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Exercise!

June 16, 2008 by Jennifer Donovan

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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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.

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5 Minutes for Books — Roadmap to Holland
Tackle It Tuesday #108

About Jennifer Donovan

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.

Reader Interactions


143 Comments

  1. Eva says

    June 24, 2008 at 11:00 pm

    for fun

  2. Eileen says

    June 24, 2008 at 5:49 pm

    My grand girls love sports!

  3. LeeAnn Prescott says

    June 24, 2008 at 12:58 pm

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

  4. kathy pease says

    June 24, 2008 at 12:43 pm

    my kids are soccer freaks 🙂

  5. Ellinor Burke says

    June 24, 2008 at 11:26 am

    My grandson really needs this book.

  6. Lily Kwan says

    June 24, 2008 at 7:16 am

    Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!

  7. sandra jensen says

    June 23, 2008 at 11:43 pm

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

  8. Brooke Allen says

    June 23, 2008 at 8:31 pm

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

  9. sarah woods says

    June 23, 2008 at 8:11 pm

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

  10. Danielle says

    June 23, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    Would love to win, the books sound .

  11. Christine E. says

    June 23, 2008 at 5:21 pm

    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.

  12. Susanne Troop says

    June 23, 2008 at 1:50 pm

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

  13. Denise says

    June 23, 2008 at 1:26 pm

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

  14. lee says

    June 23, 2008 at 1:07 pm

    The boys could use som etips. Thanks for this giveaway

  15. Nichole Wilson says

    June 23, 2008 at 12:02 pm

    My son would love this.

  16. Veronica Garrett says

    June 23, 2008 at 10:19 am

    My granddaughter would love these books.

  17. Jennifer Schroeder says

    June 23, 2008 at 10:12 am

    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!

  18. Timothy Sternberg says

    June 23, 2008 at 9:55 am

    I would love to win.

  19. Jeanette Hamilton says

    June 23, 2008 at 8:24 am

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

  20. bridget boyle says

    June 23, 2008 at 8:23 am

    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.

  21. kathy pease says

    June 23, 2008 at 8:17 am

    count me in please 🙂

  22. Kyle Banderman says

    June 22, 2008 at 11:58 pm

    Would love to win this for my daughter!

  23. Miss Emma says

    June 22, 2008 at 11:43 pm

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

  24. Sherri Siler says

    June 22, 2008 at 10:58 pm

    My daughter loves soccer.

  25. Renee says

    June 22, 2008 at 10:45 pm

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

  26. Donna Kozar says

    June 22, 2008 at 10:29 pm

    My 10 year olds would love it.

  27. Julie Donahue says

    June 22, 2008 at 10:25 pm

    My son would enjoy this.

  28. Rhonda Clemens says

    June 22, 2008 at 10:20 pm

    Thanks for making a great site!!

    Please enter me into the contest!!

  29. camille ludwig says

    June 22, 2008 at 10:12 pm

    mmmmmm sports ??

  30. Sonya says

    June 22, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    Very nice books. Thanks for the contest!

  31. Carla Pullum says

    June 22, 2008 at 7:44 pm

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

  32. Janice Wright says

    June 22, 2008 at 6:03 pm

    I would love to win this for my grandsons!

  33. Sarah Stern says

    June 22, 2008 at 5:03 pm

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

  34. Elizabeth Ray says

    June 22, 2008 at 4:56 pm

    sounds good

  35. britt-sparkledvintagecharm says

    June 22, 2008 at 4:54 pm

    I would love to win. we adore soccer!

  36. Kathy Conley says

    June 22, 2008 at 4:12 pm

    Great books!

  37. Ed Nemmers says

    June 22, 2008 at 3:18 pm

    Sweet niblets!

  38. Denise says

    June 22, 2008 at 12:41 pm

    Enter me please!

  39. Lonnie says

    June 22, 2008 at 3:14 am

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

  40. Elizabeth says

    June 21, 2008 at 10:57 pm

    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!!!

  41. Michelle Rosborough says

    June 21, 2008 at 9:55 pm

    count me in

  42. Michelle says

    June 21, 2008 at 9:43 pm

    Soccer is the best sport ever!

  43. Judy Y says

    June 21, 2008 at 9:25 pm

    great contest.

  44. Gayle Morgan says

    June 21, 2008 at 9:12 pm

    enter me please

  45. Shirley Younger says

    June 21, 2008 at 9:08 pm

    this would be a ‘great read”

  46. SJ says

    June 21, 2008 at 9:02 pm

    This would be a good gift to give my son for his birthday in a few months!

  47. Valerie Mitchell says

    June 21, 2008 at 8:14 pm

    What a wonderful prize!

  48. kiyana says

    June 21, 2008 at 7:35 pm

    This will great! My kids love reading and sports!

  49. Hesper F says

    June 21, 2008 at 7:26 pm

    Very cool. Thanks for the super giveaway!

  50. jeanette malan says

    June 21, 2008 at 5:26 pm

    are all about baseball

  51. Christi says

    June 21, 2008 at 5:22 pm

    oh man…..my boys, who are just now getting into soccer and basketball and baseball, would really get some use out of these! Thanks for sharing!

  52. michelle says

    June 21, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    my husband and i need to learn about soccer because we’re getting an exchange student who loves/wants to play soccer and we know nothing

  53. carla says

    June 21, 2008 at 4:11 pm

    my kids would love this

  54. Adrienne! says

    June 21, 2008 at 3:41 pm

    Yay for sports!

  55. valmg says

    June 21, 2008 at 3:06 pm

    I’d love to win this for my son

  56. Rebecca Snodgrass says

    June 21, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    My son would like both of these

  57. Sarah Hansen says

    June 21, 2008 at 2:21 pm

    Nice prize.

  58. Jacqueline O. says

    June 21, 2008 at 4:15 am

    Wow, what a cool prize.

  59. Leigh says

    June 21, 2008 at 4:06 am

    my 10-year-old daughter is trying to find her “sport,” she says she’s not crazy for basketball, and wants to learn about soccer, which she enjoys playing at school. These books look like a great way to get our book lovers into sports, and our sports lovers into books!

  60. Dustin says

    June 21, 2008 at 1:47 am

    enter me

  61. Lisa says

    June 20, 2008 at 11:20 pm

    Yeah!

  62. marybeth i. says

    June 20, 2008 at 10:54 pm

    Thanks for the info! sounds like a great series

  63. stampedwithgrace says

    June 20, 2008 at 10:40 pm

    my son loves sports and loves to read too 🙂

  64. DARIJAVAN says

    June 20, 2008 at 4:59 pm

    Sounds interesting, count me in

  65. NH Mom of 3 says

    June 20, 2008 at 4:54 pm

    would be great to win for my sporty kids who love to read!

  66. Grammy says

    June 20, 2008 at 1:36 pm

    A great gift that helps motivate the mind of children. Thanks for having a gift that help in the learning process

  67. Angela Young says

    June 20, 2008 at 10:16 am

    My son would love this!

  68. Angela says

    June 20, 2008 at 9:55 am

    I’d love to win them for Connor!

    I blogged your contest on Prize-A-Tron!
    http://www.prizeatron.com

  69. Jennifer McLaughlin says

    June 19, 2008 at 10:29 pm

    My son would love this.I am originally from Germany,born and raised there.Everytime we go home to visit my family we spend a lot of time on the soccer field,its a big thing in my family.My son is starting to be interested in it and would propably love this prize.Thank you for the contest.

  70. Caryn Bailey says

    June 19, 2008 at 9:00 pm

    Would love this!

  71. Cassandra says

    June 19, 2008 at 6:11 pm

    Great books for those starting out!

  72. valerie mabrey says

    June 19, 2008 at 3:30 pm

    thanks for the contest

  73. jan koontz says

    June 19, 2008 at 1:36 pm

    just to cool

  74. clenna in NH says

    June 19, 2008 at 7:27 am

    What great books – we’d all love to read them.

  75. Terra Heck says

    June 19, 2008 at 3:57 am

    My boys would enjoy reading these books.

  76. Shay says

    June 18, 2008 at 11:19 pm

    I would love to win the How Soccer Works to help my daughter. Soccer is the one sport I never played.

  77. Hollie P. says

    June 18, 2008 at 11:05 pm

    Soccer would be great for my daughter, and my son would love the baseball one!

  78. Heather says

    June 18, 2008 at 9:01 pm

    My son loves sports…

  79. Anthony Hedden says

    June 18, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    enter me

  80. angel says

    June 18, 2008 at 7:37 pm

    my oldest would love this!

  81. James Jenkins says

    June 18, 2008 at 6:52 pm

    wow

  82. Karla E. says

    June 18, 2008 at 6:09 pm

    My boys think they know everything about both baseball and soccer, but Nick loves to read so much (and he loves sports so much) these would be perfect for him.

  83. Peggy Miller says

    June 18, 2008 at 4:55 pm

    The How Baseball Works book would be excellent for my baseball obsessed son!

  84. LivingforGod says

    June 18, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    My boys would love these books. Please enter me. Thanks!

  85. mom_of2boys says

    June 18, 2008 at 2:41 pm

    How exciting! My kids would love these!

  86. Denyse says

    June 18, 2008 at 12:33 pm

    Perfect books for my kiddies:)

  87. Melanie says

    June 17, 2008 at 11:05 pm

    This would be a fabulous gift for my nephew!

    My post with your button is here:
    http://www.livinwithme.com/2008/06/fabulous-giveaways/

  88. angie says

    June 17, 2008 at 9:22 pm

    Ooh! Thank you! I think my 9yo DD would love How Soccer Works! Thanks!

    Angie

  89. Krissi from Krississippi says

    June 17, 2008 at 9:15 pm

    Oh! My son would LOVE to win that for his 8th birthday (July)!!

  90. Karen says

    June 17, 2008 at 9:04 pm

    We just got back from a baseball game.

  91. Lisa K says

    June 17, 2008 at 8:46 pm

    We are all about baseball right now!!!

  92. Linda Moeller says

    June 17, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    We love baseball.

  93. Noelia Gutierrez says

    June 17, 2008 at 6:13 pm

    I would love this for my son, but it would be great so I could read and actually know what is going on, thans

  94. Sandra says

    June 17, 2008 at 5:31 pm

    My son is really influenced by the things that he reads. I would love to show him these books to see if they would help him to feel a little more comfortable with trying a new sport.

    owatz (at) telus (dot) net

  95. Mike Weisberg says

    June 17, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    I want to win

  96. Susan says

    June 17, 2008 at 4:20 pm

    My son could really use this before sports start back in the fall.

  97. Carissa D. says

    June 17, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    This would be great to give to my friend’s son. He’s very into baseball. Thanks!

  98. Belinda A. says

    June 17, 2008 at 2:52 pm

    We’d benefit from either of these books. I was raised in a place where baseball doesn’t exist, so I’m clueless on that one and I’d like to be able to offer at least some textbook help to the kids!
    And my nephew is just now getting into soccer, so I’m sure he’d devour that book!

  99. Pauline M says

    June 17, 2008 at 2:48 pm

    My son loves to play soccer and wants to play baseball. I know these would be handy to have.

  100. Erica G says

    June 17, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    Would like to have this!

  101. Shannon B. says

    June 17, 2008 at 2:31 pm

    This would be great for my nephews who just started playing baseball!

  102. charline s says

    June 17, 2008 at 1:31 pm

    My 8 year old is starting to get into sports these would be great.

  103. Kari Follett says

    June 17, 2008 at 12:47 pm

    Thanks, I’d love to be entered for a chance to win!

  104. Maja says

    June 17, 2008 at 12:43 pm

    neat

  105. Angel says

    June 17, 2008 at 12:41 pm

    my son would love it

  106. Ana says

    June 17, 2008 at 12:41 pm

    nice gift for my grandson

  107. Mya Brooks says

    June 17, 2008 at 12:00 pm

    Too cool!!!

  108. The (Almost) Amazing Mammarino says

    June 17, 2008 at 8:43 am

    Ohh, I would LOVE to win these! My DS just started T-ball and all this sports stuff is so new to us artsy-fartsy parents!

  109. Jodi says

    June 17, 2008 at 8:33 am

    My son would love these!

  110. Toni says

    June 17, 2008 at 8:23 am

    Both my sons are very into soccer and my oldest knows how it works in general but this would be great to teach him even more and he plays baseball as well so it would come in handy with that too as he is not as natural with baseball as he is with soccer

  111. Kathy Scott says

    June 17, 2008 at 7:38 am

    I am a soccer mom of two boys. Thanks for the chance.

  112. Gina says

    June 17, 2008 at 7:33 am

    We would love to check out how Soccer Works! I am always looking for ways to help my daughter improve her game since she plays on a very competitive, traveling team and is entering many tournaments.
    Thanks!

  113. Adrienne Gordon says

    June 17, 2008 at 7:16 am

    my kids both love sports, these would be cool for them.

  114. Donna Coughlin says

    June 17, 2008 at 6:43 am

    our youngest in soccer and the older boy in baseball

  115. Margaret Smith says

    June 17, 2008 at 6:41 am

    Thank you for this giveaway. I would love to win the baseball book for my son. He loves baseball so much.
    Thank you and please enter me.

  116. Kristi says

    June 17, 2008 at 6:04 am

    My kids would love these books.

  117. Stephen Saunders says

    June 17, 2008 at 4:29 am

    cool prize

  118. Christy says

    June 17, 2008 at 2:46 am

    Perfect summer giveaway

  119. Cindi says

    June 17, 2008 at 1:05 am

    Sports rule in our home! Mainly, for socialization and being active! Baseball is # 1 with our sons.
    Please enter me in your fun drawing for these two sports books. All is appreciated…..Cindi

  120. Jill Myrick says

    June 17, 2008 at 12:26 am

    Thank you so much for offering such a wonderful giveaway.
    I would LOVE to win !!

  121. Jane says

    June 17, 2008 at 12:25 am

    My husband would love to have this for my daughter!

  122. melody is slurping life says

    June 16, 2008 at 11:29 pm

    All of my boys would love these books. Please enter me. Thanks.

  123. Corrie C says

    June 16, 2008 at 11:21 pm

    i would gift this!

  124. Anna says

    June 16, 2008 at 10:47 pm

    this would be a cool prize!

  125. Nora Scott-Platt says

    June 16, 2008 at 10:44 pm

    I have our youngest in soccer and the older boy in baseball .These would be super.

  126. stacey moore says

    June 16, 2008 at 10:39 pm

    my 9 year old loves all things sports!
    thanks!
    moore.g at insideconnect.net

  127. chris h says

    June 16, 2008 at 10:21 pm

    love to win this

  128. Happy Mama says

    June 16, 2008 at 10:15 pm

    Tornado loves baseball already and we plan to start him in t ball next year! this would be a great asset as he grows

  129. Melissa Reeder says

    June 16, 2008 at 10:07 pm

    My daughter would love these books. They are fabulous! Thanks for this fun giveaway!

  130. Gina Stratos says

    June 16, 2008 at 10:03 pm

    Count me in! My kids would love it and I’m sure I would learn a thing or 20…
    gkstratos @yahoo.com

  131. Catherine copeland says

    June 16, 2008 at 9:45 pm

    trent loves baseball i would love to win him this book

  132. Trish says

    June 16, 2008 at 9:10 pm

    These sound awesome. My son is so interested in playing with the other kids but it makes him so nervous. I think books like these would be a big help.

  133. tnchick says

    June 16, 2008 at 9:08 pm

    My 10 yo bookworm son would love this. Thanks for the chance.

  134. Tonya Froemel says

    June 16, 2008 at 8:55 pm

    like to win this

  135. Susan says

    June 16, 2008 at 8:52 pm

    My son would love this.

  136. Dan Smith says

    June 16, 2008 at 8:52 pm

    Please enter me

  137. jubilee says

    June 16, 2008 at 8:51 pm

    My son would love the soccer book. Thanks for the giveaway.

  138. Dawn Fiske says

    June 16, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    Oh yeah…with Eurocup 2008 going on right now, the girls in my life would love the soccer book.

  139. Louise Brouillette says

    June 16, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    My grandkids would love this

  140. susan varney says

    June 16, 2008 at 8:16 pm

    love to win for my grandson

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