With the Super Bowl right around the corner, it’s a perfect time to start picking out football picture books to share with your upper elementary students.
Picture books provide a great opportunity to share read alouds with your students, however it can be challenging finding books that are just right for 4th and 5th graders.
Here is a list of some engaging football themed picture books.
(This blog post contains Amazon Affiliate links. That means that if you buy a book using a link, Amazon will throw a few pennies my way at no cost to you.)
1. Pigskins to Paintbrushes: The Story of Football-Playing Artist Ernie Barnes
This book, Pigskins to Paintbrushes, takes place in the mid 1900s at the height of Jim Crow.
It tells the story of Ernie Barnes who was not into sports as he was expected to be. He enjoyed painting. Growing up poor did not allow him the opportunity to learn much about art. He finds it in himself to work on both football as expected and art. He becomes successful at both.
It’s a perfect book to share in February as we get ready for the Super Bowl and celebrate Black History Month.
A great extension activity is to have students visit his website to see images of his real artwork and learn more about him.
2. Family Huddle
Family Huddle is written by Payton Manning, Eli Manning, and Archie Manning.
It’s a great book to use for football themed vocabulary terms. Older students will connect with illustrations.
This book also allows for some great research extension. Have students research the authors.
3. The Greatest Game Ever Played
The Greatest Game Ever Played by Phil Binder is a touching story about an estranged father and son who were brought together by the 1958 NFL championship game.
There are vivid illustrations in this book. They offer a great opportunity to discuss how images support the text as well as discussing mood.
Hopefully these books offer you an opportunity to bring in some engaging football themed activities into your classroom this season.
