Book Lists

Little Players, Big Goals

Soccer Stories for All Ages

With an estimated 3.5 billion fans worldwide, soccer is the world’s most popular sport, and its popularity in the U.S. continues to grow. Along with Canada and Mexico, the United States will host the 2026 World Cup, making this the perfect time to share these action-packed stories with new and existing fans alike.

Board Books

Hello, World! Soccer

Hello, World! Soccer

Jill McDonald

Cheer for the 2026 World Cup—hosted in the US, Canada, and Mexico—with a board book that teaches the littlest readers about soccer. From Hello, World!, a bestselling nonfiction series for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Picture Books

My Papa Has a Red Mustache

My Papa Has a Red Mustache

Leo Espinosa

A heartfelt and humorous story about a young girl who adores everything about her papa – except for his embarrassing mustache – from a New York Times bestselling illustrator and Pura Belpré Honor recipient.

The World's Game

The World's Game

Yamile Saied Méndez

A vibrant picture book celebrating soccer and its worldwide fans, perfect for the 2026 World Cup–hosted in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

One field.
One ball.
Two teams…and a whole lot of fans!

Lionel Messi A Little Golden Book Biography

Lionel Messi A Little Golden Book Biography

Roberta Ludlow

Help your little one dream big with a Little Golden Book biography about Argentine professional footballer Lionel Messi! Little Golden Book biographies are the perfect introduction to nonfiction for young readers—as well as fans of all ages!

Mi Little Golden Book sobre Lionel Messi (My Little Golden Book About Lionel Messi Spanish Edition)

Mi Little Golden Book sobre Lionel Messi (My Little Golden Book About Lionel Messi Spanish Edition)

Roberta Ludlow

¡Ayuda a tu niño a soñar en grande con esta biografía en español sobre el futbolista argentino Lionel Messi de Little Golden Book! ¡Las biografías de Little Golden Book
representan la introducción perfecta a los libros no-ficción para lectores jóvenes, ¡así como entusiastas de todas las edades!

Soccer With Mom

Soccer With Mom

Frank Berrios

A delightfully charming story about a boy’s love of soccer and love for his soccer-coach mom!

Young Pele

Young Pele

Lesa Cline-Ransome

How did a poor boy named Edson—who kicked rocks down roads and dribbled balls made from rags—go on to become the greatest soccer player of all time? Here is the story of the boy who with great determination, lightning speed, and amazing skill overcame tremendous odds to become the world champion soccer star Pelé.

Early Readers

Soccer (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 2)

Soccer (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 2)

Melissa Santoyo, National Geographic Kids

Learn all about one of the most popular sports in the world—soccer!—in this fun Level 2 Reader from National Geographic Kids!

From passing balls and scoring goals to how soccer got its name and where it started, kids will love learning all about the world’s most popular team sport.

Soccer Star! (Butterbean's Cafe)

Soccer Star! (Butterbean's Cafe)

Random House

A Step 2 Step into Reading reader featuring the fairies from Nickelodeon’s Butterbean’s Café.

Butterbean’s sister Cricket loves soccer, but can she become her team’s captain? Boys and girls ages 3 to 7 who love Nickelodeon’s Butterbean’s Cafe will thrill to this Step 2 Step into Reading leveled reader.

Soccer Time!

Soccer Time!

Terry Pierce

GOOOOOOOOAL!! This Step 1 introduction to practically every child’s first team sport is a win for emergent readers.

No hands–just feet. The game starts. Tweet! Young soccer enthusiasts will build their reading confidence as they learn about basic skills and the thrill of scoring a goal in Terry Pierce’s rhythmic, rhyming Step 1 Reader.

¡Hora del fútbol! (Soccer Time! Spanish Edition)

¡Hora del fútbol! (Soccer Time! Spanish Edition)

Terry Pierce

¡GOOOOL! Este libro infantil es una emocionante introducción al futbol, el primer deporte de muchos niños.

Traducción de Polo Orozco.

Sin manos, sólo pies. El juego comienza. ¡Piii! Con este libro, los aficionados del fútbol mejorarán sus habilidades de lectura y aprenderán diferentes conceptos relacionados con el deporte.

You Can Be a Soccer Player (Barbie)

You Can Be a Soccer Player (Barbie)

Random House

Barbie(TM) can be a soccer player in this Step 2 Step into Reading leveled reader!

It’s time for the big championship soccer game, and Barbie’s friend Raquelle thinks she can win the game all by herself. Can Barbie convince Raquelle that it takes more than one person to make a team?

Soccer Sam

Soccer Sam

Jean Marzollo

In a perceptive tale of friendship and sports, this multicultural early reader shows how Sam’s visiting Mexican cousin overcomes the language barrier by teaching soccer to his new friends.

Chapter Books

Soccer on Sunday

Soccer on Sunday

Mary Pope Osborne

The #1 bestselling chapter book series of all time celebrates 25 years with new covers and a new, easy-to-use numbering system!

Goal! Jack and Annie have tickets to one of the most exciting soccer games ever—the 1970 World Cup! They are sure the famous soccer player Pelé will tell them a “secret of greatness.” The game is nonstop action and the stands are packed. But how will they find Pelé in a crowd of 100,000 soccer fans? Have they failed their mission? Or will the answer come when they least expect it?

Soccer

Soccer

Mary Pope Osborne, Natalie Pope Boyce

Track the facts with Jack and Annie!

When Jack and Annie got back from their adventure in Magic Tree House Merlin Mission #24: Soccer on Sunday, they had lots of questions. How did soccer get started? Who are some of its greatest players? What is the World Cup? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jack and Annie track the facts behind one of the world’s most popular sports.

MVP #2: The Soccer Surprise

MVP #2: The Soccer Surprise

David A. Kelly

From the author of the Ballpark Mysteries comes a brand-new sports-themed chapter book series featuring the coolest club around—the Most Valuable Players!

The MVP club wants to save an old field house close to their school. They could turn it into their very own sports center! Luckily, a famous soccer star is coming to town and wants to help. Can the kids and their all-star friend raise enough money for the field house?

Kickers #1: The Ball Hogs

Kickers #1: The Ball Hogs

Rich Wallace

Introducing a soccer series for new readers
Kickers #1

Nine-year-old Ben is brand-new to soccer, but he’s a good athlete and knows he’ll do well on the Bobcats, his team in the local Kickers soccer league. If he can only work around his obnoxious teammate Mark, the ball hog, Ben is sure he’ll score his first goal. But Coach Patty, and Ben’s own teammates, show him a little something about teamwork.

Squish #4: Captain Disaster

Squish #4: Captain Disaster

Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm

It’s SQUISH—a hilarious, action packed graphic novel series from the award-winning creators of Babymouse! Filled with superheroes, comics within comics, and gross-out science, Squish is perfect for fans of Dog Man, Captain Underpants, and My Weird School.

Middle Grade

Sol Goes for Goal!

Sol Goes for Goal!

Julio Anta

It’s back to school for the Hillside Valley kids! Sol’s trying out for the middle school soccer team but will a crush on the team captain distract her from her goals? Find out in this new Hillside Valley graphic novel—filled with friendship, first crushes, and some impressive soccer skills!

Welcome back to Hillside Valley-this time it’s Game On for Sol!

Speak Up, Santiago!

Speak Up, Santiago!

Julio Anta

Welcome to Hillside Valley! 12 year-old New York city kid Santi is heading upstate, in the debut of this irresistible contemporary graphic novel series about friends, family, community and identity—just right for fans of Mexikid and the Click series!

Named one of the Best Books of the Year by the New York Public Library • An ALA Best Graphic Novel for Children • Winner of the International Latino Book Awards for Graphic Novels (Silver Medal) • Texas Bluebonnet Nominee • Texas Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List
I Am Kylian

I Am Kylian

Kylian Mbappé

Global soccer star Kylian Mbappé inspires young readers with the behind-the-scenes story of his rise to greatness in this stunning graphic memoir—from his childhood dreams to the lessons that helped him become a World Cup champion!

Winning is incredible. But growing, learning, and daring to try again matter just as much.

It's a Numbers Game! Soccer

It's a Numbers Game! Soccer

James Buckley Jr.

Grab your soccer ball and calculator and get ready to delve into the numbers and math behind the world’s most popular sport.

Whether you call it soccer or football, “the beautiful game” wouldn’t be the popular game it is without numbers. From the clock counting up the seconds to positioning your feet at the right angle for the perfect dribble, this book reveals the ways digits and math are part of the game.

Absolute Expert: Soccer

Absolute Expert: Soccer

Eric Zweig

Learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about soccer in an eye-catching, page-turning book for aspiring experts, featuring exclusive content from a real Major League Soccer referee, Mark Geiger!

Select

Select

Christie Matheson

One girl and her soccer team take a stand against the bullies who push them too far in this brave, inspiring novel that celebrates girl power and the true spirit of sports. Perfect for readers who love The Crossover and Fighting Words.

National Geographic Kids Everything Soccer

National Geographic Kids Everything Soccer

Blake Hoena

Score! Finally, a book that explains everything about soccer — a favorite team sport played by millions of kids around the globe. From patches of dirt to gleaming turf, soccer is a game for all. Meet soccer’s superstars. Learn the rules. Get kitted up, get out on the field, and show off your fancy footwork.

Young Adult

Outcasts United

Outcasts United

Warren St. John

A moving account of how a soccer team made up of diverse refugees inspired an entire community here in the United States.

Based on the adult bestseller, Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman’s Quest to Make a Difference, this young people’s edition is a complex and inspirational story about the Fugees, a youth soccer team made up of diverse refugees from around the world, and their formidable female coach, Luma Mufleh.

Shots on Goal

Shots on Goal

Rich Wallace

It’s soccer season, and sophomore Bones Austin and his team are struggling to make it to the district play-offs–against all odds. To make matters worse, Bones has a crush on the girlfriend of his best friend, Joey. Bones and Joey are forced to learn a little something about teamwork, even when hard times seem to be tearing them apart. Rich Wallace returns to Sturbridge, Pennsylvania, in his stunning follow-up to Wreslting Strubirdge, in Knopf Paperback for the first time.

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