Why Soccer Stories
Across Canada, a new generation of young fans is excited about soccer. Educators and librarians can build on that enthusiasm by giving students stories that connect reading with a sport kids know and love.
Written by Canadian authors and featuring girls and boys from diverse backgrounds and communities, these stories combine fast-paced soccer action with themes of teamwork, friendship, identity, resilience and belonging.
✓ Exciting soccer action
Fast-paced matches and dramatic moments.
✓ Accessible reading
High-interest short fiction designed to help developing readers.
✓ Real-life challenges
Stories explore friendship, confidence, family, teamwork, identity, resilience, and perseverance.
✓ Canadian voices
Written by Canadian authors and reflecting the diversity of communities across Canada.
Featured collections
16 action-packed soccer stories featuring boys navigating competition, teamwork, friendship, and challenges on and off the field. Ideal for classroom libraries, independent reading and literacy programs.
9781459421189
$169.95
14 inspiring stories featuring girls demonstrating determination, leadership, resilience, and teamwork. Perfect for building diverse classroom and library collections.
9781459421196
$129.95
The complete collection of all 30 soccer stories, a ready-made literacy resource for classrooms and school libraries.
9781459421202
$295.95
Created for young readers. Trusted by educators.
✓ Reflecting today’s Canada
Set in downtowns, suburbs, and small towns, featuring young people from a wide range of cultures, backgrounds and lived experiences.
✓ Building reading confidence
Short, engaging novels that help developing readers experience success, and enjoy reading.
✓ Classroom connections
Themes of teamwork, perseverance, friendship, identity and belonging create natural opportunities for classroom discussion while supporting literacy development, and social-emotional learning.
Featured author: Eddie Kawooya
Canadian stories shaped by lived experience
Born in Uganda and raised on three continents before settling in Canada, Eddie Kawooya brings his own experiences of immigration, identity and belonging to his writing. Inspired by his grandmother’s oral stories and Ugandan folklore, he is passionate about telling stories that reflect Canada’s diverse communities.
His debut novel, Ace and the Misfits, is loosely based on his own experiences. Set in multicultural Toronto, it follows a recently arrived Ugandan teen struggling with bullying, school and finding his place in a new country. Through soccer and friendships with a group of fellow outsiders, Ace begins to rebuild his confidence and sense of belonging.
What reviewers say…
Engaging developing readers
“Action-packed scenes on the field make for an accessible, engaging text for hi-lo readers.”
— School Library Journal (Head to Head)
Authentic Canadian stories
“An authentic portrayal of hockey versus soccer along with a convincing immigrant story marks Playing For Keeps as truly Canadian.”
— CM: Canadian Review of Materials (Playing for Keeps)
Meaningful themes
“There are a lot of messages in the story—from bullying and racism to believing in yourself and the importance of family—all of them worthy.”
— CM Magazine (The Beautiful Game)
Recommended for schools & libraries
“This is a great story for middle grades… a good choice for a school or class library.”
— Carla Johnson-Hicks, Educator (NetGalley) (Little’s Losers)
Bring soccer stories to your classroom or library
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Need Help?
Looking for the right collection for your classroom or library?
Whether you’re building a classroom library or expanding a school collection, we’re happy to recommend the collection that best fits your students and readers.
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902-421-7022 ext. 21
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