CHEER FOR THE WORLD CUP WITH CANDLEWICK!

CHEER FOR THE WORLD CUP WITH CANDLEWICK!

Any of these new releases are sure to score points with budding soccer players and fans

Maisy Plays Soccer

By Lucy Cousins

PB: 9780763672386 ∙ May 2014 ∙ $6.99 ∙ 32 pages ∙ Ages 3-7

Maisy is back for a rousing game of soccer with her friends! In this fun read-aloud from the Maisy First Experiences series, the spunky mouse gets ready to play her first game of soccer with friends. They divide into teams, and then it’s time to play. No matter who wins, it’s fun for everybody. Great for young soccer players who can’t wait to get on the field!

“Cousins distills the world’s most popular sport down to its most essential elements for the small fry. . . . Goooooooooal!” – Kirkus Reviews

 My Thoughts

Maisy Plays Soccer is a really cute book for any little soccer enthusiast. Join Maisy on the field with all her friends as they kick, run, and score. In addition to showing kids how to play the game using teamwork, it also talks about the importance of hydrating refreshments and warm ups. The story wraps up with the game ending in a tie, showing kids that having fun is more important than winning.

Rio de Janeiro: A 3D Keepsake Cityscape

Illustrated by Trisha Krauss

HC: 9780763670290 ∙ May 2014 ∙ $8.99 ∙ 30 pages ∙ Ages 5-9

Take a trip to Rio! Visit the colorful streets of Brazil’s largest city, soon to be the home of this year’s World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. In this compact pop-up keepsake, you can visit the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer, the historic Municipal Theatre, the Carnival de Sambodromo, and more, all without leaving your armchair. With full-color illustrations, this would make a fantastic gift for those eagerly awaiting the World Cup.

Happy Like Soccer

By Maribeth Boelts, illustrated by Lauren Castillo

PB: 9780763670498 ∙ March 2014 ∙ $6.99 ∙ 32 pages ∙ Ages 5-9

Nothing makes Sierra happy like soccer. She loves to play, even though she has to drive far away from home for games. But nothing makes her sad like soccer, either; her aunt works on game days, and nobody is there to cheer for Sierra. This beautifully-illustrated book from award-winning author Maribeth Boelts is now available in paperback, just in time for peak soccer season.

« “Unexpected emotional depth. . . . A thought-provoking read-aloud.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

 Soccer Star

By Mina Javaherbin, illustrated by Renato Alarcao

HC: 9780763660567 ∙ April 2013 ∙ $16.99 ∙ 32 pages ∙ Ages 5-8

Paulo Marcelo Feliciano dreams of being a soccer star. But when one of his teammates breaks his wrist, will he let his younger sister Maria play alongside him? Set in a small village in Brazil, this story by the author of Goal!, explores how wonderful it can be to play soccer – just in time for the World Cup!

“A lovely story about soccer, gender and hope.” – Kirkus Reviews

 Goal!

By Mina Javaherbin, illustrated by A. G. Ford

PB: 9780763658229 ∙ April 2012 ∙ $6.99 ∙ 40 pages ∙ 6-10 years

In a dusty township in South Africa, Ajani and his friends have earned a brand-new, federation-size soccer ball. They kick. They dribble. They run. They score. These clever boys are football champions! But when a crew of bullies tries to steal their ball, will Ajani and his friends be able to beat them at their own game? This paperback edition of Mina Javaherbin’s award-winning book touches upon humor, suspense, and excitement while inviting the notion that cultures can be linked together through sport.

"Uplifting and inspiring, this beautifully written and illustrated book reminds us of the joys and saving grace of friendship and sport." —Archbishop Desmond Tutu 

My Thoughts

 This book is a great choice for little sports enthusiasts. A group of boys in South Africa are playing soccer (football) with a ball they won in school for being great readers. At first, it's all fun and games, but then the bullies show up and try to steal their ball. Using their heads, the boys trick the bullies so they don't see the shiny new soccer ball. 

This book talks a lot about soccer moves and having fun with friends, but it also teaches some important lessons. The most obvious is how to deal with bullies, but it also teaches kids that they should appreciate what they have. So many kids are used to instant gratification, and they don't always appreciate a gift like a simple ball. These boys cherished their new toy and guarded it from the bullies. A fun book with a good moral is always a must read!

 Keeper

By Mal Peet

PB: 9780763632861∙ March 2007 ∙ $6.99 ∙ 240 pages ∙ Ages 10 and up

In this hauntingly compelling novel, a veteran soccer reporter interviews a World Cup-winning goalkeeper about his life. As the long night unfolds, we learn of El Gato’s humble beginnings in a small town by the edge of the jungle – and of his ghostly mentor, the Keeper. This ALA award-winning book will appeal to fans of sports and ghosts alike, and the slim paperback edition is sized just-right to carry to a game.

“A sports story and a ghost story at once, this novel tells the life story of a legendary soccer goalkeeper who grew up alongside the rainforest.” –Journal Inquirer