Kids and Families

Let's Play! Sports Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Books to Share with Toddlers (1-3) | Books to Share with Preschoolers (4-6)

Books to Share with Toddlers (1-3)

Maisy Goes Swimming, by Lucy Cousins

The reader helps Maisy the mouse undress and put on her bathing suit for a dip in the pool.

Bicycle Race, by Donald Crews
The numbered order of the twelve racers changes as the bicycle race progresses.

Follow Carl! by Alexandra Day
Carl, the dog, leads a group of children around the neighborhood in the game of follow the leader.

The Chick and the Duckling, by Mirra Ginsburg
Hatched at the same time, the chick does fine imitating the duckling until the latter goes for a swim.

Joe's Pool, by Claire Henley
Joe's pool is just the right size for one, but he becomes dismayed when more and more people crowd in to join him.

Froggy Learns to Swim, by Jonathon London
Froggy is afraid of the water until his mother, along with his flippers, snorkle, and mask, help him learn to swim.

Let's Go, Froggy, by Jonathon London
Froggy and his father search the house for the mislaid items they will need on their bike trip.

Mouse Practice, by Emily Arnold McCully
Monk the little mouse learns from his parents that practice is the way to succeed--whether playing baseball or playing music.

Toddlerobics, by Zita Newcome
A group of toddlers has fun as they stretch high, bend low, clap their hands, bump bottoms, and generally enjoy exercising.

Sheep Take a Hike, by Nancy Shaw
Having gotten lost on a chaotic hike in the great outdoors, the sheep find their way back by following the trail of wool they have left.

Little Mo, by Martin Waddell
The Big Ones try to help a young polar bear learn how to glide on the ice, but she gets bumped so much that she decides it isn't any fun--until she spends time learning on her own.

Tuck in the Pool, by Martha Weston
Tuck, a little pig taking swimming lessons, overcomes his fear of the water with the help of his lucky rubber spider.

Books to Share with Preschoolers (4-6)

Miss Nelson Has a Field Day, by Harry Allard
The notorious Miss Swamp reappears at school, this time to shape up the football team and make them win at least one game.

Sporty Riddles, by Joanne Bernstein
A collection of over one hundred sports riddles, including "What's the most talkative sport? Kayakking."

Arthur Makes the Team, by Marc Brown
Arthur joins the baseball team.

D. W. Flips, by Marc T. Brown
D.W. goes to her gymnastic class and learns that practice makes perfect.

Home Run: The Story of Babe Ruth, by Robert Burleigh
A poetic account of how the legendary Babe Ruth changed the way baseball is played.

Louanne Pig in Making the Team, by Nancy Carlson
Though she plans to try out for cheerleading, Louanne Pig helps her friend Arnie try out for football, with surprising results.

The Bat Boy and His Violin, by Gavin Curtis
Reginald is more interested in practicing his violin than in his father's job managing the worst team in the Negro Leagues, but when Papa makes him the bat boy and his music begins to lead the team to victory, Papa realizes the value of his son's passion.

Roadsigns: A Harey Race with a Tortoise, an Aesop fable adapted by Margery Cuyler
Tortoise and Hare race along a road filled with traffic signs while the other animals cheer them on.

Ronald Morgan Goes to Bat, by Patricia Reilly Giff
Although he can't hit or catch, Ronald Morgan loves to play baseball.

Max, by Rachel Isadora
Max finds a new way to warm up for his Saturday baseball game--his sister's dancing class.

Three Little Bikers, by Tony Johnston
Follows the adventures of three young sheep as they bicycle through the countryside.

The Dallas Titans Get Ready for Bed, by Karla Kuskin
Follows a fictitious football team off the field, into the locker room, and to their homes, describing the normal routine after a game.

Mouse Practice, by Emily Arnold McCully
Monk the little mouse learns from his parents that practice is the way to succeed--whether playing baseball or playing music.

Swish!, by Bill Martin
Two girls' teams, the Cardinals and the Blue Jays, play a close and intense game of basketball.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame, by Jack Norworth
The lyrics of the familiar song, illustrated by pictures based on the World Series games played between the Dodgers and the Yankees in 1949 in Ebbets Field.

The Moonglow Roll-a-Rama, by Dav Pilkey.
At night when the light of the moon is aglow, animals skate at a magical roller rink.

The Bicycle Man, by Allen Say
The amazing tricks two American soldiers do on a borrowed bicycle are a fitting finale for the school sports day festivities in a small village in occupied Japan.

Hooray for Snail, by John Stadler
Slow Snail hits the ball so hard during a baseball game that it flies to the moon and back. Will Snail have time to slide in for a home run?

Sam the Zamboni Man, by James Stevenson
Matt visits his grandfather, who operates the Zamboni at the hockey rink, becomes the youngest Zamboni driver of all time.

The Hare and the Tortoise: A Fable from Aesop, retold & illustrated by Helen Ward
Retells the events of the famous race between the boastful hare and the persevering tortoise. Includes a key to the various animals pictured in the illustrations.

 

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