Winners Never Quit!
What’s inside...
'Winners Never Quit!' by Mia Hamm is a children's book that tells the story of a young girl who loves to play soccer. The protagonist, inspired by the author's own experiences, is competitive and hates to lose. Throughout the story, she learns the important lesson that quitting the game is worse than losing, and that perseverance and sportsmanship are more important than winning at all costs. The book teaches children the value of continuing to try and the importance of being a team player, even when things don't go their way. Mia Hamm uses her personal journey as one of the greatest women's soccer players to inspire kids to keep playing, improving, and enjoying the game, no matter the outcome.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think Mia keeps playing even when she feels like quitting?
How do Mia's feelings change throughout the story, and what causes these changes?
What does it mean to be a team player? Can you think of a time you helped a teammate?
How do you handle situations when you don’t win?
What did you learn from Mia about trying your best?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to share personal experiences related to the book's themes, fostering a deeper connection with the story.
Discuss the importance of persistence and teamwork, drawing parallels to your child’s own life and activities.
Ask your child how they felt at various points in the story to help them express and manage their emotions.
Praise your child for insightful comments or connections they make, reinforcing their critical thinking and confidence.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Perseverance is key to success
Explanation: Mia Hamm illustrates through her story that giving up after a failure means you'll never taste victory. She emphasizes the importance of continuing to try, even after losing a game.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by continuing to work on challenges, whether in sports, academics, or personal goals, even when they face setbacks.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and cooperation
Explanation: Through her experiences in soccer, Mia teaches that working together as a team often leads to greater success than individual efforts.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to collaborate with others, whether on school projects, during sports or in family activities, fostering a spirit of unity and cooperation.
Example Lesson: Handling emotions constructively
Explanation: Mia shares her moments of frustration when things don’t go her way on the field, and how she learns to manage these feelings positively.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to recognize their emotions and express them in healthy ways, such as talking about their feelings or finding creative outlets.
Example Lesson: Importance of hard work
Explanation: The book shows that Mia’s achievements on the field are the result of her dedication and hard work, not just talent.
Real-World Application: This can motivate children to put effort into their endeavors—studying, practicing a skill, or pursuing a hobby—reinforcing the value of hard work over reliance on innate ability.
Example Lesson: Joy in participation
Explanation: Mia ultimately realizes that winning isn’t everything and that there is joy in simply playing and being part of a team.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to enjoy the process and take pleasure in participating, regardless of the outcome, which can be applied to all areas of life from sports to school activities.