Olympics Books for Kids
When it comes to Olympics books for kids, I’m your girl! The Olympics are a HUGE deal in my house with my entire family.

I grew up loving the games, and I’ve passed my love of the Olympics to my children. When the Winter or Summer Olympics are on we watch recaps nightly and even track the medal totals on paper sheets hung up in our family room.
It’s SERIOUS business, which is why I adored putting this list of my favorite kids’ books about the Olympics together for you. But don’t let the fun stop with your kids! We also have a fun list of books about women in sports.
The Best Olympics Books by Age
For Toddlers
Olympig by Victoria James – Jump to the review
For Picture Book Lovers
She Persisted in Sports by Chelsea Clinton – Jump to section
For Chapter Book Readers
Boys in the Boat (Youth edition) by Daniel James Brown – Jump to Section
For Gymnastics Lovers
Flying High by Michelle Meadows – Jump to Section
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Books about the Olympics for Preschoolers and Toddlers

Plot
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.
Why Kirsten loves it
Olympig makes me smile every time I read it. The charming pictures, the silly text, and the sincere message make this my favorite Olympic book for kids!

Jesse Owens
Author: Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Illustrator: Anna Katharina Jansen
Year: 2020
Genre: Nonfiction
Age: 4-7
More info: Part of the Little People, Big Dreams series
Plot
The biography of famed athlete Jesse Owens and his journey to the 1936 Berlin Olympics is explored in this book. It tells his story starting in his childhood and also addresses the hardships and racism he encountered in a way children can understand.
Why Kirsten loves it
It’s important to note that the Olympics are not always a perfect experience for every athlete. Racism and sexism has always existed in sports and this book addresses that in an age-appropriate way.

Curious George and the Summer Games
Author: Margret & H. A. Rey
Year: 2020
Genre: Toddler Books
Age: 4-7
Plot
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.
Why Kirsten loves it
Curious George is one of my favorite storybook characters. The beloved monkey’s antics in this story are as charming as always and I loved how he supports his teammate.

Dream Big, Little Pig
Author: Kristy Yamaguchi
Illustrator: Tim Bowers
Year: 2011
Genre: Fiction
Age: 3-7
Plot
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!
Why Kirsten loves it
Poppy is the cutest figure skater around! I love the story and illustrations but the message of persisiting is what really has me giving this the stamp of approval.
Picture Books about the Olympics

She Persisted in Sports
Author: Chelsea Clinton
Illustrator: Alexandra Boiger
Year: 2020
Genre: Nonfiction
Age: 4-8
Plot
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.
Why Kirsten loves it
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
Author: Julie Abery
Illustrator: Chris Sasaki
Year: 2021
Genre: Nonfiction
Age: 5-8
Plot
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!
Why Kirsten loves it
The illustrations of this story keep it at the top of our list of books about the Olympics for kids because they suck you right into the pages.

How to Train with a T. Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals
Author: Michael Phelps
Illustrator: Ward Jenkins
Year: 2009
Genre: Fiction
Age: 4-8
Plot
Michael Phelps talks about his training routine in this funny little picture book! He explains how he napped, how much he swam, and how many calories he consumed all with infographics that are riveting and silly.
Why Kirsten loves it
The infographics really bring this story to life. Since Phelps will be an Olympic Correspondent for the Summer Games, I think it’s helpful to show kids his historic victories.

Dream Big: Michael Jordan and the Pursuit of Olympic Gold
Author: Deloris Jordan
Illustrator: Barry Root
Year: 2017
Genre: Nonfiction
Age: 3-5
Plot
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.
Why Kirsten loves it
For basketball lovers, there is no better Olympic book than this one. I adore the fact that it was written by Jordan’s mother as well.

Lines
Author: Suzy Lee
Year: 2017
Genre: Wordless Picture Book
Age: 3-5
Plot
Suzy Lee pays tribute to the grace of figure skating with this wordless picture book. It’s a perfect pick to get ready for the Winter Olympics.
Why Kirsten loves it
I absolutely love these stunning illustrations. Any ice skating lover will quickly find this becoming their new favorite book.
Chapter Books for Kids About the Olympics

The Magic Treehouse: Hour of the Olympics
Author: Mary Pope Osbourne
Illustrator: Sal Murdocca
Year: 2010
Genre: Early Reader Fiction
Age: 6-9
Plot
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.
Why Kirsten loves it
Jack and Annie are the perfect explorers – constantly adapting and learning. This adventure is the reason my son became interested in Ancient Greece and the Olympics!
Find this book in: Magic Treehouse books are geared towards early readers. For more books for early readers, check out this post!

What are the Paralympic Games
Author: Gail Herman
Illustrator: Andrew Thomson
Year: 2020
Genre: Nonfiction
Age: 8-12
Plot
This non-fiction book in the What Are series explains the Paralympic Games and the incredible athletes who participate. There is also a Summer Games and a Winter Games edition of this book.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love this particular book because it highlights all the amazing things people with disabilities can do.
Find this book in: Olympics Books for Kids / Best Books for 10-year-olds

Plot
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 nuts will love this story!
Why Kirsten loves it
The Olympic games scenes gave me such a heightened sense of American pride. I was rooting for the team and cheering them on the whole time. I thought I would be bored by the minutia of rowing, but I wasn’t.
Find this book in: Olympics Books for Kids / Books for Tweens / Best Books for a 12-year-old
Gymnastics Books for Kids

Plot
This picture book biography tells the story of Simone Biles from her life as a young child to her eventual trips to the Olympics.
Why Kirsten loves it
This gymnastics book is perfect for kids who love the sport and were inspired by Simone’s many medal wins!

She’s Got This
Author: Laurie Hernandez
Illustrator: Niña Mata
Year: 2018
Genre: Nonfiction
Age: 3-7
Plot
Gold medalist Laurie Hernandez wrote this adorable story about a little girl named Zoe who follows her dreams of becoming a gymnast.
Why Kirsten loves it
The cheerful pictures and wonderful message make this a must-read for anyone looking for gymnastics books for kids.

Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still
Author: Karlin Gray
Illustrator: Christine Davenier
Year: 2016
Genre: Nonfiction
Age: 6-9
Plot
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.
Why Kirsten loves it
Kids need to recognize the history of the Olympic games. While I love to show kids stories about current athletes, it’s important to highlight the trailblazers of the past.
Helpful Tips
Even the youngest kids can get into the Olympic spirit! Here are some suggestions to incorporate the Olympic Games into your home.
- Read a book about the Olympics in the weeks leading up to the games to build excitement
- Track the medal count for your home country and a few close competitors each night. My kids love to tally the medals with different colors for gold, silver, and bronze.
- Watch highlights of key sports each night.
- Figure out your child’s favorite sport and try to pick a few athletes to track from trials to the final games.
- Find the craziest sports your family probably hasn’t seen to watch together. In winter, look at curling, speed skating, and skeleton. In summer, check out synchronized swimming, dressage, and Canoe slalom.
How do you explain the Olympics to a child?
With books! I love to read picture books and nonfiction stories about athletes to my children to prepare them for the games. This list holds some of my favorite picks.
More Kids Books About the Olympics
Epilogue
Will you be watching anything during the Paris 2024 Olympic games? We plan to watch archery, football, swimming, and gymnastics.

Books about Women in Sports
Looking to explore more sports books for the Olympic games? Check out these!
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