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Exercise!

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What is summer without some fun in the great outdoors? Kid’s should get wet, they should get sweaty, and they should obtain that healthy glow of summer (protected from burning by sunscreen, of course). My kids already have some new outdoor toys to help encourage that interest–Amanda has a skateboard, courtesy of her grandparents’ recent visit; and Kyle has been whacking away with his flimsy plastic golf clubs, and is waiting patiently for a free weekend when Dad can teach him to hit with the new whiffle ball and bat.

Amanda has just finished her soccer season in an intense rush (taking 2nd place in their division tournament, which was reschsoccer.jpgeduled due to rain twice and finally ended on Sunday). I had her look at How Soccer Works for me last week, and before her last series of games in the tournament, she was telling me how it was important to have a good attitude when you’re playing–how if you picture yourself making a goal, you’ll be able to get it in. There is a chapter on the mind, and it doesn’t exactly say that, but can I admit that I haven’t seen Amanda play that well in the four years that she’s been in serious team play? She scored a goal, and made a few other attempts or passes right by the goal, so whatever it was seemed to be working.

This book features boys and girls in action, using bright cartoon drawings, and photos of real kids and athletes, so either sex will feel as if the book applies to them. In addition to the head game, topics covered include the history of the sport and the ball, basic moves and advanced strategies, and a look at the gear. There’s also a comprehensive glossary in the back and a section on the World Cup.

How Baseball Works addresses this sport in the same way. The pictures are more heavily weighted toward male figures, but there are girls in action as well. The section on the tools includes an experiment to help find your bat’s sweet spot. Pictures and diagrams show how to throw using a variety of pitches. There are features about the first women’s leagues and baseball greats (both players and ballfields), and controversial practices such as corking the bat and pumping baseball.jpgup on drugs are addressed in sidebars throughout the book.

Another use of books in this series is as an introduction to the sport–as a spectator or a player. On the first page of both books, a girl has a cartoon bubble coming out of her mouth saying, “Psssst. You don’t have to be a baseball (or soccer) fanatic to read this book. The rules and regs and baseball (or soccer) talk are decoded on page 61.”

The author, Keltie Thomas, has also written other books on basketball and hockey in the How Sports Work series if those sports are what interests your kid. I have reviewed several other books by Maple Tree Press in the past (Smartopedia, This is My Planet, and some science books).  They have all been terrific and do uphold their goal of “offering bright, inventive books on a wide range of subjects, including animals, sports, folktales, humor, health and fitness, science, and history.”

Would your eight to twelve-year-old like to find out more about the nitty gritty of of How Soccer Works or How Baseball Works? Three of you (U.S. addresses only) will be selected to win both of these books. Leave a comment, and then check back on June 24 to find out all the winners of the Creative Summer Days giveaway.


About Jennifer D.

Jennifer Donovan has been a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom team since 2007. She writes product reviews, covers events, and manages the 5 Minutes for Books weekly column and website. She lives in Houston and blogs at Snapshot about life with her family.

140 Comments

  • 101
    Elizabeth
    June 21, 2008 | Permalink |

    Being a Health and Physical Education teacher I know how inmportant physical activity is!! It’s never a bad idea to promote it any way you can!!

    Thank you for the chance to win!!!

  • 102
    Lonnie
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    My grandkids would love this!they love sports and 2 read . ty 4 the contest!

  • 103
    Denise
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    Enter me please!

  • 104
    Ed Nemmers
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    Sweet niblets!

  • 105
    Kathy Conley
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    Great books!

  • 106
    britt-sparkledvintagecharm
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    I would love to win. we adore soccer!

  • 107
    Elizabeth Ray
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    sounds good

  • 108
    Sarah Stern
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    I’d love to win these for my nephew – thanks for the giveaway!

  • 109
    Janice Wright
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    I would love to win this for my grandsons!

  • 110
    Carla Pullum
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    My 2 girls love sports!! This would be perfect!!

  • 111
    Sonya
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    Very nice books. Thanks for the contest!

  • 112
    camille ludwig
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    mmmmmm sports ??

  • 113
    Rhonda Clemens
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    Thanks for making a great site!!

    Please enter me into the contest!!

  • 114
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    My son would enjoy this.

  • 115
    Donna Kozar
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    My 10 year olds would love it.

  • 116
    Renee
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    I’d love to use this to tempt my little couch potato.

  • 117
    Sherri Siler
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    My daughter loves soccer.

  • 118
    Miss Emma
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    I NEED the soccer book! I’m trying to learn the rules!

  • 119
    Kyle Banderman
    June 22, 2008 | Permalink |

    Would love to win this for my daughter!

  • 120
    kathy pease
    June 23, 2008 | Permalink |

    count me in please :)

  • 121
    bridget boyle
    June 23, 2008 | Permalink |

    My 4 year old daughter is trying soccer this summer for the first time. I would love to have something to read to her before her first session.

  • 122
    Jeanette Hamilton
    June 23, 2008 | Permalink |

    Great prize! Both of my kids play soccer and would LOVE the soccer book. Thank you!!

  • 123
    June 23, 2008 | Permalink |

    I would love to win.

  • 124
    Jennifer Schroeder
    June 23, 2008 | Permalink |

    I’d love to win this for my oldest son. He is just now getting into sports, so this would be great for him.

    Thanks for the contest!

  • 125
    Veronica Garrett
    June 23, 2008 | Permalink |

    My granddaughter would love these books.

  • 126
    Nichole Wilson
    June 23, 2008 | Permalink |

    My son would love this.

  • 127
    lee
    June 23, 2008 | Permalink |

    The boys could use som etips. Thanks for this giveaway

  • 128
    Denise
    June 23, 2008 | Permalink |

    My youngest daughter has taken an interest in soccer. She would enjoy this.

  • 129
    Susanne Troop
    June 23, 2008 | Permalink |

    My son would love this prize. He is so into sports!

  • 130
    Christine E.
    June 23, 2008 | Permalink |

    My son just had his last baseball game of the season yesterday and he would love this book. He is a struggling baseball player right now but is only six.

  • 131
    Danielle
    June 23, 2008 | Permalink |

    Would love to win, the books sound .

  • 132
    June 23, 2008 | Permalink |

    My nephew is a baseball freak; the perfect birhtday gift in August; perhaps I could take a peak also. thanks Sw

  • 133
    June 23, 2008 | Permalink |

    My dd will probably be playing soccer again in the fall, she’d like this.

  • 134
    sandra jensen
    June 23, 2008 | Permalink |

    I admit I know nothing about soccer so this would be great to win!

  • 135
    Lily Kwan
    June 24, 2008 | Permalink |

    Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!

  • 136
    Ellinor Burke
    June 24, 2008 | Permalink |

    My grandson really needs this book.

  • 137
    kathy pease
    June 24, 2008 | Permalink |

    my kids are soccer freaks :)

  • 138
    LeeAnn Prescott
    June 24, 2008 | Permalink |

    My son is just getting into sports so these would be great!

  • 139
    Eileen
    June 24, 2008 | Permalink |

    My grand girls love sports!

  • 140
    Eva
    June 24, 2008 | Permalink |

    for fun

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