Book Finder

Enjoy the feel of what swimming in a pool, a lake, and the ocean through beautifully rendered watercolors and lyrical text. Endpapers show a girl starting at one end of a swimming pool until she reaches the other side show on the final endpapers. In between, share the water with a range of swimmers of many ages, sizes, and hues.

A young boy listens eagerly to the games on the radio, using sign language to tell his deaf father about every new development. Getting into the spirit, his father begins to keep a scrapbook, clipping newspaper articles and photos about Jackie. One day, the father has big news: they’re going to Ebbets field to watch Jackie play in person! 

The true story of John Meyers and Charles Bender, who in 1911 became the first two Native pro baseball players to face off in a World Series. This picture book teaches important lessons about resilience, doing what you love in the face of injustice, and the fight for Native American representation in sports.

Rob dreams of becoming a champion strongman. He wants to flip huge tires, lug boulders, and haul trucks— and someday be the strongest man in the world! But he feels like he can’t fit in with his bright leggings, unicorn T-shirts, and rainbow-dyed hair. Will Rob find a way to step into his true self and be a champion? This picture book introduces readers to Rob Kearney and his journey from an athletic kid trying to find his place to the world’s first openly gay professional strongman.

Ten-year-old Elijiah Breeze, a.k.a. Jumper, is having the hardest summer of his life. His father has just died; his mother has moved them from the suburbs to New York City’s Harlem area; and he has to spend the summer at baseball camp. Basketball is Jumper’s game. He doesn’t know anything about baseball, or city life, or how to keep going without his dad. Jumper struggles in his new life, but he’s encouraged by the support of his coach and his grandma’s wisdom. He finds out it is possible to start over in a new place with new people … and still hold on to what’s important from his past.

Based on the true story of a boy in Brooklyn who became neighbors and friends with his hero, Jackie Robinson. In 1948, when eight-year-old Steve learns that his African American baseball hero Jackie Robinson — who broke the color barrier in the sport the previous year — will be the new next-door neighbor in his all-Jewish Brooklyn neighborhood, he gains knowledge about respect, friendship, and unity. 

Sharon Robinson shares memories of her famous father in this warm loving biography of the man who broke the color barrier in baseball. Jackie Robinson was an outstanding athlete, a devoted family man and a dedicated civil rights activist. Includes never-before-published letters by Jackie Robinson, as well as photos from the Robinson family archives.

A portrait of the baseball legend, written by his daughter, traces the events that led up to Robinson’s historic signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers and his role in promoting the desegregation of baseball.

Bree overcomes her fear of water and learns to swim with the help of an older neighbor in this handsome, powerful graphic novel. The girl learns a lot about herself and her new community in this engaging, handsome presentation.

Sunny is the grandmaster’s daughter. She sweeps the floors, waters the plants, and practices with her nunchucks — sometimes she even makes mistakes! And she teaches other young students how to kihap (a spirited yell). When their kihaps grow loud and bold enough to shake the mountains, Sunny leads her friends in defending the dojang against two mythical tigers and a sapphire-colored dragon … or perhaps that’s just in their imaginations. 

Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary each tell their story, culminating in their thrilling ascent of Mount Everest. Norgay grew up in Nepal, herding yaks in the shadow of Chomolungma, the mountain also known as Everest. He has always dreamed of climbing to the top. He becomes a guide, leading treks through the Himalayas. Across the ocean, in New Zealand, Hillary grew up tending his father’s bees. He climbed his first mountain at sixteen and has climbed all over the world ever since. In 1953, the two men set out on the same expedition to climb Everest. They tramp over windswept glaciers, crawl across rope bridges, hack footholds in the ice … until finally they reach the top of the world!

Pow! Bam! Wow! Jackie Chan has been making movies and amazing audiences with his original and comedic stunts for decades. But before he was an international star, Jackie grew up in relative poverty in China, studied martial arts at the grueling China Drama Academy, and worked for years trying to find his way in film. Discover how Jackie used his goofball acrobatics to make a name and a style all his own.

Meet Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first Asian American woman elected to Congress. From a young age, Mink learned that striving for goals came with challenges, but to never give up. As the Japanese proverb says: fall down seven times, stand up eight. That spirit helped Patsy through school. She went to law school, ran for a seat in the U.S. Congress, and helped create Title IX, the law that requires federally funded schools to treat boys and girls equally.

This is the story of 17-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden. Born with spina bifida in Russia, Tatyana was raised in an orphanage where she walked on her hands for the first six years of her life. In 1994, she was adopted and moved to the .S., where she started racing and breaking records; and is now considered the best female wheelchair racer of all time, and the fastest woman on Earth. This is the first book in the non-fiction Paralympians picture book series about 4 champions who do things their own way and are reinventing sport.

Ben loves baseball. He loves the lines of diamond-shaped field and the dome of the pitcher’s mound. What Ben doesn’t like is reading. Ben has dyslexia, which means letters and sounds get jumbled up in his brain, and then the words don’t make sense. But when Ben starts looking at reading like he looks at baseball, he realizes that if he keeps trying, he can overcome any obstacle that comes his way. In this empowering story by California Governor Gavin Newsom, inspired by his own childhood diagnosis of dyslexia, readers will learn that kids with the determination to try (and try again) can do big things.

An accident puts an end to Jordan’s basketball playing but after she finds wounded white elephant, things change. Jordan names him Marshmallow and helps her discover a new sport. The lush Indonesian setting comes alive in charismatic, sprightly illustrations.

Hudi’s dad is athletic, but Hudi is not. Hudi is funny and well, chunky. In this fictionalized memoir, Hudi confronts his family’s expectation, school bullies, and how to be true to his real interests. The graphic format captures the tone, tensions, and wit of the story.

Ernie always had an interest in art but that was not a good thing when he was a kid. He grew up to become a professional football player, but a career-ending injury opened the door to art. Ernie’s story is sure to inspire young readers that more than one career is possible. Complete backmatter includes additional information including a bibliography and where to see Ernie’s artwork.

What can Kooky Dooky do help to inspire El Toro to train as a luchador for his next wrestling match? The first in a lively new series features animated characters and Spanish words for a fun romp. After the match, El Toro and his friend Oink Oink clean up in El Toro’s next adventure in Tag Team (opens in a new window).

Vivy Cohen, an 11-year-old with autism, won’t let anything stop her from playing baseball — not when she has a major-league star as her pen pal. This novel-in-letters captures Vivy’s growing sense of her own capabilities. It’s a satisfying baseball story that never minimizes the challenges of autism but celebrates skill, determination, and love for the game.

Lupe is an ace baseball player who just happens to be Chinese and Mexican. She must get straight A’s to meet her pro baseball player hero — and that includes physical education’s mandated square dancing. Lupe’s voice is authentic and sure to make the reader laugh out loud as she works to get rid of dancing but ultimately succumbs with the help of a bright teacher, making friends along the way.

Stories from the NFL’s long history intertwine with American history in this handsome and accessible examination of the sport. Captured in a conversational tone and dramatic illustrations this well-organized volume is sure to intrigue sports fans.

ZJ (short for Zachariah) turns to music and the support of friends and family when he begins to lose the father he knows and loves. A successful football career has resulted in his dad’s diagnosis of a chronic brain injury (CTE). Told in verse, this moving story remains realistic but hopeful.

Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He’s finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he’s a great jumper, so he’s not scared at all. “Looks easy,” says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. This simple tale about overcoming your fears captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy.