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
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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)

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)

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)

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
Paper Book
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)

Warrior on the mound
Headen, Sandra W.
Paper Book
Narrated by twelve-year-old Cato, this intense and evocative story of racial unrest in prewar North Carolina ends with a dramatic match between white and Black little league teams. 1935. Twelve-year-old Cato wants nothing more than to play baseball, perfect his pitch, and meet Mr...

Baseball (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)

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)

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)

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)


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