World of Sport – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Gold medal-winning non-fiction!
Children’s book title: World of Sport.
Children’s author: Lawrence Alexander.
Children’s illustrator: Violeta Noy.
Genre: Sport, nonfiction.
Published by: Templar Books.
ISBN: 9781787416642.
Recommended for children aged: 7-9 year-olds.
First published: Hardback June 2024.
This children’s book is ideal for sharing with KS2 pupils to inspire, entertain and spark an enthusiasm for all types of sport.
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Our review:
Like the book itself, which provides an endless supply of superbly chosen facts, it would be quite possible to write an endless review of how enjoyable World of Sport is! At its simplest, it does exactly what the front cover promises, yet it offers so much more than this. The first page offers a historical context for the sports we all recognise today and also sets the tone that this isn’t going to be a generic non-fiction title produced to sit alongside the current Olympics – there will be facts here which are guaranteed to be equally new and astounding to adults, as well as their children.
We then move, a page at a time, to a wealth of different sports from around the world, charting both significant moments in the history of the sport and particular individuals of note. The images are bold and colourful on every page, featuring a central picture with a plethora of smaller supporting images. The text too follows this pattern, with a main introductory section and then lots of bite-size gold medal-winning nuggets for children to share, either with their family or with peers at school.
This title was made for group discussion and would work well for reading groups, especially those designed to support developing readers, as it would be possible to break the reading into short attempts with lots of inspiring book talk alongside the reading itself. The topic, of course, may add appeal to pupils who may not be natural readers too.
Beyond reading groups, this book offers appeal across KS2 – either as an excellent addition to library non-fiction collections to promote and support reading for pleasure, or as support for topics on sport or to try and encourage greater interest in sporting activities across the school. It works equally well though as a title to share at home, and across age ranges – making it a sound choice for home-learning families.
It would be difficult to imagine any child not inspired to try at least one of the sports mentioned in this title, with there being such diversity in the choices featured and in the individual stories of the featured athletes. World of Sport is a title which demonstrates the value of high-quality non-fiction as a hook for pupils in harnessing a reading-for-pleasure habit. A treat from the start to the finish line!
Our verdict:
Pupils across KS2 will devour this absorbing title, especially in this Olympic year perhaps, but it has much to offer beyond this initial association. World of Sport is a truly valuable addition to all non-fiction collections.
Many thanks to Templar Books for the review copy.
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If you like World of Sport by Lawrence Alexander, illustrated by Violeta Noy you might also like: our reviews of 100 Things to Know About Sport by Usborne, Winner Takes Gold by Eloise Smith, Last-Place Lin by Wai Chim, illustrated by Freda Chiu, Last Girl In by Cheryl Diane Parkinson and Sports Legends: 50 Inspiring People by Rick Broadbent.
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