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My Soccer Book: An Illustrated Guide to Soccer Basics for Young Readers
Soccer is fun—but how does it work? Find all the basics in this lively guide for the youngest soccer fans from Washington Post/Children’s Book Guild Award winner Gail Gibbons! In this illustrated picture book, young readers will learn Glossary for soccer terms included.
24 pages, Hardcover
First published March 31, 2000
1 person is currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Gail Gibbons
226 books164 followersFrom gailgibbons.com: I was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1944. Even as a little child, I was always busy putting books together. Sometimes I would bind them with yarn to hold the pages together. I've always loved drawing and painting. I was also a very curious child. My parents tell me that I was always asking lots and lots of questions.
Later, I went on to the University of Illinois, where I studied graphic design. Then I moved to New York City, where I got a job doing artwork for television shows. Eventually I was asked to do the artwork for a children's show. While doing that show, some of the children asked me if I had ever thought of doing children's books. My mind immediately recalled how much I enjoyed doing that type of thing when I was a child. So I put an idea for a book together and right away a publisher bought it. That book was called Willy and His Wheel Wagon. Since then, over 170 books that I have written and illustrated have been published. The type of books I write are non-fiction books. This is because I love researching so much. I get to ask lots of questions, just like when I was a kid. I also get to travel and meet lots of interesting people. While doing research for my book Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests, I traveled to two islands where there are tropical rain forests, Saba and Dominica. I also had a great time writing and illustrating the book. I get a lot of pleasure from doing the type of work I do.
Later, I went on to the University of Illinois, where I studied graphic design. Then I moved to New York City, where I got a job doing artwork for television shows. Eventually I was asked to do the artwork for a children's show. While doing that show, some of the children asked me if I had ever thought of doing children's books. My mind immediately recalled how much I enjoyed doing that type of thing when I was a child. So I put an idea for a book together and right away a publisher bought it. That book was called Willy and His Wheel Wagon. Since then, over 170 books that I have written and illustrated have been published. The type of books I write are non-fiction books. This is because I love researching so much. I get to ask lots of questions, just like when I was a kid. I also get to travel and meet lots of interesting people. While doing research for my book Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests, I traveled to two islands where there are tropical rain forests, Saba and Dominica. I also had a great time writing and illustrating the book. I get a lot of pleasure from doing the type of work I do.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 2, 2021
When my colleague cleaned out her classroom, she gave me a whole stack of books. This was one of them. I'm always looking for excellent picture books to read with my students and help them work on their skills picking out details in the text. This one caught my student's eye, and so I read it with them. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I know very little about soccer, so I learned a lot. The information is presented in a thorough, yet concise way. It gives great detail, but on a level that kid's can read and relate to. The illustrations are well done with vivid colors, and many action shots. I really enjoyed reading it, and my students did as well. I recommend it for classroom bookshelves and read alouds, beginning reader who want to learn more about soccer, and parents and children to read together.
April 16, 2020
A cute and informative introduction to the sport. This is an American book, so some of the words and phrases are different, e.g. 'cleats'. But the information is presented in a concise, kid-friendly manner and the diagrams and pictures are delightful. There is also a very useful glossary at the back.
March 1, 2021
My son chose this as his library book from school. It is definitely more of a first grade reading level rather than the beginning letter recognition level that he is at now. My son enjoyed the pictures and we both learned a lot about soccer, but it wasn’t the most interesting story.
April 6, 2012
The informative novel My Soccer Book by Gail Gibbons is a book about soccer and what it consists of. However, the book generally doesn’t tell a story but gives readers information of what players wear, what a soccer field contains, how many players on a team, and how soccer is played. Each picture on the page supports the text and uses vocabulary words to create an understanding for readers.
The informative novel was able to expand the reader’s awareness by letting them take a look into the world of soccer. By getting the perspective with use of pictures, the reader is able to learn about soccer. For example, in the novel there is a picture of a soccer field with labels of the field such as penalty area, goal, sideline, and center line. However, the reader is unable to give empathy because there is not specific plot or characters. The novel provides an enjoyable read that doesn’t teach a moral because it is more to inform readers about soccer. Furthermore, the novel tells the truth of what soccer consists of by using accurate insight but there were not characters in the story. The novel meets the criteria of embodying qualities because the description of soccer is telling by use of precise and descripted words. The plot is convincing because it explained exactly what happens during a soccer game such as how many players on a team. However, there were not characters in the story but there was picture which can be believable soccer players. Furthermore, the novel has integrity because it brings the literature works into making a satisfying whole. Finally, the informative novel meets the criteria of being original because it creates a fascinating viewpoint for readers. Also, it was able to give readers a new way of thinking about what soccer consists of as well as looks like with use of multiple vocabulary words.
I didn’t enjoy the informative novel because it didn’t tell an interesting story that caught my attention. The book not telling a story struck me because I expected it to have an interesting story line about soccer. However, the story is relatable to my life because as a child I played soccer. Furthermore, I would use the novel in my classroom by tucking it way in the bookcase where students can view the book on their own time.
The informative novel was able to expand the reader’s awareness by letting them take a look into the world of soccer. By getting the perspective with use of pictures, the reader is able to learn about soccer. For example, in the novel there is a picture of a soccer field with labels of the field such as penalty area, goal, sideline, and center line. However, the reader is unable to give empathy because there is not specific plot or characters. The novel provides an enjoyable read that doesn’t teach a moral because it is more to inform readers about soccer. Furthermore, the novel tells the truth of what soccer consists of by using accurate insight but there were not characters in the story. The novel meets the criteria of embodying qualities because the description of soccer is telling by use of precise and descripted words. The plot is convincing because it explained exactly what happens during a soccer game such as how many players on a team. However, there were not characters in the story but there was picture which can be believable soccer players. Furthermore, the novel has integrity because it brings the literature works into making a satisfying whole. Finally, the informative novel meets the criteria of being original because it creates a fascinating viewpoint for readers. Also, it was able to give readers a new way of thinking about what soccer consists of as well as looks like with use of multiple vocabulary words.
I didn’t enjoy the informative novel because it didn’t tell an interesting story that caught my attention. The book not telling a story struck me because I expected it to have an interesting story line about soccer. However, the story is relatable to my life because as a child I played soccer. Furthermore, I would use the novel in my classroom by tucking it way in the bookcase where students can view the book on their own time.
April 9, 2012
The book "My Soccer Book" by Gail Gibbons is a very good informative book. This book provides information about the game of soccer on every single page. A child could read this book and have a very good idea about how the game of soccer works.
This book was a very informative read. The book was very accurate on how the game of soccer works. This book explained everything about soccer from what you wear to the positions on a soccer team. The information was presented in a very organized way. The book starts with very basic information like the types of uniforms you usually wear when playing soccer to the field positions on the soccer field when playing soccer. The format of the book and design is very appealing to children. The use of brightly colored pictures that go along with the text seem to draw children in to read this book. The authors writing stly os very clear and promotes enthusiasm for this topic. The author accomplishes this by the use of short easy to understand sentences and pictures that go along with the text.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I seemed to be drawn in with interest as I kept on reading. One thing that struck me about this book was the glossary in the back of the book with words that deal with soccer that children may have a hard time understanding. I can't really relate this book to my life due to the fact that I don't play soccer. To a soccer player this book would be a great tool though. I would use this book in a class setting if I was teaching a gym class the game of soccer. I would read the students this book before we play the game so they get a good idea about how this sport works.
This book was a very informative read. The book was very accurate on how the game of soccer works. This book explained everything about soccer from what you wear to the positions on a soccer team. The information was presented in a very organized way. The book starts with very basic information like the types of uniforms you usually wear when playing soccer to the field positions on the soccer field when playing soccer. The format of the book and design is very appealing to children. The use of brightly colored pictures that go along with the text seem to draw children in to read this book. The authors writing stly os very clear and promotes enthusiasm for this topic. The author accomplishes this by the use of short easy to understand sentences and pictures that go along with the text.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I seemed to be drawn in with interest as I kept on reading. One thing that struck me about this book was the glossary in the back of the book with words that deal with soccer that children may have a hard time understanding. I can't really relate this book to my life due to the fact that I don't play soccer. To a soccer player this book would be a great tool though. I would use this book in a class setting if I was teaching a gym class the game of soccer. I would read the students this book before we play the game so they get a good idea about how this sport works.
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October 20, 2013Book Title: My Soccer Book by Gail Gibbons
Description: This book provides all the basics to soccer: markings on a soccer field, what soccer players wear, the positions, etc.
Focus: The different details found inside the book: labels, pictures, and diagrams.
Teach: RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
a. Read the book
b. Discuss how authors can add more details to their books by adding pictures and labels. It is important that your audience know and understand what the author is writing about.
c. Students will review book and point out labels, diagrams, and pictures that follow the text.
d. Students will revisit writing folders and choose a piece to go back and add pictures, labels, and diagrams.
e. Model
Expected Outcome: Students will be able to strengthen their writing by adding details to their pictures. They will realize that illustrations are another way to add details to their writing.
Description: This book provides all the basics to soccer: markings on a soccer field, what soccer players wear, the positions, etc.
Focus: The different details found inside the book: labels, pictures, and diagrams.
Teach: RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
a. Read the book
b. Discuss how authors can add more details to their books by adding pictures and labels. It is important that your audience know and understand what the author is writing about.
c. Students will review book and point out labels, diagrams, and pictures that follow the text.
d. Students will revisit writing folders and choose a piece to go back and add pictures, labels, and diagrams.
e. Model
Expected Outcome: Students will be able to strengthen their writing by adding details to their pictures. They will realize that illustrations are another way to add details to their writing.
Read
September 27, 2017Review: My Soccer Book truly explains the game of soccer to young children. It explains the rules and the objectives of the game. Not only does the reader learn these things but at the end of the book the author includes a "soccer glossary" which explains some soccer terminology. I really enjoyed reading this book.
Setting: Throughout the book the reader sees the soccer field.
Awards:
Teaching Idea: I think that this book would be good to read in a physical education classroom. This would be a prefect way to read across the curriculum.
Grade Level: 3rd
Setting: Throughout the book the reader sees the soccer field.
Awards:
Teaching Idea: I think that this book would be good to read in a physical education classroom. This would be a prefect way to read across the curriculum.
Grade Level: 3rd
Read
April 28, 2018I only had to read it for my reading challenge and it was the shortest book there.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews