Get Kids Excited for the 2024 Summer Olympics

33 sports-inspired books for young readers, from tots to teens

The countdown has begun for the 2024 Summer Olympics starting on July 26! It's such a thrilling time all across the globe as people come together to cheer for their champions. For young viewers, it's an opportunity to dream big as they watch their favorite athletes go for gold. It's also a great way for kids and teens to learn about new sports, cultures, and countries around the world. To get into the spirit of it all, here's our Olympic reading list for kids of any age, from tots to teens.

Powerful picture books

Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman by Kathleen Krull
After polio left Wilma Rudolph partially paralyzed at age five, people said she would never walk again. But Wilma was determined to prove them wrong.

The Wildest Race Ever: The Story of the 1904 Olympic Marathon by Meghan McCarthy
In 1904, St. Louis hosted the World's Fair and America's first Olympics. This is the improbable and inspiring tale of that year's wild and wacky Olympic marathon.

Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn't Sit Still by Karlin Gray
Nadia Comaneci was a feisty and fearless little girl who went from climbing trees in the forests of Romania to swinging into history at the 1976 Olympic Games.

Sakamoto's Swim Club: How a Teacher Led an Unlikely Team to Victory by Julie Abery
The inspirational and little-known story of a dedicated teacher who coached Hawaiian swimmers all the way to the Olympics, beautifully told in simple rhyme.

Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream by Deloris Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan
The basketball legend's mother and sister team up to tell the inspirational story of how their family all worked to help him achieve his dreams.

Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles by Michelle Meadows and Ebony Glenn
From her early childhood in foster care to the height of her success as an Olympic champion, this lyrical picture book tells the story of the world's greatest gymnast.

You Should Meet Jesse Owens by Laurie Calkhoven
Sprint around the track and get to know the 1936 Olympics champion in this fascinating Level 3 Ready-to-Read biography.

Long-Armed Ludy and the First Women's Olympics by Jean L. S. Patrick
After qualifying for the Olympics in 1922, shot putter Ludy Godbold couldn't afford the trip. But thanks to her supporters, Ludy traveled to Paris and won gold!

Queen of the Track: Alice Coachman, Olympic High-Jump Champion by Heather Lang
In 1948, with a record-breaking leap, Alice Coachman became the first African-American woman to win an Olympic gold medal. This is her story.

Swimming Toward a Dream: Yusra Mardini's Incredible Journey from Refugee to Olympic Swimmer by Reem Faruqui
Growing up in Damascus, the pool was Yusra Mardini's happy place. She learned to swim before she could walk. Her dream was to compete in the Olympic games.

Jim Thorpe's Bright Path by Joseph Bruchac
A member of the Sac and Fox Nation, Jim Thorpe overcame many challenges to become the first Native American to win a gold medal at the 1912 Olympics.

She's Got This by Laurie Hernandez
In this charming book, Olympic gymnastics champion Laurie Hernandez tells the story of a little girl who dreams of flying—and becoming a gymnast.

Surfer of the Century: The Life of Duke Kahanamoku by Ellie Crowe
The true story of Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku, six-time Olympic swimming champion and legendary surfer who popularized surfing around the world.

Muscular middle-grade titles

What are the Summer Olympics by Gail Herman
Get an entertaining overview of the history of the Summer Olympics, starting back in 775 BC when athletes from all over Ancient Greece came together to compete.

What are the Paralympic Games? by Gail Herman
Learn about the origins of the Paralympic Games, the dedication and work athletes undergo to prepare, and what makes their performances so inspiring.

Kid Olympians: Summer by Robin Stevenson
These triumphant, relatable biographies tell the stories of a diverse group of international, young athletes who have captured the world's attention.

Great Moments in the Summer Olympics by Matt Christopher
Summer Olympics history is chock full of epic athletes from Jesse Owens to Mary Lou Retton. Learn about their shining moments in this volume.

The Greatest: Muhammad Ali by Walter Dean Myers
The Louisville Lip. Cassius Clay. The Greatest. The 1962 Olympic champion boxer may be known by many names, but he holds a singular place in history.

Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win by Rachel Ignotofsky
A richly illustrated and inspiring book highlighting the achievements and stories of fifty notable women athletes from the 1800s to today.

The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation): The True Story of an American Team's Epic Journey to Win Gold at the 1936 Olympics by Daniel James Brown
This adaptation of the award-winning bestseller about the 1936 U.S. crew team that defeated the odds to win gold features never-before-seen photographs.

Kudo Kids: The Mystery of the Masked Medalist by Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani
From a two-time Olympic medal-winning ice-dancing team comes a fun-filled, fast-paced middle-grade mystery set at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Proud: Living My American Dream by Ibtihaj Muhammad
The inspiring and critically acclaimed story of faith, family, hard work, and perseverance by Olympic fencer and American champion.

A Sporting Chance: How Ludwig Guttman Created the Paralympic Games by Lori Alexander
This inspiring story artfully combines archival photos, full-color illustrations, and a riveting narrative to honor the life of a man who changed many lives.

Athletic YA accounts

Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez
Argentinian teen Camila Hassan dreams of a future playing fútbol at the highest level possible. Meanwhile, her strict parents don't even know she plays.

The Flip Side by Shawn Johnson
Inspired by her own experiences as an elite teenage gymnast, Johnson, a gold medal winner, authored this entertaining YA novel.

A Matter of Heart by Amy Fellner Dominy
Sixteen-year-old Abby Lipman is on track to qualify for the Olympic trials when a diagnosis of a deadly heart condition cuts her dreams short.

Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, a Life in Balance by Simone Biles
The four-time (and counting) Olympic champion shares her inspiring story—one filled with daily acts of courage that led her to the most unlikely of dreams.

Fence: Vol. 1 by C. S. Pacat
This graphic novel, the first in a series, follows a scrappy fencing wunderkind with dreams of rising to the top of the sport.

After the Shot Drops by Randy Ribay
When Bunny accepts a basketball scholarship to an elite private school across town, it drives a wedge between him and his best friend Nasir.

Golden Arm by Carl Deuker
In this riveting story about baseball and brotherhood, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks finds himself pitching his way out of poverty—one strike at a time.

The Knockout by Sajni Patel
When Kareena has a chance to win a spot on the first-ever Muay Thai Olympic team, she worries that it will alienate her from her Indian community.

Gravity by Sarah Deming
Rocky meets I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter in this YA novel about Gravity Delgado, a young female boxer with Olympic dreams.

My Eyes Are Up Here by Laura Zimmerman
Struggling with her changing body, fifteen-year-old Greer Walsh finds unexpected community when she joins her school's volleyball squad.

Let the games begin! Get a head start on the Olympic excitement with these action-packed reads. And be sure to check out our Olympics reading list for grown-ups too.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon