Books All About the Olympics for Kids

Paris will be hosting the Olympic Games in just a few short months and I wanted to share some really great Olympics books for kids that are already out there. You can get started now to be even more inspired by your favorite athletes or learn about a new sport!

I’m really excited for the Olympic Games this year as I’ve recently started following competitive rock climbing and this is only the second time rock climbing will be in the Olympic Games! Now that I understand the sport and climb myself, I’m really excited to see these athletes compete in such a large competitive environment. Rock climbing had a little different format at the last games and I’m excited for the changes they’ve made to the sport as I think it will benefit the athletes and the viewers.

There are also some new sports making their Olympics debut this year or back for second time – breaking (break dancing) which will be only in the Olympics for this year, surfing is back after debuting for the 2020 Games, and skateboarding will be back after it’s debut in the last games.

There are dozens of biographies and nonfiction titles about the Olympics; I wanted to combine some of these titles with a few fiction titles as well for a well-rounded list for a wide variety of ages. Let me know what sport you’re most excited for at the Olympic Games this summer!

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Books All About the Olympics for Kids

Ancient Greece and the Olympics by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce

When Jack and Annie got back from their adventure in Magic Tree House #16: Hour of the Olympics, they had lots of questions. What did the ancient Greeks wear? What did they do for fun? Where were the very first Olympics held? How are our modern Olympics similar to the ancient Olympics? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jack and Annie track the facts.

The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation): The True Story of an American Team’s Epic Journey to Win Gold at the 1936 Olympics by Daniel James Brown

For readers of Unbroken, out of the depths of the Great Depression comes the astonishing tale of nine working-class boys from the American West who at the 1936 Olympics showed the world what true grit really meant. With rowers who were the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew was never expected to defeat the elite East Coast teams, yet they did, going on to shock the world by challenging the German boat rowing for Adolf Hitler.

At the center of the tale is Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, whose personal quest captures the spirit of his generation—the generation that would prove in the coming years that the Nazis could not prevail over American determination and optimism.

Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles by Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Ebony Glenn

Before she was a record-breaking gymnast competing on the world stage, Simone Biles spent time in foster care as a young child. Nimble and boundlessly energetic, she cherished every playground and each new backyard.

When she was six years old, Simone’s family took shape in a different way. Her grandparents Ron and Nellie Biles adopted Simone and her sister Adria. Ron and Nellie became their parents. Simone was also introduced to gymnastics that same year, launching a lifelong passion fueled by remarkable talent, sacrifice, and the undying support of her family.

Geronimo and the Gold Medal Mystery by Geronimo Stilton

I, Geronimo Stilton, am not a sportsmouse. Running? Sweating? Not for me. I prefer relaxing in an armchair with a nice bowl of chocolate cheesy chews. But with the Olympics coming up, sports were all anyone in New Mouse City could talk about. Rat-munching rattlesnakes!

Goddess Girls: The Girl Games by Joan Holub, illustrated by Suzanne Williams

Athena, Persephone, Aphrodite, and Artemis are so annoyed at being left out of the annual boys-only Olympic Games. Their solution? The Girl Games! But as the Goddess Girls work to turn their dream into a reality, they come up against plenty of chaos, competition, and even the cutest kitten ever. Told in the four girls’ alternating points of view, this Super Special is packed with Olympic spirit!

The History of the Olympic Games: Faster, Higher, Stronger by The Olympic Museum

The Summer Olympic Games, held every four years, is the biggest festival of sport on the planet, creating instant heroes and gallant losers, and memorable moments of triumph and despair. Published in association with the official Olympic Museum in Lausanne, this exceptional volume—revised, updated, and in an exciting new format with more than 225 photographs —explores the history of these games. Beginning with Ancient Greece, it moves forward to the modern era, games in the television age, and the most recent competitions—including a look back at Rio 2016 and a preview of Tokyo 2020. The Olympic Museum has graciously allowed items of memorabilia from its exclusive archive to be photographed, giving fans a closer look at the world’s greatest sporting spectacle than ever before.

Hour of the Olympics by Mary Pope Osborne

No girls allowed at the Olympic Games! That’s the rule when the Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie back to ancient Greece. But when Annie tells jack to go to the games without her, he knows she’s up to something. Will Annie find a way to see the games? Or will she get herself—and Jack—into Olympic-size trouble? Find out in Hour of the Olympics.

Kid Olympians: Summer: True Tales of Childhood from Champions and Game Changers by Robin Stevenson, illustrated by Allison Steinfeld

Athletes throughout history have dreamed of competing in the Olympics—
and some were kids themselves when those dreams and plans began! In Kid Olympians: Summer, discover the childhood stories of legends such as:

• Usain Bolt, who used to skip practices to go to the arcade and play video games.
• Serena Williams, who sometimes hit her tennis ball over the fence on purpose!
• Tatyana McFadden, who had to fight to be allowed on her school’s track team

Kudo Kids: The Mystery of the Masked Medalist by Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani

The Kudo Kids have never been to Japan before, so they can’t believe they get to attend the Summer Olympics there. The siblings plan to eat tons of delicious Japanese food, watch every event they can, and win a super-popular new game called OlympiFan.

Developed by a mysterious former medalist, OlympiFan brings players together from all over the world to search Tokyo for virtual medals and clues to the creator’s identity. Andy loves puzzles, and he’s determined to crack this one, especially since the winning team will get to be beta testers for the Masked Medalist’s future games!

Mika wants to find as many clues as she can, but she also has a secret goal of her own–one that could get her into big trouble. But when someone sabotages the game, the Kudo Kids have an even bigger mystery to solve than the Masked Medalist’s identity. If they want to capture the gold, Mika and Andy have to figure out who’s trying to stop their team before someone beats them to the grand prize!

Nadia, The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still by Karlin Gray, illustrated by Christine Davenier

Nadia Comaneci was a feisty and fearless little girl who went from climbing trees in the forests of Romania to swinging into history at the 1976 Olympic Games, where she received an unprecedented seven perfect scores in gymnastics. But as readers will see in this first-ever illustrated picture book about Nadia’s journey to Olympic gold, the road from small-town girl to world-class athlete was full of many imperfect moments.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Gold! by Scott Allen, illustrated by Antoine Corbineau

Packed with awe-inspiring facts, this hilariously informative guide will make readers laugh their sports socks off! From boxing to boccia, find out just what it takes to compete in every sport in the summer games. You’ll discover what makes each sport great — and not so great — as well as what skills and equipment you’ll need to start practicing like a pro!

Proud: Living My American Dream by Ibtihaj Muhammad

At the 2016 Olympic Games, Ibtihaj Muhammad smashed barriers as the first American to compete wearing hijab, and she made history as the first Muslim American woman to win a medal. But before she was an Olympian, activist, and entrepreneur, Ibtihaj was a young outsider trying to find her place.

Growing up in suburban New Jersey, Ibtihaj was often the only African American Muslim student in her class. When she discovered and fell in love with fencing, a sport most popular with affluent young white people, she stood out even more. Rivals and teammates often pointed out Ibtihaj’s differences, telling her she would never succeed. Yet she powered on, rising above bigotry and other obstacles on the path to pursue her dream.

A Sporting Chance: How Ludwig Guttmann Created the Paralympic Games by Lori Alexander, illustrated by Allan Drummond

Dedicating his life to helping patients labeled “incurables,” Ludwig Guttmann fought for the rights of paraplegics to live a full life. The young doctor believed—and eventually proved—that physical movement is key to healing, a discovery that led him to create the first Paralympic Games. 

What Are the Paralympic Games? by Gail Herman

As the Opening Ceremony for the 1948 Summer Olympic Games commenced in London, a similar sporting competition was taking place a few miles away. But the men at Stoke Mandeville weren’t your typical athletes. They were paralyzed World War II veterans. The games at Stoke Mandeville were so successful that they would eventually lead evolve into the Paralympics. Participants from all around the world vie for the gold medal in a variety of sports, including archery, basketball, swimming, speed skating, and ice hockey.

Author Gail Herman highlights their achievements, describes how these athletes train–both mentally and physically–for the games, and gives the reader a better understanding of what makes the Paralympic Games one of the world’s most viewed sporting events.

What Are the Summer Olympics? by Gail Herman

Back in 775 BC, athletes from all over Ancient Greece came together to compete in various games. The contests were held every four years and winning athletes brought honor and respect to their homelands.

The tradition of the Olympic Games faded over time until 1896, when they were brought back to life. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, with over two hundred athletes from fourteen countries. Today, nearly three thousand years after the first Games, the Summer Olympics attract one hundred thousand top athletes from over two hundred countries. Billions of fans around the world cheer on their national teams to bring back the gold.