These Children’s Books About Football Are Touchdowns

This is a wonderful illustrated biography anthology for middle grade readers exploring Jewish life. It’s broken up into six sections that center specific Jewish philosophies, like “Tikkun Olam: To Repair a Broken World” and “Pikuach Nefesh: To Save a Life.” Each section contains six mini-biographies of people who exemplify the philosophy, as well as a section on “Jews in the Community!” I especially love the diversity of the collection. Disabled, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ Jewish folk are all represented, as well as Jewish kids and adults. The beginning also contains a frequently asked questions section that unpacts myths of Judaism, and a map of Jewish communities.

This is a picture book biography of NFL player and artist Ernie Barnes, who played football in the 1960s. As a child, Ernie loved art, but as a Black kid in the 1930s, his access to art museums and classes was extremely limited due to segregation laws. Bullied as a tween, he turned to football and soon excelled. He continued making art while playing football and saw his two passions as influencing one another. He enjoyed painting Black bodies in action, and when he fractured his foot, he turned to art full-time. This is an engaging picture book biography about a fascinating person.

This is a beautiful new middle grade novel-in-verse about a 7th-grade Syrian American boy, Kareem, who dreams of joining the school football team. However, the coach’s son, who is also a football player, bullies him. Meanwhile, Kareem’s grandfather is sick in Syria, and his mom leaves to help them travel to the U.S., where he can receive medical care. But it’s 2016, and soon after she leaves, then President Trump enacts the Muslim ban, and neither Kareem’s mom nor her parents can return. This is such a moving book.

This middle grade memoir reminds me of my sister, who was on the junior high football team, and she had to really advocate for herself to be able to try out. When Misty decides to join her middle school football team, the coaches and her family, especially her stepfather, are supportive, but her friends not so much. She ends up making friends with two cheerleaders. Football training is harder than she expected, and home life is stressful, too, with two new twin siblings. This is a really fun graphic memoir, and it’s illustrated by the author’s husband!