For Your Lil' Petaluma Readers: Football and Math in a Book for Kids

By Freya Hooper (Star Patcher)

As college and professional football are preparing for their final showdowns, what a better way to inspire kids than with a book that shows them how football and math are inextricably linked. I mean could I have dreamed up a better combination?

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Don’t forget to visit my website, www.onegreatbook.com for all the books that put two seemingly opposite interests together to form a can’t put down read. It’s a little New Year’s magic.

Title: The Rookie Bookie

Authors: L. Wertheim and Tobias Moskowitz

Target:Grades 4-7

Series:No

What this book is about:
Mitch is new in town and his middle school is all about sports. However, Mitch is a kid who is good at math, and not a particularly good athlete. He finds that to fit in he can use his skills at math and the student’s love of sports to start a betting ring. When the administration finds out and he gets punished, he has to put his talents to better use. What better way then to help the school football team, by using his statistical knowledge, to end their losing streak.

Why I love this book:
First off I love books that help show kids that math is important, even if they play football! This book does a great job of showing kids financial analysis and statistics, without ever feeling like it is preaching to them.

I also liked Mitch. Maybe because my son loves sports and math, but is only good at the latter, I felt a certain kinship to him. While the betting ring was entertaining, my favorite part of the book was when he was able to make game decisions based on the statistics he collected.

Who this book is for:
Any kid who has ever had a fantasy football team will love this book. It is great for kids who play sports and kids who simply enjoy watching the games. It is The Lemonade Warfor sports focused kids.

Final thoughts:
The authors are an editor for Sports Illustrated and a Finance Professor respectively, so they know about what they write, and it shows.

I am a mom of three with a passion for literature! No matter what book series our kids devour, as they come to an end, we as parents ask the inevitable question - what is next? I am ever on the job, trying to answer that question. I try to do it with a variety of books. Some are silly, some true to life, some pure fantasy, but in the end I hope they make my children love words, explore new ideas, and laugh!

Previous book columns From Freya Hooper:

What to Read After Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Get Your Reluctant Reader to Pick Up a Book

A Must-Have Book for Christmas.

A Book for Kids Who Love Percy Jackson.

A Book to Inspire Your Children.

A Book to Help Kids Give Thanks.

A Book That Makes Science Fun For Kids.

A Book Your Kids Will Eat Up

The Ultimate Battle Book for Kids

A Hauntingly Good Book for Kids

Funniest Picture Book This Year

A Fun Mystery Book for Kids

American History Is Gross

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