Children's books: sports
31 hand-picked books from the Bookbear catalogue tagged “sports”, with Indian authors first. Each one has an age range, a short description, a heads-up on any sensitive topics and a link to buy in India.
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Women in Sports (Learning TO BE)
by Pervin Saket
Ages 5–9Indian author
Five extraordinary Indian sportswomen — PT Usha, Arunima Sinha, Bhakti Sharma, Chandro and Prakashi Tomar — their stories of grit and resilience told in simple verse with stunning illustrations. Award-winning.
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Trust with PT Usha (Learning TO BE)
by Pervin Saket
Ages 5–9Indian author
The story of PT Usha, one of India's greatest track athletes, told to model trust and self-belief.
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The Incredible Life of Mary Kom: The Queen of Boxing
by Swayam Ganguly
Ages 9–12Indian author
The true story of Mary Kom's journey from a village in Manipur to becoming an Olympic-medal-winning boxer.
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Born to Bat: Mithali Raj (Little Leaders)
by Arthy Muthanna Singh & Mamta Nainy
Ages 5–9Indian author
A picture book inspired by the life of Mithali Raj, former captain of India's women's cricket team — how a little girl who loved to sleep and dream found the grit to become a champion.
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We Are the Champions: 40 Iconic Moments in Indian Sports
by Akshay Lokapally & Vijay Lokapally
Ages 9–14Indian author
Forty great moments from Indian sport — cricket, hockey, athletics, badminton, wrestling and more — and the players and teams behind them.
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Girls on Wheels
Ages 4–8Indian author
Inspired by India's girls' skateboarding revolution: three friends cheer each other through the falls and triumphs of learning to skate.
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The Good Indian Child's Guide to Playing Cricket
Ages 5–9Indian author
A tongue-in-cheek guide to India's favourite game and what it takes to be a 'good' Indian child on the gully cricket pitch.
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Petu Pumpkin: Tooth Troubles
Ages 6–9Indian author
The Gap Club has challenged the Fourth Standard to a football match, but they can't practise without a ball, and the ball depends on Petu's wobbly tooth falling out in time. A funny chapter book about friendship, teamwork and losing your first teeth. hOle Books series.
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Lightning Kid: 64 Winning Lessons from the Boy Who Became Five-Time World Chess Champion
by Viswanathan Anand
Ages 10–16Indian author
Vishy Anand tells his story, from a chess-mad boy in Chennai to India's first Grandmaster and five-time World Champion, with 64 short lessons on staying calm, losing well and bouncing back.
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Run, Ravi, Run!
by Kiran Vazir Nair (illus. Shubhshree Mathur)
Ages 6–9Indian author
Moments before his school 400-metre race, Ravi realises he has packed his big brother's shorts. Can his best friend Vikram help him make it to the starting line?
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Women in Blue: Sixteen Warriors, One World Cup Dream
by Suprita Das
Ages 9–14Indian author
Illustrated profiles of sixteen cricketers, including Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, who rose from small towns to win the 2025 Women's World Cup for India.
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It Takes a Tribe: True Stories of 25 Tribal Heroes Who Changed India
by Ramendra Kumar
Ages 9–14Indian author
Twenty-five true stories of tribal freedom fighters, forest guardians, athletes and leaders, from Birsa Munda and Rani Gaidinliu to Mary Kom and Poorna Malavath.
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The Footballing Fairy
by Elli Woollard
Ages 4–5
Femi the fairy adores football but her shots aren't always on target. A charming book about following your dreams.
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Goal!
by Mina Javaherbin
Ages 5–8
Six boys play soccer in a South African township with a ball made from plastic bags, racing to finish before a rival gang interrupts their game. Joyful and hopeful.
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Wilma Unlimited
by Kathleen Krull
Ages 5–8
The true story of Wilma Rudolph, who overcame polio as a child to become the fastest woman alive at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Astonishing and deeply moving.
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Emmanuel's Dream
by Laurie Ann Thompson
Ages 5–8
Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah was born with a deformed leg in Ghana but cycled 400 miles across the country to change attitudes toward disability. A real-life superhero story.
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The Crossover
Ages 8–9
Twelve-year-old Josh narrates basketball, twin brotherhood, and a father's health crisis in electrifying slam-poetry verse. Newbery Medal winner. One of the best books ever written for this age.
Heads-up: Death & grief
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Ghost
Ages 10–12
Castle 'Ghost' Cranshaw is fast — faster than anyone — but it's the thing he's running from that might destroy him. A Track series novel that crackles with energy.
Heads-up: Violence, Abuse
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Booked (Graphic Novel)
by Kwame Alexander & Dawud Anyabwile
Ages 10–13
Twelve-year-old Nick loves football more than anything, but a divorce, a crush and a bully get in the way — the Newbery winner's verse novel as a graphic novel.
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Rebound
by Kwame Alexander & Dawud Anyabwile
Ages 10–13
The prequel to The Crossover: after his father dies, Charlie finds his way back through basketball, family and friendship, told in verse.
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Patina
Ages 10–13
Patty runs track to outrun her worries about family — but learns she can't win alone. Book two of the Track series after Ghost.
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Football School Season 1: Where Football Explains the World
by Alex Bellos & Ben Lyttleton
Ages 8–12
A funny, fact-packed 'school' where every lesson — maths, science, history, geography — is taught through football.
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The Kicks: Saving the Team
by Alex Morgan
Ages 8–12
New in town, Devin joins a struggling school football team and helps turn them into real teammates. Book one of the series by the US World Cup winner.
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You Are a Champion
by Marcus Rashford & Carl Anka
Ages 9–13
The England footballer shares what he learned on and off the pitch about confidence, resilience, teamwork and finding your voice.
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Rebel Girls Champions: 25 Tales of Unstoppable Athletes
by Rebel Girls (foreword by Ibtihaj Muhammad)
Ages 7–12
Twenty-five true stories of women athletes from around the world, from Serena Williams to Simone Biles, each with a full-page portrait.
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Leo Messi (Little People, Big Dreams)
by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Ages 4–8
How a small boy from Rosario, told he was too little, became one of the greatest footballers in the world through practice and team play.
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Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream
by Deloris Jordan & Roslyn M. Jordan
Ages 4–8✈️ Import only (pricey)
Young Michael worries he's too short for basketball; his parents teach him that patience, practice and hard work matter more than height.
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Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball
by John Coy
Ages 5–9✈️ Import only (pricey)
The true story of how teacher James Naismith invented basketball to turn an unruly gym class into a team.
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Teamwork Isn't My Thing, and I Don't Like to Share!
by Julia Cook
Ages 5–9✈️ Import only (pricey)
RJ hates group work and sharing — until his coach and his mum help him see why teamwork makes everyone better.
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Froggy Plays Soccer
by Jonathan London
Ages 3–6
Froggy's team is in the big game, and he must remember the one rule: don't touch the ball with your hands! A funny first sports story.
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Mary Kom (Little People, Big Dreams)
by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Ages 4–8
The girl from Manipur who became a six-time world boxing champion and Olympic medallist.
