Are you looking for some Tennis children’s books to use in your classroom that include literacy extension ideas? This list may be just what you are looking for!
Tennis is a wonderful theme and is filled with some exciting literacy experiences to explore. You may have had the opportunity to read some of these Tennis books already, but hopefully some will be a new adventure for you and your kids. Whether you like or dislike Tennis, try these engaging books and some of the extension activities suggested.
1. Busy Tennis by Campbell Books
Push, pull and slide the tabs to play in the Busy Tennis match! Serve the ball, have a rally then win the match point. Meet 12 famous tennis heroes too!
Young children will love playing with this bright and colorful board book with gentle rhyming text, lots to spot and talk about, and wonderful illustrations.
Literacy Extensions:
- Tennis Literature List
- Classroom Booklet: “All About Tennis”
- Tennis Counting
- My Tennis Story: Student Worksheets
2. Goodnight, Tennis by Janina Apruza
A bedtime story about a brother and sister who fall in love with tennis. They meet Ace the tennis player, travel to different countries, and see the Grand Slam trophy.
The book is part of the Cool Tennis Books for Kids series and is a good way to introduce children to tennis and get them interested in the game. It would also be a great story for a young athlete who has just started playing tennis.
Literacy Extensions:
- “To Play Tennis” Classroom Book
- “Tennis Counting” Student Booklet
- Venn Diagram Comparing Tennis vs Basketball
- Tennis Build a Two Addend Number Sentence
3. Let’s Play Tennis by Carly & Charly
This book tells the story of two young twin shelter cats, Carly and Charly, as they take on the challenge of playing Tennis. As they are the cats who love to have fun and adventure, Charly has big ideas. Carly is always ready to go as long as Charly does all the planning. Let’s Play Tennis is one of the few kitten picture books that aim to educate and entertain the little ones about Tennis.
As it turns out, it’s not as easy as it sounds for cats to play Tennis. In this adventure, they search for appropriate equipment and gear for cats. Then they learn strategy, strokes, scoring, and etiquette to become all they can be on the court. The cats have a lot of fun and create fond memories of another successful cat’s adventure. In fact, it’s the best bedtime story for kids that you can get today.
Literacy Extensions:
- Classroom Book: “All About Tennis”
- Tennis Story Parts Worksheet
- Paper Plate Balloon Tennis Art Project
- Tennis Number & Ten Frame Match Game
4. Billie Jean King by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
In this book children discover the inspiring life of Billie Jean King, the tennis star who has dedicated her life to breaking barriers both on and off the tennis court.
Billie Jean began playing tennis at the age of 11. After one of her first tennis lessons, she told her mother, “I’m going to be No. 1 in the world,” a title she would come to hold five times between 1966 and 1972. Twenty years later, she is still today considered one of the most successful women in sports history. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the amazing sportswoman’s life.
Literacy Extensions:
- Tennis Literature List
- Tennis Story Parts: Student Worksheet
- Tennis Roll It! Read It! Short Vowels
- Tissue Tennis Ball Art Project
5. A Magical Racquet Ride by Marissa Irvin Gould
With a little world geography and a whole lot of tennis mixed together, kids and parents alike will fall in love with tennis for the first time, or all over again. A fantasy-adventure picture book that both boys and girls will want to read time after time, while they learn about tennis and its truly international appeal.
Readers of all ages will be delighted by this brightly illustrated, rhyming story of magical tennis racquets escorting twins across the globe to glamorous tennis ports of call of New York, London, Paris, and Melbourne. Written by a former tennis professional, Marissa Irvin Gould, has played the sport at the highest level winning matches at all four Grand Slam events.
She is also a mother of three young children and an elementary school teacher with a passion for learning. Don’t be surprised if after reading this book, kids are clamoring for a new racquet, and a chance to go outside and play tennis for themselves.
Literacy Extensions:
- “To Play Tennis” Classroom Book
- Tennis Story Sequencing Student Worksheet
- Tennis Art Project
- Tennis Add & Subtract Match Game
6. Tennis Legends Alphabet by Beck Feiner
Falling In Love With Tennis Is As Easy As ABC! From Rod Laver to Roger Federer, Billie Jean King to the Williams sisters, Tennis Legends Alphabet serves up an A to Z of the greatest men and women to have ever swung a tennis racket!
Stunningly illustrated, this book is an on-point history lesson for little (and not so little) lovers of ‘the sport of kings and queens.’ Teaching letters and the inspirational stories behind the legends of tennis.
Literacy Extensions:
- Tennis Word Bank
- Tennis Literature Retelling Organizer Student Page
- Tennis Make a Short Vowel Word Game
- Tennis Roll & Cover Math Games
7. Anyone for Tennis by Shane McGood
Tom got loads of great presents for his birthday that did amazing things like crashes and beep and whirr. But he also received a tennis racquet.
It doesn’t do anything though – and who plays tennis anyway? Then, Tom’s dad shows him exactly who does play tennis, Tom himself. And he grows to like it!
Literacy Extensions:
- “Tennis Senses” Student Booklet
- Tennis Make a Short Vowel Word
- Tennis Sight Word Games
- Tennis Build 2 Addend Addition Number Sentences
8. Tennis by the Numbers by Desiree Bussiere
Introduce Common Core State Standards for math and English to young readers in a format they’ll love! This book includes number-based facts, a brief introduction to the sport of tennis, and diagrams of tennis courts.
Brief story problems are matched with each photo to promote reading comprehension and math practice. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.
Literacy Extensions:
- “All About Tennis” Classroom Book
- Tennis Letter & Sound Match Game
- Tennis Build a Word
- Tennis Numbers & Ten Frames Math Game
Finally, there are so many Tennis children’s books you can choose from. From fiction to nonfiction, the list of Tennis 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.”
