It’s fall! Football season is well underway—high school, college, and the NFL. Here are a few children’s and YA fiction and nonfiction books about football. Some are by familiar names like Colin Kaepernick, Tony Dungy, and Brian Westbrook Sr., and others are about unsung players, such as Joe Delaney and Chester Pierce. Enjoy!
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1. Heroic Heart: An Illustrated Biography of Joe Delaney
Frank Murphy | Charnaie Gordon | Anastasia Magloire Williams | Triumph Books | October 17, 2023 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
2. The Mouse Who Played Football
Brian Westbrook Sr. | Lesley Van Arsdall | Mr. Tom | Temple University Press | August 1, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
3. Pigskins to Paintbrushes: The Story of Football-Playing Artist Ernie Barnes
Don Tate | Abrams BYR | August 17, 2021 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
4. Follow Chester!: A College Football Team Fights Racism and Makes History
Gloria Respress-Churchwell | Laura Freeman | Charlesbridge | September 17, 2019 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
5. Austin Plays Fair: A Team Dungy Story About Football
Tony Dungy | Lauren Dungy | Guy Wolek | Ten Peaks Press | August 7, 2018 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
6. The Stone Thrower
Jael Ealey Richardson | Matt James | Groundwood Books | May 1, 2016 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
7. Football With Dad: A Book for Dads and Kids (Little Golden Book)
Frank Berrios | Brian Biggs | Golden Books | May 5, 2015 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
8. You Can Do It!
Tony Dungy | Amy June Bates | Little Simon Inspirations | July 8, 2008 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
9. Who Is Colin Kaepernick? (Who HQ Now)
Lakita Wilson | Who HQ | Gregory Copeland | May 3, 2022 | Chp Bk | Amazon | Bookshop
10. Micah Hudson: Football Fumble
Tanisia Moore | Aeron Cargill | Reycraft Books | September 12, 2023 | Chp Bk | Amazon | Bookshop
11. Mascot
Charles Waters | Traci Sorell | Charlesbridge | September 5, 2023 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
12. Before the Ever After
Jacqueline Woodson | Nancy Paulsen Books | September 1, 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
13. End Zone (Barber Game Time Books)
Tiki Barber | Ronde Barber | Paul Mantell | Paula Wiseman Books | August 5, 2014 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
14. Wild Card (Barber Game Time Books)
Tiki Barber | Ronde Barber | Paul Mantell | Paula Wiseman Books | July 24, 2012 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
15. Colin Kaepernick: Change the Game (Graphic Novel Memoir)
Colin Kaepernick | Eve L. Ewing | Orlando Caicedo | Graphix | March 7, 2023 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
16. Kneel
Candace Buford | Inkyard Press | September 14, 2021 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
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