The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field

On the island of Koh Panyee, in a village built on stilts, there is no open space. How will a group of Thai boys play soccer?

After watching the World Cup on television, a group of Thai boys is inspired to form their own team. But on the island of Koh Panyee, in a village built on stilts, there is no open space. The boys can play only twice a month on a sandbar when the tide is low enough. Everything changes when the teens join together to build their very own floating soccer field.

This inspiring true story by debut author Scott Riley is gorgeously illustrated by Nguyen Quang and Kim Lien. Perfect for fans of stories about sports, beating seemingly impossible odds, and places and cultures not often shown in picture books.

"A compelling book for football [soccer] fans and readers seeking examples of ingenuity."―starred, Publishers Weekly

Scott Riley is a teacher and children's book author. Scott has spent nearly thirty years teaching in the US, Indonesia, Czech Republic, and Singapore. Scott draws inspiration from the people he meets and the places he explores while living overseas. His debut picture book The Floating Field was a Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List title, Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books, and Freeman Book Award winner. He currently lives in Singapore with his wife, two daughters, and one very lively labradoodle.

Huynh Kim Lien and Phung Nguyen Quang are Vietnamese illustrators who have collaborated on books published in a number of countries, often under the pen name KAA. Their illustrations are influenced by the folk culture of Vietnam and Asia. Visit them at kaaillustration.com.

Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien are Vietnamese illustrators who have collaborated on books published in a number of countries, often under the pen name KAA. Their illustrations are influenced by the folk culture of Vietnam and Asia. Visit them at kaaillustration.com.