I remember the 1984 Olympic Games like yesterday. Sam the Eagle (not that Sam the Eagle, this one) was everywhere. Even on the shirt my mom couldn’t get me to take off long enough to wash.
Any chance I had for consuming some Olympic-related content, I’d take. Even though I wasn’t yet an avid reader, I’d pick up a book or magazine about the games.
So we put together this list of 10 great Olympic reads for the kids in your life. Know of other titles that can help turn a sports fan into a reading fan? Leave us a comment below.
Wilma UnlimitedPure grit. The story of Wilma Rudolph overcoming all odds to become the first woman to win three gold medals during a single Olympic game and an American hero, this biography is simply a must-read. (recommended ages 6+)
Pop-Up LondonCan't visit London? This pop-up book will help you explore the host city of the 2012 Olympics with interactive pop-ups, flaps and tabs. You'll even visit the Olympic Village. (recommended ages 5+)
G is for Gold MedalThis Olympic alphabet book covers the Olympics from the first games in ancient Greece to the modern and extravagant games held today. Readers will learn about history-making athletes and events, as well as the many sports covered in the Olympic Games. (recommended ages 5+)
Hour of the OlympicsThe Magic Tree House series brings Jack and Annie on another adventure as they travel back in time. The setting? Ancient Greece, where they discover a very different idea of the Olympics Games than we have today. (recommended ages 5+)
The Mud Flat Olympics Who said the Olympics were only for humans? In this unique book, our furry friends go head-to-head in their own version of the Olympic Games. From the Deepest Hole Contest to the Smelliest Skunk Contest, it’s sure to get kids giggling. (recommended ages 5+)
Salt in His ShoesOnce upon a time, two-time Olympic Gold medalist Michael Jordan thought he’d never be good at basketball because he was shorter than the other boys. He wasn't the tallest player on the court, but he was one of the best. (recommended ages 4+)
Little Rat Sets SailLittle Rat is about to start sailing lessons. But there’s one problem -- she’s afraid of the water. With the help of a kind instructor, she learns to be brave and overcome her fears. For kids watching the Olympic Sailing, this little rodent is another inspiration. (recommended ages 6+)
Harry PotterAh, the golden snitch! Like a sprightly gold medal. J.K. Rowling’s imagination conjured up one amazing game with Quidditch. The fourth book in the series also mirrors the pomp and circumstance of the Opening Games (plus a healthy dose of magic) with the Quidditch World Cup. (recommended ages 8+)
How to Train with a T-Rex and Win 8 Gold MedalsTraining for six years? "That's a kindergartener's whole life! That's 42 dog years!" Author and 8-time gold medalist Michael Phelps cleverly tells young readers what his training entailed, in kids' terms. (recommended ages 4+)
The Hunger GamesNo Olympic Book List would be complete without "The Hunger Games," which could also be called the ”Olympic Games hosted by Dystopia.” Katniss Everdeen, underdog of District 12, is the hero everybody wants to win and taking home the gold is her only (non-lethal) option. (recommended ages 12+)
Suggestions?So we've got titles with a T-Rex and woodland creatures for the little ones. We've got historical fiction and biographies for the big brothers and sisters. And then there are the series options for teens (and grownups). But there's so much more. Let us know your favorites in the comments below.
A note on the publishers’ recommended ages, use your discretion as a parent. For example, many of these that are recommended for ages 5 or 6 I’ll read aloud to my daughter who’s not yet 4.
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