Children Sports

Think big league baseball begins with the opening pitch? Think again! In this Sports Illustrated Kids book, go behind the scenes of a typical game day in professional baseball—from prepping the diamond and welcoming fans to hawking hot dogs and broadcasting from the booth.

On opening night, a green dragon flies down to the Orlando Magic’s court on a zip line. At the Phoenix Suns’ arena, a goofy gorilla leaps off a trampoline and slams a big-time dunk. On the Chicago Bulls’ court, a fuzzy red bull shoots T-shirts into the crowd. Basketball fans love to laugh and cheer at the shenanigans of these and many other colorful mascots. Have a blast learning about the zaniest basketball mascots!

Setters get their name from their ability to crouch low, or set, as they point their bodies toward game. Learn about the different setter breeds and what makes them great hunting companions and loyal friends.

Michael has the speed to be a great wide receiver, but he struggles to consistently catch passes. The defensive coach sees potential in Michael's speed and has him try his hand at defensive back. Then the head coach puts Michael on special teams to return kicks. Michael is grateful for all of the opportunities to help his team win, but catching passes continues to trouble him. Can Michael improve his catching and become a true triple threat?

Do you suffer from “Pony Fever”? Have you been waiting a long time to add a horse to your family? Have you carefully considered a match between you and your new equine buddy? Have you decided exactly where he’s going to live and how you’re going to keep him happy? Do you have moments when the idea of bringing a horse into your life is scary? Horses are unlike any other animal companion. They’re too big to live in your house, so they have to live in specialized homes of their own.

When Mariana and her new friend, Selena, try to play some basketball at a local court, they’re challenged to a game by two older girls. If Mariana and Selena win, they get to use the court. But if the older girls win, they get Selena’s special autographed jersey. Unfortunately, things go badly and the younger girls lose the bet—and the jersey. However, they soon come up with a plan.

Anthony Duran has been Ricky Lau’s best friend and basketball buddy since they were little. But now that Ricky has moved schools, the boys find themselves on different middle school basketball teams. With few new friends, Ricky still wants to shoot hoops with his best bud. Anthony, on the other hand, doesn’t want to practice with an opponent. Ricky is willing to do whatever it takes to get his friend back.

Maisie loves pitching for her softball team in Arizona, so she’s crushed when she has to move to Minnesota to live with her dad. Upset about the move and her parents’ divorce, Maisie isn’t thrilled when her dad asks her to join his curling team. She thinks it’s a strange sport. But as she learns more about curling—and how much her dad loves it—she begins to have a change of heart. But when its crunch time for the team, will Maisie be able to take charge and lead?

Tobias Wilson has a secret. For the past two years, since attending a Choctaw Nation powwow with his family, he's been teaching himself how to hoop dance. But when his best buddy Declan discovers him dancing, it isn't long before his whole class knows. Once the secret is out, Tobias has the opportunity to share his dancing at the spring talent show, but he's not sure he wants that. Is he ready to share his Native dance with others or will he stop dancing altogether?

Devon Rosario has played basketball his whole life, and he's great at it, so great, in fact, that his dad, team, and community in the Bronx can't imagine him doing anything else. And while Devon loves his team, he's not so happy with the rigid structure his success in the sport and his father's expectations has created. So when he sees Jamal, a Yemeni refugee and new kid at school, doing BMX tricks on his bike one day, he's intrigued. Can Devon keep his newfound love of BMX under wraps? Or will he be busted when his BMX secret comes out?

TOUCHDOWN! Few things are as exciting as a football player making a one-handed grab to get a game-winning score—except when that big catch sets a new record! Behind every big-time football record is a dramatic story of how a player or team achieved greatness on the field. From the greatest scoring plays to the hardest-hitting tackles, here are the record-setting moments that will keep football fans tuned in for more.

The crowd roars. Soccer's ultimate prize is on the line. Listeners will delight in discovering the legendary players, thrilling games, and long history of the World Cup.

Allen's grandpa has never missed a baseball game until tonight. While Allen plays his most important game ever, Grandpa fights for his life at the hospital. Allen wants to win the game for his grandpa, but he's facing his biggest challenge, Hank "The Tank" Steele.

Happy Feet is the ultimate resource for soccer parents. Written by best-selling author, Dan Blank, it will give you a better understanding of the game, its rules and terminology. This remarkable book includes links to seven excellent videos that help explain soccer's more mysterious concepts such as offside, the advantage rule and systems of play. By the end of Section 1, parents with no soccer background will have a working vocabulary of this strange sport and an understanding of all its moving pieces.

Set in an alternate classical world dominated by sports and a magical power called grana, Epoca: Island of the Gods is the story of two children, the lowly-born Rovi and the crown princess Pretia who uncover and battle terrible evil and discover their inner strength along the way. Epoca: Island of the Gods takes place at the most elite sports academy in the land, where the best child-athletes are sent to hone their skills. When Rovi and Pretia arrive, each harboring a secret about themselves, they begin to suspect that something evil is at play at the school.

Serena Williams is a standout professional tennis player. Learn about her childhood and her rise to becoming a tennis superstar.

Reggie has never felt destined for greatness. He dreams about basketball brilliance all day and night, but the hard truth is that he’s a benchwarmer for the West Bottom Badgers, the worst team in the league. Even their mysterious new coach, Rolabi Wizenard, can’t seem to help them end their losing streak. Reggie is willing to train tirelessly to improve his game, but the gym itself seems to be working against him in magical ways. Before Reggie can become the player he dreams of being, he must survive the extraordinary ordeals of practice.

In Missee Lee, the original cast of the famed series is sailing under the stars and the command of Captain Flint in the South China Sea when Gibbet, their pet monkey, grabs the captain's cigar and drops it in the fuel tank. In minutes, the ship is ablaze (and doomed), and our seven luckless protagonists are adrift in two small boats. They make their way to land, only to find themselves the captives of one of the last remaining pirates operating off the China Coast. However, Missee Lee, as it turns out, is no ordinary pirate....

Drawing on more than 500 interviews with friends and family, teammates, and opponents, she delivers the definitive account of Mantle's life, mining the mythology of The Mick for the true story of a luminous and illustrious talent with an achingly damaged soul.

Going to a baseball game? Don't expect the teams to care about a rookie's first home run. But do watch for Bryce Harper's bat tapping ritual each time he's up for bat. But first, slide into the ins and outs of good fun and good luck in baseball.