Good Sports: Rhymes about Running, Jumping, Throwing, and More
on Goodreads (181)
What’s inside...
Exhilarating, all-new, kid-friendly rhymes capture the range of emotions, from winning to losing to the sheer joy of participating, that children experience as they discover the games of their choice. Jack Prelutsky, a virtuoso at making poetry fun for the elementary school crowd, includes in this inspired collection poems about baseball, soccer, football, skating, swimming, gymnastics, basketball, karate, and more. His signature lighthearted humor in verse that trips off the tongue is coupled here with the 2006 Caldecott Medal winner Chris Raschka's lickety-split, stylized (and stylish) watercolors. Every page is a blaze of color and motion. Whether Good Sports will create good sports remains to be seen, but it will prove to young boys (and girls) that reading poetry can be fun.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-9
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Which sport from the book would you love to try and why?
How do you think the characters feel when they play their sports?
What lessons can we learn from playing sports, based on the rhymes in the book?
Can you think of a rhyme about your favorite sport or activity?
How do sports help us work together with others?
Tip: Role play these questions
Show genuine interest in your child's opinions and encourage them to elaborate on their thoughts about different sports mentioned in the book.
Related personal stories or experiences with sports to make connections that your child can relate to, enhancing their understanding and interest.
Discuss the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship highlighted in the book, relating them to everyday interactions and the value of cooperation.
Encourage your child to create their own rhymes about sports or activities they enjoy, fostering creativity and a deeper connection to the book's themes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of physical activity
Explanation: The poems in 'Good Sports' celebrate various sports, illustrating the fun and excitement of being active.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of exercise and can be motivated to participate in sports or outdoor activities, enhancing their physical health and social skills.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and cooperation
Explanation: Several poems focus on team sports, highlighting how players work together to achieve a common goal.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply the principles of cooperation and teamwork learnt from the book in group activities at school or in community sports.
Example Lesson: Resilience and perseverance
Explanation: The characters in the book sometimes face challenges or setbacks in sports but keep trying. This demonstrates resilience.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to persist and not give up easily in the face of difficulties, whether in academics, sports, or personal goals.
Example Lesson: Sportsmanship
Explanation: The book promotes fair play and respectful behavior, even in competitive situations.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand the importance of behaving ethically and with integrity not just in sports, but in all aspects of life.