4 Kid's Books About Sportsmanship

"There's no crying in baseball!" or is there?

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Are you an effortless host? I’m not talking about Pinterest-style hosting (which I could never accomplish in my wildest fantasies) but the good old-fashioned hosting where food is delicious, laughter aplenty, and joy is etched into every face.

I wish hosting people came naturally to me but unfortunately, it does not. I get frazzled by designing a menu and how much food to make. I go into a cleaning and organizing frenzy (my husband recently sent me this on Instagram). I barely eat during the actual gathering and then am a hangry mess by the end (but I swear my guests would never know). So how do you balance it all? What are your foolproof tips for a fun hangout that isn’t too much pressure and is easy to pull together at the drop of a hat (but please note you will not find any hats littering our hallway floors 👀)?

Also, I’m curious to know if gatherings are happening less in the home. Most of the socializing in my circle seems to be happening outside—be it at restaurants, parks, or anywhere that’s not somebody’s house. Is this true for you too? How often do you meet friends at home whether it’s yours or theirs?

Today’s kid’s book recommendations are all about being a good winner and loser. With so many summer camps and sports during this season, I thought it would be the perfect time to introduce some of my favorite books on what it means to be a good sport and team player. Happy reading!

1. I Really Want To Win

Written by Simon Philip and Illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti

Recommended Ages: 3-6 years old

With a captivating rhyme, you can’t help but root for the main character as she endeavors to win something at Sports Day. But when that plan goes awry, we see her chucking all her sports gear into a dumpster. But this young lady has a fighting spirit and seeks out other competitions that she thinks she might win. But even those, she doesn’t win. As she becomes more disheartened, she witnesses her main competitor, who has beaten her at everything so far, lose to someone else during an art competition. Instead of being upset, her rival graciously accepts her loss and congratulates the winner. Then the rival turns to our protagonist and imparts some wisdom that took me well into my adulthood to learn. The story never veers into one of jealousy. I admire the little girl for her fighting spirit and the gusto with which she approaches her quest to win something. But, like most things, it’s a double-edged sword and this book does a wonderful job of showing us that. The digital and mixed-media illustrations are bright, expressive, and playful… just like the exquisite rhyme and rhythm of the text.

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2. Winners Never Quit

Written by Mia Hamm and Illustrated by Carol Thompson

Recommended Ages: 4-7 years old

In my experience, I’ve found that most celebrity children’s books are so-so. This one is written by Mia Hamm, the famous US women’s soccer player, and is good but that isn’t surprising given the subject matter. It’s a true story that shows how Mia Hamm learned what it means to be a good sport and team player. When little Mia doesn’t score a goal, she stomps off the field and quits playing. This upsets her team who no longer have enough people on their team to keep playing. The next day, ready to play, Mia is astounded when she sees that teams are already playing—without her. When Mia finally plays and doesn’t score a goal, her team waits with bated breath to see if she’ll get angry and leave. But she doesn’t. We learn what it means to win and to play with a team. The sketch and watercolor artwork have all the right details—the mud stuck to cleats and the scrapes on knees—to immerse you into the story.

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3. Finklehopper Frog Cheers

Written by Irene Livingston and Illustrated by Brian Lies

Recommended Ages: 4-8 years old

While the plot may entail navigating social and competitive situations, the very heart of this book is about Finklehopper Frog and Ruby Rabbit’s deep friendship. While Finklehopper may be excited to go to the town picnic, he’s less eager to endure the bullying he knows is sure to follow. But since his best friend, Ruby, will be there, Finklehopper decides to go anyway even though he’s nervous. And indeed, we see some bullying; when Ruby speaks up against them, we understand why Ruby is such a good friend. But then Ruby sees Sue Kangaroo entering the race, she worries she won’t stand a chance. Finklehopper encourages her to participate anyway when she shares her doubts. The conclusion of this story is a wonderful tribute to the power of friendship… how it can lift us when we’re feeling down and how it teaches and gently nudges us in the right direction. The oil-painted artwork in this one is exquisitely detailed—so fine it almost looks photographic.

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4. Hunter & Stripe and the Soccer Showdown

Written by Laura Malone Elliott and Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

Recommended Ages: 5-9 years old

Hunter and Stripe are best buddies who find their friendship challenged when they find themselves on opposing teams in a soccer tournament. At first, they’re able to support each other but when they find that their teams will play against each other, the competition bleeds into their friendship. The

two best friends stop speaking but even during their game, they can’t help but (secretly) admire the other’s skill. At the end of the day, only one can be a winner and this book shows what it means to feel down for yourself AND still show up to celebrate a friend’s win.

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Let’s Talk…

• What are your winning tips for hosting gatherings effortlessly?

• Have you or your kids ever had a difficult time losing gracefully?

*Thank you for using (at no additional cost to you) the affiliate links in this post! :-)