‘Pele King of Soccer,’ ‘The Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby’ and ‘The Fastest Game on Two Feet and Other Poems about How Sports Began’

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A lavishly illustrated picture book about sports is a good vehicle for drawing energetic young children into the world of books and reading.

Although he retired more than 30 years ago, Pele is still considered by many to be the “King of Soccer / El rey del futbol.” This stunning picture book introduces a new generation of young children to the world star who was once a shoeshine boy on the streets of Tres Coracoes, in Brazil. When he was nine, the child promised his father that one day he would win the World Cup — a promise he kept at the age of 17.

Vibrant pastel illustrations express the athletic abilities and determination of the man who scored an amazing 1,281 goals and won three World Cups for Brazil during his career. Realistic faces and figures float on a swirling, surreal background, drawing the eye to unexpected design details while presenting an overall impression of energy and enthusiasm. The bilingual text, too, is energetic and evocative in both English and Spanish.

“The Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby” was the youngest of 17 children in a Kentucky sharecropping family. Born in 1880, only five years after the Kentucky Derby began, Jimmy Winkfield loved horses and dreamed of becoming a great jockey. Fluent text details how “Wink,” as he was called, followed his dream despite disappointments and setbacks.

The author’s foreword and afterword set Wink’s accomplishments in historical context, explaining why the majority of jockeys were black up through the 19th century and how that changed in the early 20th. Full-page oil paintings focus on the speed and excitement of a horse race. A racing fan might even be tempted to remove several of the wordless pages for framing.

Just what is the fastest game on two feet? Fans would argue for their own favorite, be it soccer, hockey, lacrosse, even cricket. Whatever your choice, “The Fastest Game on Two Feet” is the title of a new collection of poems about the history of 19 sports, from foot racing to football, skiing to skateboarding. Each poem is preceded by an intriguing paragraph to provide context.

Although the poetry is uneven, the concept is a winner. The information presented is fascinating, and children will love all the strange and sometimes startling facts included. The illustrations, in watercolor over ink, are full-page scenes filled with many, many tiny details. The playfulness and humor of the art neatly complements the topic of games.

Any or all of these books will open up new aspects of the sports world to children, giving them lots of reasons to exclaim, “Wow! Did you know that?”

Children’s literature specialist Paula Morrow lives and writes in Princeton. She welcomes comments and book suggestions at: Reviews@PaulaMorrow.com.