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Happy Like Soccer
by
Maribeth Boelts,
Lauren Castillo (Goodreads Author)
A warmhearted story about a young girl who finds a way to bring together the two things that make her most happy- soccer and her family.
Nothing makes Sierra happy like soccer. Her shoes have flames as she spins the ball down the spread-out sea of grass. But nothing makes her sad like soccer, too, because the restaurant where her auntie works is busy on game days and she ca...more
Nothing makes Sierra happy like soccer. Her shoes have flames as she spins the ball down the spread-out sea of grass. But nothing makes her sad like soccer, too, because the restaurant where her auntie works is busy on game days and she ca...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
May 8th 2012
by Candlewick
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All I can say is “Wow!” I loved it. It really took me by surprise. It’s not really a soccer story at all, like you would suspect, but rather a very moving and emotionally powerful story of a young girl and her love for her aunt.
Told in a very simple and honest manner, Happy Like Soccer gives a brief, yet poignant glimpse into a young girl’s difficult, but happy life. Yes, there is a soccer element to the story, but it has many other more intriguing layers to it; new friendships, loneliness, har...more
Told in a very simple and honest manner, Happy Like Soccer gives a brief, yet poignant glimpse into a young girl’s difficult, but happy life. Yes, there is a soccer element to the story, but it has many other more intriguing layers to it; new friendships, loneliness, har...more
Sierra loves to play soccer, especially on the field that is well maintained with a real soccer goal, not two garbage cans next to each other. But now that she plays on a team, her aunt can’t come to her games because she has to work. Sierra’s coach tells her he is glad to have her on the team and asks her if there is anything she needs, but Sierra always says no. When her aunt manages to get time off to attend Sierra’s final game of the series, the game is rained out. Sierra knows that her aunt...more
Sierra loves soccer and wants her Auntie to come to her game more than anything. Her aunt has to work, the games are out of the city, and on the wrong day of the week. The contrast between Sierra's poor inner city neighborhood and that of her teammates is clear but expressed without judgement. I love how Sierra finds a solution to her problem. This is a story about dreams - about asking for help - and making things happen - and flying. The words are poetry and the illustrations lovely. It made m...more
Sierra loves to play soccer and only wishes her auntie could once watch her play so she could have family there to cheer for her. Unfortunately her auntie has to work every Saturday and the one Saturday she manages to take off the game is rained out. But Sierra is determined and finds a way that works for everyone. I loved this book! Sierra’s being raised by her auntie and the family is obviously not well off, but Sierra never feels sorry for herself and is courageous and ingenious in bringing h...more
So many plusses to this story! A young girl loves soccer, but has no one there for her. Her Aunt supports her in every way, manages to go to the last game, but it rains. The girl solves the problem by relocating the game to her own neighborhood- using appropriate adult channels. The text elevates this solid story and would serve as mentor text ("she can feel me low around the edges", "thunder starts the show, lightning in the distance").
Sierra loves soccer, but is sad that her beloved auntie never gets to see her play because she always has to work on game days. Can Sierra find a way to bring together the two things that she loves most in the world: soccer and family?
Poetic text and expressive illustrations propel this heartwarming story along. Hand to fans of stories about resourceful youngsters, like Vera B. Williams' "A Chair for My Mother."
Poetic text and expressive illustrations propel this heartwarming story along. Hand to fans of stories about resourceful youngsters, like Vera B. Williams' "A Chair for My Mother."
Sierra is sad that her aunt (who is her sole guardian) can't make it to her Saturday soccer games. It's apparent that they live in a bad neighborhood and scrape to get by. After some finagling, her aunt arranges to switch her workday and makes it to the game. After some more finagling, Sierra manages to get another game switched to a Monday in a lot closer to her house. Attractive ink and watercolor illustrations.
A poignant story of a young soccer player from the inner city who lives with her working aunt. Because of her aunt's work schedule, she is not able to see her niece play. This makes young Sierra sad, because although she loves soccer, she misses having family around to cheer for her. With the help of her understanding coach, Sierra manages to bring her two loves together.
Sierra loves to play soccer and is picked to play on a real team instead of the made up teams on the lot next door to her apartment. She is very excited, yet also sad, since no one is able to come watch her play. For unexplained reasons, she lives with her aunt who has to work on Saturdays when the games are played. This is a simple and enjoyable story.
This is a heartwarming picture book about a young soccer player named Sierra who lives with her aunt in a Latina/o neighborhood. Although she would love to have her aunt watch a game, Sierra understands that her aunt can’t afford to leave work. Then Sierra figures out how to make it happen, using effective organizing and advocacy skills. As with Boelts’ Those Shoes, Happy Like Soccer is an affirming and beautifully illustrated story that excels at showing both the strength and challenges of a wo...more
Sierra loves soccer. What she doesn't love is her aunt missing all her games and no one knowing her and cheering for her. How can she ever play closer to home and on a day her Aunt doesn't work?
I support Independent bookstores - Follow this link to find a store near you or to order Happy Like Soccer - http://www.indiebound.org/book/978076...
I support Independent bookstores - Follow this link to find a store near you or to order Happy Like Soccer - http://www.indiebound.org/book/978076...
Attractive illustrations with a nice sense of movement. Children who live with a legal guardian other than a parent or whose hard-working families have trouble making it to extracurricular activities will identify with Sierra.
I really liked the message in this story. It presents the challenges of a working single guardian in being able to attend the Saturday soccer games of her niece. Not preachy and not negative...loved the resolution.
For students in impoverished situations this book portrays poverty in a positive yet accurate light. It shows readers that poverty has its challenges but can be overcome and also has some great results that come out of the love of family within poverty. I would like to own this book as well.
Selected as a Girls of Summer 2012 title. Review here. http://girlsofsummerlist.wordpress.co...
Lovely watercolors and a strong message about having confidence in yourself and familial love. Nice!
Touching story about being a family, some of the word choices and comparisons are a little confusing.
Touching read about a young girl who just wants a family member to see her play her favorite game.
A girl loves soccer and wants her family to cheer her on. Warm, appealing story.
Very touching story. Recommended for talking to kids about poverty.
Amazing book.has I nice message
A lyrical and beautifully illustrated narrative of a young girl who must travel out of her neighborhood and across the city to attend her soccer games, leaving behind her beloved Auntie who must work on soccer days. She sees an opportunity and finds the nerve to make a change and bring together the two things she loves the most.
I liked this one. Sierra is the only player on the team with no special family member cheering her on from the sidelines. We see extraordinary effort by Sierra, her family, and her coach to make that special spectator situation possible. A good one to share with sports playing kids to remind them that team sports can be a challenge for some families. Text is poetic and verse-like.
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Maribeth Boelts is a former preschool teacher who has written numerous books for children. She lives in Iowa with her husband and three children.
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