Squad Goals: The Unstoppable Women of the US Women's National Soccer Team (Ready-to-Read Level 3)

by Laurie Calkhoven, Monique Dong (Illustrator)

Overview

Get to know some of the many groundbreaking and legendary women in US soccer in this fascinating nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read, part of a series of biographies about people “you should meet!”

Read about some amazing and unstoppable women who changed soccer in America like Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Briana Scurry, Trinity Rodman, and Mia Hamm. This book also includes a history of women’s soccer in America and a summary of all four historic World Cup wins.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665933438
Publisher:	Simon Spotlight
Publication date:	05/02/2023
Series:	You Should Meet Series
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48
File size:	60 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Laurie Calkhoven is the author of many books, including George Washington: An American Life and Harriet Tubman: Leading the Way to Freedom. She lives in New York City. Visit her at LaurieCalkhoven.com.

Monique Dong studied to become an animator, but soon realized she had a love for illustrating children’s books and has been following that dream ever since. Born in South Africa, she now lives in China with her husband and baby boy.

Editorial Reviews

05/01/2023

K-Gr 2—The "You Should Meet" series of easier reading biographies is made specifically for younger elementary-age children. This fantastic addition dives into the United States Women's National Soccer Team. The book is divided into chapters that follow a history of women's soccer from its inception through the present day, and then focuses on individual players and their contributions to the sport and to the world. Calkhoven begins with a history of women in soccer and their work to get a national team, which started in backyards and playgrounds. Subsequent chapters are dedicated to the 1991, 1999, 2015, and 2019 World Cups; the final chapter focuses on soccer stars Megan Rapinoe, Briana Scurry, Alex Morgan, Trinity Rodman, and Mia Hamm. Illustrations are cartoonlike to keep the young and playful feel of this beginning biography. Back matter offers tips and instructions on how to start playing, additional historical information, and a trivia sheet. VERDICT Recommended for general purchase in elementary school and public libraries; this series provides a developmentally appropriate way to introduce the genre to the youngest students.—Kristen Todd-Wurm

School Library Journal

2023-03-14
A celebration of the winningest women’s team in World Cup competition.

Along with tracking the success of the women’s national team from its early years when it was (in the author’s polite phrase) “not the team to beat” to four World Cup wins—each described in dramatic fashion—Calkhoven profiles five prominent pros from Mia Hamm to Trinity Rodman, noting that both Megan Rapinoe and Briana Scurry are gay. She goes on to add a thumbnail history of the sport’s early days, coaching notes for some important ball skills, and select records and facts before rounding it all off with a review quiz. At least some of Dong’s painted figures, including an image of Brandi Chastain wearing a sports bra and holding her jersey aloft after making a winning goal and another of Megan Rapinoe in a victory pose, are based on famous photos but leave their subjects recognizable, and besides portraits of Rodman and Scurry, brown-skinned girls and women feature prominently in nearly all of the illustrations. A claim near the end that at least 100 more U.S. colleges sponsor soccer teams for women than for men now is a telling sign of the sport’s growing popularity.

A rousing cheer for women on the pitch. (Nonfiction. 7-9)

Kirkus Reviews