15+ Exciting Books about the Olympics for Kids

Jesse Owens by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

A picture book that tells the story of famed athlete Jesse Owens and his journey to the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

It tells his story starting in his childhood and also addresses the hardships and racism he encountered in a way children can understand.

Olympig by Victoria James

Olympig is the cutest story about a pig named Boomer who wants to compete against the other animals in the Animal Olympics.

Except he isn’t able to win any sports! Instead of getting upset, his mindset is that it was great practice for the Winter games!

Curious George and the Summer Games by H. A. Rey

Does your toddler want to get in on the olympic spirit? Then consider this cute story about Curious George.

In this tale, George participated in the town’s summer games while getting into his usual antics.

Dream Big, Little Pig by Kristy Yamaguchi

Figure skating superstar, Kristy Yamaguchi, is now a children’s author with multiple ice skating picture books under her belt.

This particular story is about Poppy who has big dreams of being an ice-skating super star!

She Persisted in Sports by Chelsea Clinton

This book tells the story of over a dozen American female olympic athletes like Mia Hamm, the Venus sisters, Jean Driscoll, Kerri Walsh Jennings, and more.

If you are looking for a comprehensive list of some of the biggest names in Olympic history, check out this one!

Sakamoto’s Swim Club: How a Teacher Led an Unlikely Team to Victory by Julie Abery

The illustrations of this story keep it at the top of our list for books about the Olympics for kids, because they suck you right into the pages.

The story itself is based on the true story of a swim club in Hawaii whose little program for kids leads to an Olympic gold!

How to Train with a T. Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals by Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps talks about his training routine in this funny little picture book! He explains about how he napped, how much he swam, and how many calories he consumed all with infographics that are riveting and silly.

Dream Big: Michael Jordan and the Pursuit of Olympic Gold by Deloris Jordan

This charming picture book biography about Michael Jordan was written by his own Mother!!!

It talks about Michael’s life as a child, and how the values he was taught helped him become the superstar athlete known the world over.

Lines by Suzy Lee

Suzy Lee pays tribute to the grace of figure skating with this wordless picture book.

I absolutely love these stunning illustrations. Any ice skating lover will quickly find this becoming their new favorite book.

The Magic Treehouse: Hour of the Olympics by Mary Pope Osbourne

Jack and Annie are once again sent on an adventure to the past! This time, their destination is Ancient Greece where they get to see the Olympic Games played.

Magic Treehouse books are geared towards early readers. For more books for early readers, check out this post!

What are the Paralympic Games by Gail Herman

This non-fiction book in the what are series explains all about the Paralympic Games and the incredible athletes that participate.

I love this particular book because it highlights all the amazing things people with disabilities can do. There is also a Summer Games and a Winter Games edition of this book.

You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Greek Athlete by Michael Ford

The next book in this series focuses on just how horrible it was to be an athlete in Ancient Greece! This entire series is really funny, even the most reluctant readers enjoy it.

Just know it focuses on the grosser side of being an Olympian… prepare for many yucky facts to be discussed at the dinner table.

Boys in the Boat (Youth Edition) by Daniel James Brown

Like the adult version, this edited down book tells the true tale of the 1936 USA men’s rowing team and their unlikely run for the gold medal.

It’s a non-fiction story that reads like fiction, and sports nut will love this story!

Flying High by Michelle Meadows

This picture book biography tells the story of Simone Biles from her life as a young child to her eventual trips to the Olympics.

This gymnastics book is perfect for kids who love the sport and were inspired by Simone’s many medal wins!

She’s Got This by Laurie Hernandez

Gold-medalist Laurie Hernandez wrote this adorable story about a little girl named Zoe who follows her dreams to become a gymnast.

The cheerful pictures and wonderful message make this a must-read for any one looking for gymnastics books for kids.

Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still by Karlin Gray

Nadia Comaneci competed as a gymnast in the 1976 Olympics. This story tells about her journey from a small town in Romania to the winners podium, when she collected her gold-medal.