alternate classical world...

Sports (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Barely floating
Rivera, Lilliam
Ebook
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)

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)

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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