We’ve put together a list of some of the best football books for kids, which are sure to have any football mad girl or boy, of any age, hooked.
10 Best Football Books for Kids
- 1. Ultimate Football Heroes – Haaland
- 2. Over the Line
- 3. Football Academy: Boys United
- 4. Jamie Johnson: The Kick Off
- 5. Cyborg Cat: Rise of the Parsons Road Gang
- 6. Francesca the Football Fairy
- 7. Horrid Henry and the Football Fiend
- 8. Pele
- 9. The Wonder Team and The Forgotten Footballers
- 10. The Breakfast Club Beast Beyond the Fence
- More Top Football Book Choices
1. Ultimate Football Heroes – Haaland
Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of books based on the lives of famous footballers. There are books based on professional men’s and women’s players, so you are likely to be able to find a book on at least one of your child’s favourite footballers.
Book Themes: Norway, football, winning awards, nicknames, hard work, determination, perseverance
Suggested Age: 8+
What’s it about?: A biography telling the life story of Norwegian International footballer Erling Haaland “The Terminator”.
Author: Matt Oldfield
Publisher: Dino Books
2. Over the Line
A fantastic choice if your child enjoys stories based on real life. This book will shine a light on both World War One and the life of being a professional football player during that period.
Book Themes: history, WW1 (trenches, Flanders cup, death), France, football, bravery, friendship, sport, rats, conflict, empathy
Suggested Age: 9+
What’s it about?: This book is based on the true story of WWI war hero and footballing legend Jack Cork. Set in 1914, Jack and his teammates join the Footballers’ Battalion to avoid any talk of cowardice from themselves as sportsmen. Can Jack and his teammates make it through the hell of war and ever get the chance to play the sport they love again?
Author: Tom Palmer
Publisher: HarperCollins
3. Football Academy: Boys United
This book is part of a six book series and so there are plenty more to read if your child enjoys this one. The books are focused around being part of a Premier League football academy. Perfect for that child who is dreaming of one day achieving football stardom!
Book Themes: bullying, friendship, prejudice, football, appearance (worrying about how we look/size)
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Jake worries that he is too small to be a professional football player or even too small for football.
Author: Tom Palmer
Publisher: Puffin
4. Jamie Johnson: The Kick Off
This series of football books follows Jamie from the age of 13 into young adulthood as he chases his dream of becoming a professional footballer. Jamie faces lots of challenges along the way and has to learn to handle his emotions as he strives to be the best footballer.
Book Themes: football, friendship, anger, bullying, aspirations, relationships, loss of a grandparent, reference to kissing, single parent, reference to alcoholism
Suggested Age: 10+
What’s it about?: Jamie Johnson loves football; it is all he can think of but can’t seem to understand why the people closest to him don’t feel the same way. He needs to prove himself and score!
Author: Dan Freedman
Publisher: Scholastic
5. Cyborg Cat: Rise of the Parsons Road Gang
A great book, which again is part of a series, that will have children both rooting for Ade to beat the bullies and be laughing along at all of the quirky, funny moments.
Book Themes: immigration, fitting in, football skills, BAME, diversity, Nigeria, differences, community, prejudiced, bullies, heroism, friendship
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Ade moves to London from Nigeria and does not always feel welcome in his community because he looks different. However, he is brave and takes on the bullies and with his football skills quickly makes new friends.
Author: Ade Adepitan
Publisher: Bonnier Books
6. Francesca the Football Fairy
There are over 200 titles in the Rainbow Magic series of books and this one has to make it into our top 10 list because of being unique in that it mixes the world of football with that of fairies and magic. The content of the book makes it appropriate for 5+ with much older children also very much enjoying this series. If your child loves football and fairies, then you’ve just found them the perfect literary gift!
Book Themes: fairies, goblins, magic, friendship, football
Suggested Age: 5+
What’s it about?: Kirsty and Rachel are helping Francesca The Football Fairy get her magic football back from the goblins.
Author: Daisy Meadows
Publisher: Orchard Books
7. Horrid Henry and the Football Fiend
Horrid Henry is a very well-known series of children’s books but you might not have been aware of this particular football themed book. A great choice for any child who likes a humorous read and a rather cheeky main character!
Book Themes: mischief, friendship, school, humour, football
Suggested Age: 5+
What’s it about?: This book contains a secret diary, a football match, a shopping trip and a dreadful enemy!
Author: Francesca Simon
Publisher: Orion
8. Pele
Part of the ‘Little People, Big Dreams’ series, this books explores the life of the Brazilian footballing superstar, Pele. A fantastic book to allow children to learn all about a footballing legend who set the standard for future football stars!
Book Themes: inspiration, helping others, football, Brazil, poverty
Suggested Age: 6+
What’s it about?: This book explores the life of Pele who led his country, Brazil, to World Cup victory.
Author: Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
9. The Wonder Team and The Forgotten Footballers
Leah Williamson is one of the best female footballers of her generation and has had huge success on the pitch. She now brings that success to the world of children’s books to inspire children with stories and not just her footballing skills.
Book Themes: football, empathy, encouraging female footballers, adventure, teamwork, determination, mystery, time travel, self-belief, history, unkindness (verbal)
Suggested Age: 9+
What’s it about?: Leah and her friends travel back in time a hundred years and discover that women’s football has been banned. They work together to make sure that the cup final goes ahead.
Author: Leah Williamson and Jordan Glover
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
10. The Breakfast Club Beast Beyond the Fence
This is our other entry that is co-written by a current professional footballer- Marcus Rashford. This book and the others in the series have been brilliantly received by children and combine football with mystery and adventure!
Book Themes: football, school, community, friendship, fantastic creatures, imagination, solving clues, working together, adventure, mystery, diversity, BAME
Suggested Age: 9+
What’s it about?: After Marcus loses his favourite football over the school fence he gets an invitation to join the Breakfast Club Investigators. With his new friends, he sets out to solve the mystery and get his ball back.
Author: Marcus Rashford; Alex Falase-Koya
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
More Top Football Book Choices
Jaz Santos vs The World
What’s it about?: Jaz is desperately seeking a reason for her mother to move back in with the family. She thinks that if she can win the football tournament that she will come back. First she has to get together a team of girls. #The Dream Team series
Author: Priscilla Mante
Publisher: Puffin
Lily and the Rockets
What’s it about?: The story is set in 1917 and Britain is at war, which means that Lily finds herself working in a munitions factory. Football provides a much welcome relief from war and work and soon Lily and her friends create a football team called the Rockets. When war ends however, Lily and her friends lose not only football but their jobs also. Lily is determined not to give up though and sets out to show the men what she can do…
Author: Rebecca Stevens
Publisher: Chicken House
The Dog that Saved the World (Cup)
What’s it about?: Elsie’s life isn’t always easy with money always in scarce supply, even with Dad working as hard as he can. Luckily, Elsie has Pickles her dog and football but when her chance of playing at Wembley seems to have been lost, it is all left to Pickles to save the world (cup)!
Author: Phil Earle
Publisher: HarperCollins
Planet Football
What’s it about?: Football is everything to Jackson! Then, one stormy day, he kicks his ball up into space! This leads to a series of events that he could never have expected. When the aliens become football mad and all of the footballs from Earth end up in space, it’s up to Jackson to bring football home!
Author: Michelle Robinson
Publisher: Walker Books
Respect: The Walter Tull Story
What’s it about?: Walter Tull was the grandson of a slave and brought up in a children’s home. He was also a true hero and the first black officer in the British Army and had to fight against racism as one of the UK’s first black professional football players.
Author: Michaela Morgan
Publisher: Barrington Stoke