Sporting Heroes Booklist

This World Cup season is the perfect time to inspire young readers with stories of their favourite sporting heroes. Our booklist for primary-aged children is packed with exciting, uplifting reads about athletes who show courage, teamwork and determination. Whether children already love football or are just discovering the buzz of the tournament, these books make reading for pleasure feel fun, relatable and full of inspiration - helping them see that great stories, like great sport, can bring people together.

For Key Stage 1 Readers (ages 4-7)

When I Grow Up - Sports Heroes

by DK and Lucy Semple (Illustrator)

Meet real sports stars like Usain Bolt and Simone Biles as children with big dreams, and see how practice and perseverance helped them become champions.

Little People, BIG DREAMS: Muhammad Ali

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Brosmind (Illustrator)

Discover how a boy who hated losing learned to box, worked incredibly hard and grew up to be one of the most famous athletes in the world.

Little People, BIG DREAMS: Simone Biles

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Nadia Fisher (Illustrator)

Follow Simone from a lively little girl to record‑breaking gymnast, in a simple, inspiring story about resilience, courage and loving your sport.

Ready Steady Mo!

by Mo Farah, Kes Gray and Marta Kissi (Illustrator)

A fun, rhyming story about running everywhere and anywhere, showing children that moving your body can be exciting, joyful and for everyone.

Football Star

by Mina Javaherbin

A young boy dreams of being a football star while playing barefoot with his friends, learning about teamwork, hope and chasing your dreams.

For Key Stage 2 Readers (ages 8-11)

Sports Legends: 50 Inspiring People to Help You Reach the Top of Your Game

by Rick Broadbent and M James Davies (Illustrator)

Short, punchy profiles of athletes from many different sports show how real people use effort, bravery and resilience to reach the top of their game.

Jaz Santos vs. the World

by Priscilla Mante

Jaz sets up a girls’ football team from scratch, battling doubts, drama and unfairness to prove that anyone can belong on the pitch.

Messi's Magic

by Caroline Perry and Luciano Lozano (Illustrator)

Learn how Lionel Messi went from a small boy with big challenges to a global football icon, through determination, practice and love for the game.

You Are Awesome: Find Your Confidence and Dare to be Brilliant at (Almost) Anything

by Matthew Syed and Toby Triumph (Illustrator)

An energetic, chatty guide that uses real‑life stories (including sport) to show children that “talent” is built, not fixed, and that mistakes are how we grow.

Wolfpack (young readers edition)

by Abby Wambach

World‑Cup champion Abby Wambach shares bold, easy‑to‑follow rules for being brave, backing your teammates and leading like a true game‑changer on and off the field.

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