The FIFA World Cup has dramatically increased interest in soccer among kids; the American Chronicler reports that "the international game is inspiring young players." Parents and teachers can capitalize on the new fascination with footie by tying it to literacy with some great audiobooks about soccer that the whole family will want to listen to together.
"Small Fish, Smaller Pond" by Nick Hornby
With the whole world seemingly locked in on soccer, it is not hard to imagine life for Stefan in Champina. The entire country is fascinated with soccer, and every boy's fantasy of playing professional sports comes true for Stephan. Through an amazing turn of events, the tween boy discovers that he is going to play on his country's soccer team in an international game.
In Champina, playing international games is the norm, because the country isn't large enough to have other teams to play. It is the smallest country in the world, and Stefan's mother is president. That means that when his father announces Stefan must join the team, he can't squirm out of it, even though he would rather go to his room and read.
"Small Fish, Smaller Pond" is available for free through the streaming feed from NPR'sThis American Life podcast archive for August . It is also available to buy as a download to put on an mp3 player. The episode, "Not What I Signed Up For," was originally broadcast on August 26, 2005.
The Big Game and The Big Match by Rob Childs
Rob Child's has written about Chris and Andrew Weston in many of his soccer books, which are in various collections. The Big Game and The Big Match are special because the audiobooks are performed by Sean Bean, who is such a legendary football fan that his Sky Football Ad from 1997 brings fellow Sheffield United fans to tears, narrates two of Rob Child's audiobooks about soccer. Both are available as downloads from both the US and the UK Audible store.
Chris and Andrew are brothers who play for Danebridge, and their soccer lives blend with their social lives. In The Big Game, Andrew has the frustration experience of playing against someone he doesn't like socially. Chris takes center stage. Like Stefan in "Small Fish, Smaller Pond," Chris is much younger than the rival team, and despite his brother's encouragement, Chris finds it all intimidating.
Younger children who are interested in soccer will like reading Rob Child's books. Although his books are not as well known in the United States, they are available online. He has written more than thirty soccer related books, and the audiobooks are a good introduction to Chris and Andrew's adventures.
Boy Overboard by Morris Gleitzman
Morris Gleitzman's soccer story isn't just about kids playing soccer. There are multicultural themes and social issues as a brother and sister who love soccer leave their native Afghanistan to start anew with their refugee parents in Australia. Gleitzman narrates his audiobook.
Boy Overboard is appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students who will understand the social themes in the book. Soccer is a catalyst for hope and connection, and but it is not a sweet, simplistic soccer story like the "Small Fish, Smaller Pond", The Big Match, and The Big Game. Boy Overboard is available to download from Audible.
For kids who love soccer, these books will make happy listening editions on ipods. All of the downloadable files can be put on cd for kids who are not yet ready for an mp3 player. Nick Hornby's story is about 20 minutes (it starts 30 minutes into the podcast), each of the Rob Child books are about 40 minutes, and Morris Gleitzman's book is just under 200 minutes.
Related Reading:
For more information about inexpensive, child-friendly mp3 players for audiobooks, read Audible Ready Mp3 Players: $30 to $60 Audiobook Playing Devices,
Publication Information
"Small Fish, Smaller Pond" by Nick Hornby was originally presented on This American Life on August 26, 2005. It is from episode 295, "Not What I Signed Up For."
The Big Match by Rob Childs was released as an audiobook on October 30, 2008 from BBC WW. The ASIN is B002SPXHAU.
The Big Game by Rob Childs was released as an audiobook on May 5, 2008 from BBC WW. The ASIN is B002SQ6PX0.
Boy Overboard by Morris Gleitzman was released as an audiobook on November 7, 2005 from Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd. The ASIN is BOO2SQ3Z24.
Alex Sharp - Alex Sharp is a teacher who has been keeping Suite101 readers up to date with the latest in audio- and e-book gadgetry since 2008.
