Are you looking for some Football children’s books to use in your classroom that include literacy extension activities? This list may be just what you are looking for!
Football children’s books are filled with some exciting literacy experiences to explore. You may have had the opportunity to read some of these Football books already, but hopefully some will be a new adventure for you and your kids. Whether you love the Football theme or not, try these engaging books and some of the extension activities suggested.
1. Little Football by Brad Herzog
Now even the smallest of fans can enjoy a book about their favorite sport. This book is full of rhyming riddles all about the sport of football. Riddles exist for the football and goalpost, whistle, helmet, and shoulder pads, referee, quarterback and even cheerleaders.
The illustrations are simple and colorful and provide enough of a hint in most cases that kids have a fair chance of correctly guessing the answer. Everything combined together helps introduce the game’s simplest, most basic elements.
Literacy Extensions:
- “When I Play Football” Classroom Book
- “Footballs” Student Counting & Color Booklet
- Football Student Story
- Football Roll It & Read It Short Vowel Game Cards
2. My Football Book by Gail Gibbons
Football is fun but how does it work? Find all the basics in this lively guide for the youngest football fans from the award winning author Gail Gibbons! In this beautifully illustrated picture book, young readers will learn about the game of football.
From the markings on a football field and what football players wear. To the all the football positions, quarterback to wide receiver. They will learn about the excitement of the kickoff and the thrill of scoring a touchdown.
Everything to know about football you can find in this book along with a glossary for football terms that is included.
Literacy Extensions:
- “To Play Football” Classroom Book
- Football Writing Station
- Footballs & Goal Posts Counting Games
- Footballs Build a Word Game
3. Little Granny Quarterback by Bill Martin
The author has coupled his notorious sense of humor with his favorite sport to come up with a quirky little picture book about football. Granny Whiteoak, who was a star quarterback in her youth, hears on TV that her team is in trouble. She leaps from her bed and into the television, coming out at the stadium where she defeats the opposition with a startling touchdown.
The book’s silliness is elevated by the rhyming verse and hilarious illustrations. While many young readers may be unfamiliar with the football they will immediately get the rhythm and the playfulness of the words. Everyone will be cheering for Granny, who ends up back in bed nursing a sore head.
Literacy Extensions:
- “To Play Football” Classroom Book
- “My Football See Book” Student Counting Booklet
- Football Art Project
- Football Addition & Subtraction Game
4. Goodnight Football by Michael Dahl
From the opening kickoff to the final whistle, this book will bring the excitement of a football game to the youngest fan. The story is filled with rhyming text and vibrant illustrations.
The ending of the book is gentle and will capture the love of the game through a child’s eyes. A celebration of football, friendship, and family. This book is sure to be a touchdown for every football fan!
Literacy Extensions:
- Football Literature List
- Football Story Parts: Student Worksheet
- Football Roll It! Read It! Short Vowels
- Football Art Project
5. I Told You I Can Play by Brian Jordan
This heartwarming story is about an empowered little boy who is very confident and self-assured. The author takes us inside his childhood experience with his first children’s book.
Six-year-old Brian loves to play football, but everyone thinks he’s too small. When he finally gets a chance to prove himself and his skills, he shows everyone that he’s got what it takes to succeed even against the big boys.
Literacy Extensions:
- Football Word Bank
- Football Story Sequencing Student Worksheet
- Football Build a Word
- Football Number & Ten Frames
6. The Dog That Stole Football Plays by Matt Christopher
Newly independent readers will love this classic football story now illustrated in full color! Mike’s telepathic dog Harry is able to tell him what the other football team plans to do on the field, but Mike wonders, is it cheating?
Can he win the game without Harry’s help? Mike’s football team is really put to the test when Harry has to stay home. Can the team win without Harry’s supernatural advice?
Literacy Extensions:
- “When I Play Football” Classroom Book
- Football Literature Retelling Organizer Student Page
- Football Make a Short Vowel Word Game
- Football Roll & Cover Math Games
7. Miss Nelson Has a Field Day by Harry Allard
In this companion to Miss Nelson Is Missing and Miss Nelson Is Back, the notorious Miss Swamp returns to Horace B. Smedley School to coach their failing football team. Includes bonus downloadable audio.
The Smedley Tornadoes haven’t won a game all year and the entire school is down in the dumps. There’s only one person tough enough to turn things around in time for the big Thanksgiving game!
Literacy Extensions:
- “Football” Classroom Book
- Football Make a Word
- Football Sight Word Game
- Football Build 2 Addend Addition Number Sentences
8. Kick, Pass, and Run by Leonard P. Kessler
This story teaches the basics of football. To make it more child friendly it has animals trying to figure out what a group of boys are doing. The animals follow and watch from a distance as boys play.
But what is it? It turns out to be a football, and it leads the animal friends to discover the exciting game of football. Then the animals have a brilliant idea to play their own game of football.
Literacy Extensions:
- Football Student Report
- Football Patterns
- Football Letter & Sound Match Game
- Football Art Project
Finally, there are so many Football children’s books you can choose from. From Football fiction to nonfiction, the list of books is endless. Remember to pick the books that best fit the needs of your students or children and support your learning activities. Happy Reading!
Find some more literacy and extension activities in my store, The Teaching Scene by Maureen.
To read more blog topics check out my blog, “A Guide to Using Literature-Based Units of Study.”
