For The Love of The Game: BIPOC Sports Stories

A Dive Into the Blue
Written by Ellie Huynh & Illustrated by Bao Luu

As a small girl stands at the edge of a diving board, she fears the drain at the bottom of the pool will swallow her up. Determined to learn how to dive, she musters up her courage by imagining other possibilities of what she might find under the surface, like mermaid mazes and lantern fish.

Maya and the Beast
Written by Maya Gabeira & Illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki

Inspired by the personal story of professional surfer Maya Gabeira, who smashed records and gender stereotypes. Young Maya is shy and often feels fragile and scared because of her asthma–except when she’s in the water. It’s the one place where she feels strong. While everyone else in her town is scared of “the Beast,” the giant wave heard all around the world as it crashes into the shoreline, Maya finds the noise comforting, the curves of the wave soothing. If she could only tame it, then everyone could see all the beauty it has to offer. With a pink surfboard and a determined heart, Maya will be the first girl to meet the Beast head-on.

Wave (A Novel in Verse)
Written by Diana Farid & Illustrated by Kris Goto

Thirteen-year-old Ava loves to surf and to sing. Singing and reading Rumi poems settle her mild OCD, and catching waves with her best friend, Phoenix, lets her fit in–her olive skin looks tan, not foreign. But then Ava has to spend the summer before ninth grade volunteering at the hospital to follow in her single mother’s footsteps to become a doctor. And when Phoenix’s past lymphoma surges back, not even surfing, singing, or poetry can keep them afloat, threatening Ava’s hold on the one place and the one person that make her feel like she belongs.

Barely Floating
Written by Lilliam Rivera

Natalia de la Cruz Rivera y Santiago, also known as Nat, was swimming neighborhood kids out of their money at the local Boyle Heights pool when her life changed. The L.A. Mermaids performed, emerging out of the water with matching sequined swimsuits, and it was then that synchronized swimming stole her heart.
The problem? Her activist mom and professor dad think it’s a sport with too much emphasis on looks–on being thin and white.

Salma Joins the Team
Written by Danny Ramadan & Illustrated by Anna Bron

Salma dreams of becoming a champion swimmer like her hero, Olympian Yusra Mardini. So when she signs up for her school’s swim club, it feels like her dreams could come true . . . until mean comments from older girls at the pool and women at her mosque spark body image and self-esteem issues. But with the help of her close friends and family–the team that always has her back–Salma is ready to claim her place in the pool.

Swim Team (A Graphic Novel)
Written by Johnnie Christmas

Bree can’t wait for her first day at her new middle school, Enith Brigitha, home to the Mighty Manatees–until she’s stuck with the only elective that fits her schedule, the dreaded Swim 101. The thought of swimming makes Bree more than a little queasy, yet she’s forced to dive headfirst into one of her greatest fears. Lucky for her, Etta, an elderly occupant of her apartment building and former swim team captain, is willing to help.

Aniana Del Mar Jumps In
Written by Jasminne Mendez

Aniana del Mar belongs in the water like a dolphin belongs to the sea. But she and Papi keep her swim practices and meets hidden from Mami, who has never recovered from losing someone she loves to the water years ago. That is, until the day Ani’s stiffness and swollen joints mean she can no longer get out of bed, and Ani is forced to reveal just how important swimming is to her.

Traveling Shoes: The Story of Willye White, Us Olympian and Long Jump Champion
Written by Alice Faye Duncan & Illustrated by Keith Mallett

Future Olympian Willye B. White was born in 1939 in Money, Mississippi–but money was exactly what she didn’t have. Abandoned by both her parents, she worked alongside her grandparents in the cotton fields. Willye had big dreams, though. So when her cousin noticed she was the fastest runner around, Willye jumped at the chance to put on her traveling shoes and run her way to better opportunities. And run Willye did, first for the Tennessee State Tigerbelles and then for the US Olympic team.

Boundless
Written by Chaunté Lowe

Everything seemed set against Chaunté Lowe. Growing up with a single mother in Paso Robles, California, where she experienced food insecurity, homelessness, and domestic abuse, Chaunté couldn’t imagine a future that offered a different sort of life. But then, one day, she turned on the TV and there was Flo Jo, competing in the Olympics and shattering records in track and field. Almost immediately, Chaunté knew what she wanted to do. She started running.

And Other Mistakes
Written by Erika Turner

Aaliyah’s home life has never been great, but she thought she’d survive her last years of high school with at least her friendships and cross-country stardom intact. That is, until junior year struck: she got outed by a church elder and everything came undone — including Aaliyah. Now, senior year is about to start and she is determined to come back faster and wiser. No more letting other people define her. No more losing herself to their expectations.

Basketball Town
Written by Scott Rothman & Illustrated by Darnell Johnson

Maxwell loves basketball so much, he dreams about it every night–crashing the boards, splashing treys, and taking it to the rack. Then one day he wakes up . . . in Basketball Town! Everywhere he looks, everyone is hooping, and Maxwell can play anytime he wants. To get him ready for the Championship, the Mayor sends Maxwell to Skillsville, where he aces Alley-Oop Academy and the College of the Crossover, earning his dunking diploma from Phi Slamma Jamma. At the Championship, he’s thrilled to discover that his team from home is there, up against the greatest team ever assembled!

Lion on the Inside: How One Girl Changed Basketball
Written by Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir & Judith Henderson & Illustrated by Katherine Ahmed

Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir was born to play basketball. At three, she has her own hoop. By seventeen, she’s the star player on her school’s varsity team. On the day of the playoffs, though, the referee says she can’t play while wearing her hijab. Her teammates refuse to play, the crowd shouts its support and the referee relents. With that game, Bilqis becomes the all-time lead scorer in Massachusetts State history and goes on to play college ball, where she is the first woman to play in a hijab in the NCAA – she even plays basketball with President Obama at the White House!

Falling Short
Written by Ernesto Cisneros

Isaac and Marco already know sixth grade is going to change their lives. But it won’t change things at home–not without each other’s help. This year, star basketball player Isaac plans on finally keeping up with his schoolwork. Better grades will surely stop Isaac’s parents from arguing all the time. Meanwhile, straight-A Marco vows on finally winning his father’s approval by earning a spot on the school’s basketball team. But will their friendship and support for each other be enough to keep the two boys from falling short?

We Are Big Time (A Graphic Novel)
Written by Hena Khan & Illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui

Aliya is new to Wisconsin, and everything feels different than Florida. The Islamic school is bigger, the city is colder, and her new basketball team is…well, they stink.
Aliya’s still excited to have teammates (although the team’s captain, Noura, isn’t really Aliya’s biggest fan), and their new coach really understands basketball (even if she doesn’t know much about being Muslim). This season should be a blast…if they could just start to win. As they strengthen their skills on the court, Aliya and the Peace Academy team discover that it takes more than talent to be great–it’s teamwork and self-confidence that defines true success.

Rez Ball
Written by Byron Graves

These days, Tre Brun is happiest when he is playing basketball on the Red Lake Reservation high school team—even though he can’t help but be constantly gut-punched with memories of his big brother, Jaxon, who died in an accident. When Jaxon’s former teammates on the varsity team offer to take Tre under their wing, he sees this as his shot to represent his Ojibwe reservation all the way to their first state championship. This is the first step toward his dream of playing in the NBA, no matter how much the odds are stacked against him.

Chasing Pacquiao
Written by Rod Pulido

Being out and queer would put an unavoidable target on his back, especially in a Filipino community that frowns on homosexuality. It’s best to keep his head down, get good grades, and stay out of trouble. But when Bobby is unwillingly outed in a terrible way, he no longer has the luxury of being invisible. Bobby is inspired by champion Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao to take up boxing and challenge his tormentor. But when Pacquiao publicly declares his stance against queer people, Bobby’s faith⁠–in his hero and in himself⁠–is shaken to the core.

Breaking to the Beat!
Written by Linda J. Acevedo & Illustrated by Frank Morrison

In the 1970s, many said the Bronx was just a pile of rubble, but for a shy kid like Manolo, it was alive with rhythm and music. He grew up with salsa dance parties at home and DJs battling on turntables on the street. Inspired by these new beats and the moves of James Brown, neighborhood boys and girls started dancing with a mix of twists, slides, and shuffles. The rhythm of the Toprock. Drop of the Six-step. Wiggle of the Worm. A new dance style called breaking was on the rise, and Manolo wanted to be a part of it.

Duel
Written by Jessixa Bagley & Illustrated by Aaron Bagley

Sixth grader Lucy loves fantasy novels and is brand-new to middle school. GiGi is the undisputed queen bee of eighth grade (as well as everything else she does). They’ve only got one thing in common: fencing. Oh, and they’re sisters. They never got along super well, but ever since their dad died, it seems like they’re always at each other’s throats. When GiGi humiliates Lucy in the cafeteria on the first day of school, Lucy snaps and challenges GiGi to a duel with high sisterly stakes.

She’s Got This
Written by Laurie Hernandez & Illustrated by Niña Mata

Even Olympians have to start somewhere. And in this charming illustrated book, Laurie Hernandez tells the story of Zoe, a little girl who dreams of flying–and becoming a gymnast. When Zoe sees a gymnast on TV, she realizes that gymnastics is just like flying. But when she first goes to class and falls off the balance beam, she discovers that following her dreams is harder and scarier than she thought.

She Persisted: Simone Biles
Written by Kekla Magoon & Illustrated by Gillian Flint

Simone Biles didn’t always have it easy as a child. When her birth mother was no longer able to take care of her and her siblings, they moved in with her grandparents. But she always loved to run, jump, and bounce around. After trying gymnastics for the first time on a field trip at age six, Simone continued with the sport, working hard and facing many challenges along the way.

Let’s Go!
Written & Illustrated by Julie Flett

Every day, a little boy watches kids pass by on skateboards, and dreams of joining them. One day, his mother brings a surprise: her old skateboard, just for him! haw êkwa! Let’s go! Together, they practice on the sidewalk, at the park, in Auntie’s yard–everywhere. But when it comes time to try the skatepark, the skateboarders crash down like a waterfall. Can he find the confidence to join them?

Kick Push
Written & Illustrated by Frank Morrison

Epic has tricks you won’t believe. He’s the kick flipping, big rail king. When his family moves to a new neighborhood, he can’t wait to hit the street with his skateboard. But his old moves don’t feel fresh without a crew to see ’em. Epic thinks about giving up his board to fit in, but an encouraging word from his dad helps him see that the trick to making new friends is to always be yourself. Be you. . . be epic!

Backyard Footy
Written by Carl Merrison

Jy is playing football alone in his small backyard in the Kimberley, but when he accidentally kicks the ball over the fence, a footy adventure begins! Footy by yourself is fun but playing with mates is better.

Building a Dream: How the Boys of Koh Panyee Became Champions
Darshana Khiani (Author) Dow Phumiruk (Illustrator)

In Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay, atop a network of stilts, floats the village of Koh Panyee–where a group of boys loved soccer but had nowhere to practice. Even while their neighbors laughed, they sawed wood, hammered nails, and tied barrels together. The team worked for weeks to build Koh Panyee’s first floating field–a place to practice, and a place to transform their community…

José and Feliz Play Fútbol
Written by Susan Rose & Silvia López & Illustrated by Gloria Félix

José has been selected for the school soccer team! Finally, he gets to be part of el equipo de fútbol. He starts practicing in his backyard right away. But when he kicks the ball toward the net, his best friend–who is also his dog, Feliz–runs after it! Can José find a way to bring his furry pal to his fútbol games without worrying el perro will chase el balón?

Figure It Out, Henri Weldon
Written by Tanita S. Davis

Seventh grader Henrietta Weldon gets to switch schools–finally! She’ll be “mainstreaming” into public school, leaving her special education school behind. She can’t wait for her new schedule, new friends, and new classes. Henri’s dyscalculia, a learning disability that makes math challenging to process and understand, is what she expects to give her problems. What she doesn’t expect is a family feud with her sister over her new friends, joining the girls’ soccer team, and discovering poetry.

Sisters: Venus & Serena Williams
Written by Jeanette Winter

Before they were famous tennis stars, Venus and Serena Williams were sisters with big dreams growing up in Compton, California. In the early mornings, they head to the tennis courts, clean up debris, and practice. They compete in their first tournament and they both win. From there, the girls’ trophy collection grows and grows. Despite adversity and health challenges, the sisters become two of the greatest tennis players of all time.

The Misdirection of Fault Lines
Written by Anna Gracia

Three teen girls compete at an elite tennis tournament for a shot at their dreams–if only they knew what their dreams were. Alice is on her own for the first time. She has no coach. No friends. Violetta is Bastille’s darling: social media influencer, coach’s pet, and daughter of a former tennis star who fell from grace. Leylah hasn’t competed in two years, thanks to a back-stabbing ex-friend. One week at the elite Bastille Invitational tennis tournament will decide their futures. If only the competition between them stayed on the court.

Spike It, Mo!
Written by David A. Adler & Illustrated by Sam Ricks

Mo and his parents are enjoying a sunny day at the beach! When the water is too cold to swim, Mo and his dad go for a walk and run into some of Mo’s friends who are playing volleyball. After learning the rules, Mo and his dad join in to serve, set, and spike the ball. When the score is tied, will the smallest boy on the team be able to secure the game-winning point?

The Way Champs Play
Written by Naomi Osaka & Illustrated by Kamala Nair

In a rhythmic celebration of sport and play, four-time Grand Slam champion and tennis superstar Naomi Osaka shares key steps to becoming a true champ, including being kind, working as a team, doing your best, and most importantly, having fun.