Goal!

by Mina Javaherbin, A.G. Ford (Illustrator)

A lyrical, strikingly illustrated story celebrates the unifying power of soccer.

In a dusty township in South Africa, Ajani and his friends have earned a brand-new, federation-size soccer ball.

They kick. They dribble. They run. They score. These clever boys are football champions! But when a crew of bullies tries to steal their ball, will Ajani and his friends be able to beat them at their own game?

Genres: Picture Books, Sports, Africa, Cultural, Childrens, Friendship, Realistic Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 13, 2010

About the author

Mina Javaherbin was born in Iran and immigrated to the United States, where she is now a practicing architect. She lives in Southern California.

Reviews

[MaryannP · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a picture book from an author who was born in Iran and immigrated to the U.S. She is an american author and this is her first picture book. This is a great read aloud to do in a 1st or 2nd grade classroom. It has not won any awards, but it's been reviewed by Book List and School Library Journal. I found it on the NLU multicultural American Author list. The story is told in 1st person point of view where the narrator is a young boy, probably in 4th grade. The character and his friends enjoy playing soccer in the streets, but the streets are unsafe. Bullies are found to be roaming the streets and like to steal things from the boys and pester them.

The narrator got a brand new soccer ball from school for being the best reader. This is much better than his plastic ball that he is used to playing. He has to walk to get well water, but plays soccer with his friends before so the buckets are used as the goals. The boys gather around to play, but one person always stands guard on the roof for bullies. The narrator knows mischief can come, but when he plays, he is not worried and not afraid. Bullies do come though so he hides the brand new ball under the bucket. The plastic ball is sitting out for all to see. You must read to see what happens with the bullies, the plastic ball, and the brand new ball.

The quote that I liked that was one the last page is, "When we play together, we are unbeatable." This is a great story to read aloud to kids to teach them about neighborhoods and what kids are faced with. This is a great read aloud to discuss bullying in schools too because bullying exists everywhere.

[Han Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most innocent book I have ever read. The book tells us the stories of how a group of children fights bullies with minds in South Africa. I love the comparison between the bully and football. The bully represents bad things like war and disease happening in the third world like South Africa. And football represents pure happiness towards them. They all have a pure heart, and they play for themselves. It reminds me of the article " where are you from" that although people are from a different place, the definition of virtue and the desire for happiness never change. So we can't use " where are you from?" to set the stereotype for people.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful picture book about a group of boys enjoying a game of soccer and outsmarting the bullies in the neighborhood.

[Adam Glasser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goal!, written by Mina Javaherbin and illustrated by A.G. Ford, is a realistic fiction picture book about a group of boys playing soccer together in the streets of a township in modern day South Africa. The boys play with a brand-new regulation soccer ball, instead of the old plastic one they usually play with. They run and play until bullies temporarily interrupt the game. When the bullies leave, however, the game continues, with the boys dribbling, passing and scoring. The book concludes by suggesting that although the neighborhood that the boys live in is not safe, the game of soccer brings happiness into their lives, making them feel “unbeatable.”

While this story does give readers insight into life in an impoverished South African township, I believe its biggest contribution is providing a powerful example of how people use sports to build community. It also shows how sports can empower people, and how sports can make people happy, even if they live in challenging situations.

This book is a Smithsonian Notable Book for Children and an International Reading Association Notable Book for a Global Society, among other recognitions.

I would highly recommend this book as a quality read aloud option for elementary school students in first or second grade. This book would be an excellent resource when teaching students about the ability of sports and games to build community. It would also be a great book to include when comparing different communities, allowing students to draw connections between their own lives and the lives of children living in a South African Township.

[Ofilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written this soccer book is about more than just the game. Safety, poverty, bullying and friendship are all explored in this deceptively simple picture book. The language is lovely “I follow the ball to the end of the alley; I follow the ball to the end of the world.” A repeated refrain also helps remind the reader that danger is always lurking. Lots of fantastic examples of multi-culturalism from the kids’ names to “Bafana Bafana” the South African nickname for their home team. The illustrations are energetic and lush at times spread out over both pages showing the determination on the kids’ faces as they play. The alley that is their soccer field is also telling with the worn out buildings and complete lack of adult supervision. The encounter with the bullies can be read much deeper as the repression of so many in the war torn continent and the over arching message that soccer unites is inspiring, “when we play together, we are unbeatable.” The author’s note at the end explains how important soccer has been in history and around the world. This sport themed picture book is truly about so much more.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally arrived at the library, a little late for the World Cup, but I was still very eager to read it! And I really, really enjoyed it. The illustrations are luminous and create the perfect sense of the beauty of life and the hardships that sometimes surround it, which is so deftly told through Javaherbin's text. The streets of the South African town where the boys play soccer are not always safe, but friends stay together and the thrill of the game helps them find joy in life. As the author says in her note, "Football is magic to me. Where there is a ball, there's hope, laughter, and strength." I think she captures this love of the game, and admiration for the human spirit, beautifully in the text.

This is a good springboard for discussion with children as it is not too dark or in-your-face with the hardships the children endure, yet it also shows children in more fortunate areas just how lucky they are.

[Cammym · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much I made my husband read it. Of course he is gripped by soccer fever right now (gooooooooooooooooooooooool!) due to the World Cup. But it made me think of him getting together with his friends in the dirt streets of El Centenario to play soccer. The story is that of Ajani and his friends who are excited to play with a real, new soccer ball rather than the old lightweight plastic thing they usually have to use. But they have to keep a sharp lookout for the bullies who are sure to steal the ball if they catch them. But the boys manage to enjoy a great game and outwit the bullies, happily playing soccer until dark. Set in South Africa, the illustrations manage to look both realistic and cartoonish at the same time, with rich tones and fresh perspectives. Great book and a must for my future library!

Picture book, soccer, South Africa, friendship, bullies.

[Carolien · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming story about the joy a small group of boys find in playing soccer together in the dusty and dangerous streets of a South African shanty town. My soccer-mad 7-year old daughter loves the book. The illustrations are beautiful.

[Kathy (Kindle-aholic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boychild was on a soccer book kick for awhile. He liked this one about a young team of friends in South Africa trying to keep their new prized soccer ball safe from bullies who want to steal it.

[Hannah Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading and looking through the illustrations that filled the pages of the this wonderful book. Goal! uses full page illustrations to enhance the limited words that are placed on the pages. Even though this is a shorter picture book, Javaherbin uses repetitive phrases to add emphasis to the story and meaning and importance of soccer to these young boys. This repetition emphasizes the boys’ joyful empowerment that soccer provides for them by repeating, “When we play, / we forget to worry. / When we run, / we are not afraid” (Javaherbin, 2010). This lovely poetic tone to the writing is also match by wonderful oil paintings that reach from corner to corner of each page. By using such a stark painting technique, Ford allows the edges created by the speeding ball and feet running through the dirt to really show through the illustrations. The story is one that is very universal and one that many students and children can relate to. By incorporating the soccer, children can find similarities between the characters and themselves because there is that common ground. Also, many children and adults experience bullying throughout their entire lives, so this story provides readers with a great story of overcoming bullying and being able to use one’s intelligence to outsmart a bully. These two relatable aspects of the book would be a great way my students could connect to a story much different than their own and would be a great multicultural book to incorporate in the classroom.

[Sailor Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Goal!" is the wonderful story about a group of young African boys who play soccer/football. The author/illustrator offers a glimpse into the lives of these boys when they play soccer/football. "Left is clear. Right is clear. The streets are not safe, but I have a plan..." (no pg. #). At the surface, it appears to be solely about playing soccer/football. However, Mina Javaherbin was able to weave in specific messages throughout the book. For instance, the boys are thankful for their ball despite their situation. In addition, the boys have to stand up (as well as outsmart) a group of older bullies. This book will inspire readers to stand up for themselves, as well as enjoy the little things. As I read through the book, it felt like a smooth poem. In my opinion, I thought this was pretty neat. This would be a great book to have within a classroom.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ajani and his friends know the street isn't safe, but he has a brand new regulation size ball and he and his friends really want to place. So they decide to take turns being lookout, and the others lose themselves in the game.

This is a celebration of how soccer can transport kids out of even awful circumstances, at least mentally for a little while. It is also a window into the realities of life for kids in certain parts of the world where real soccer balls are super rare, soccer fields aren't readily available, kids do with what they can get for a field of play, and safety isn't something that is taken for granted. I'm sure this will be an eye-opening read for many kids, but it could also be a bonding experience with those other kids over a love for soccer. The artwork in this is masterful. I can see this have a broad age appeal, from little soccer fans up into middle grades.

[FM Family · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice one and does a good job of integrating a sports theme with a story about the characters and their daily lives. Cute story set in South Africa where the boys are so happy to have a regulation football to play with, but have to hide it from the local bullies. Really unique artwork which takes interesting angles and poses for the pictures that pull you right into the moment. Great representation of kids who are clearly living in a low-income community, but that has nothing to do with the story and just shows them playing and having fun together. My 3.5 year old enjoyed it and asked questions throughout. I look around a lot for sports-related books for kids and this is one that does the genre really well.

[Renae Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 2010 this is a realistic fiction book that has won the Notable Books for a Global Society, 2011 and is the California Young Readers Medal Nominee for Picture Books for Older Readers (2012). This is a look at common sport in a different country of South Africa. In this story friends must overcome bullies to keep their actual soccer ball. This book represents a chance for children to find commonality with a shared sport and see a glimpse of life in a small village in another country. Therefore, I could see this being an interesting book as part of a text set that could represent some of life in Africa. However, I would not want to pair it with a more comprehensive view of South Africa to avoid misconceptions.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of boys in South Africa play street soccer with a new federation-size football (won by the protagonist for being "the best reader in the class"). They face a close call with a group of bullies but manage to trick the bullies into stealing their old, unwanted plastic ball. The exhilaration as they play is palpable and makes you want to grab a ball and start a pick-up game of your own.

If you're interested in ways to bring this book to life for your child, please check out my blog post:

http://bookbakebronx.com/index.php/20...

[Luisa Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

A play by play of several boys enjoying a game of soccer with their new ball - but when bullies show up, will they loose their ball to the bullies thieving ways?

Ages: 4 - 9

#geography #africa #southafrica #soccer #football

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[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful picture book about playing football (soccer) in the streets of South Africa. The kids play because they love the game - and they don't have name brand shoes, specialty coaches, and matching uniforms.

This book is a great introduction to other (non American) cultures and ways of life. Many many talking points for parents and children. I'll grab this one again in a few years.

[Ta'Neisha Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun and uplifting story about how football is a popular pastime in Africa. This tale clearly conveyed the local dangers some children endure just for trying to have fun. It can be hard to keep your head up when this happens but they continue to play no matter what. The illustrations are great and perfectly pair with the text. The boys are reminded daily that teamwork and friendship make them unstoppable.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

About the joy of football and dealing with bullies (though not really a satisfying story if you're looking for a bullying story specifically?).

We see the kids being excited about the new federation-sized football, setting up buckets for the goals, choosing teams, having less than ideal footwear. All of that feels both joyful and normal within the story.

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story about a boy who wins a soccer ball and enjoys playing with his friends until some bullies arrive. The book shows the constant dangers kids in other countries face as they try to have a normal life and play a game that's played around the whole world. Beautiful illustrations throughout. Highly recommended for Grades 3-5.

[Rachel Crowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very up moving book. It is a story that is based out of South Africa. It has a group out children who find their way to a soccer ball. They start to love the game and there started to be tournaments where all the kids got to play. They went all the way to the top!

[Nole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun tale about Ajani and his friends overcoming different challenges to play the game they love. I would like to use this book in a Text set about sports and teamwork. I would like to discuss the challenges the boys faced where they live and similarities my students have with them.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated book that shows children facing adversity and overcoming obstacles so that they can play a friendly game of soccer, where they are transformed into champions. A great companion read to, "Home of the Brave" for 4th-6th grade readers.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book about bullying as it happens in the real world, and how kids work together to overcome. Soccer!

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

About the joy of playing soccer with friends and with an official ball, despite less than perfect conditions (playing in an alley, goals demarked by buckets) and having to watch out for bullies.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book about friends and bullies. Plus a great one for cultural awareness with kids.

[Aj Fried · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great art...and good message about soccer being a unifying sport. But is realistic about bullies and street life in South Africa.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great conversation starter about other countries, bullies, and wealth. The illustrations are beautiful.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good small moment story. I wanted more info about the setting to know why the streets were unsafe. My kid liked it because it was about soccer and we appreciated the author’s note.

[D'Anne Mosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

South African soccer.