My First Book of Soccer : A Rookie Book (a Sports Illustrated Kids Book)

The fourth book in the fan-favorite Rookie Book series, Sports Illustrated Kids explains the most popular sport in the world to its youngest fans.

The ref blows the whistle, the striker approaches for kickoff, feet fly-a soccer match is underway! With a fun mix of Sports Illustrated action photography, simple text, a full glossary of terms, and awesome graphics, My First Book of Soccer introduces readers to the world's favorite game. Kids (and probably a few adults, too) will learn how the clock counts "up" and never stops, what an offside means, what's up with those yellow cards, and how kicks become a gooooaaaallll!

Illustrated "rookie" characters appears on every page, guiding the reader moment by moment, and helping to make My First Book of Soccer an ideal shared reading experience between parents and their little rookies before, during, and after the game.

K-Gr 3—Bugler and Bechtel illuminate the basics of soccer for little ones. Children will learn about the function of the referee, the linesmen, the goalkeeper, the forwards, the defenders, and the midfielders. The colorful book is organized into bright green, orange, yellow, and blue spreads, and the large white text guides readers through a fictional game. Also covered are soccer techniques, such as dribbles, tackles, passes, throw-ins, corner kicks, and headers. Hinds's cartoon boy and girl characters accompany photographs of real-life players, making for a wonderful mix of reality and imagination. VERDICT Perfect for new soccer lovers and longtime aficionados.—Kathia Ibacache, Simi Valley Public Library, CA