Best Usborne Books for Children who love football

Whether your child is football-mad already or just starting to notice match-day chatter, the right book can turn that interest into something really lovely: shared reading, screen-free play, and maybe a bit of football practice in the garden. Below are seven Usborne football favourites that work brilliantly across different ages and stages, from sticker scenes to flap-lifting fact hunts and confidence-building chapter reads.

For little football fans (age 3-5)

If you’re reading with a nursery-aged child, the win is keeping it playful. Think short bursts, lots of chatting, and hands-on activities that build fine motor skills (without it feeling like “work”).

In Football Sticker Book, children can complete lively scenes with heaps of stickers, from training ground moments, match-day excitement and a victory parade, with over 300 stickers to use! It’s a brilliant choice for practising pincer grip and attention (and it’s easy to dip in and out when you only have ten minutes).

For even more reusable activities, Wipe-Clean Football Activities is packed with football-themed mazes, dot-to-dots, spot-the-difference and simple drawing prompts, plus a wipe-clean pen so children can repeat favourites again and again. It’s a handy one to keep in a bag for cafes, travel or waiting rooms.

For children who want to understand the game (age 5+)

At this age, lots of children love learning the “why” behind what they see. They’re curious about positions, rules, training, stadiums, and all the behind-the-scenes bits that make the sport great.

First Football Book is a friendly starting point: it introduces how football works and what it feels like to play and follow a team, keeping things simple and encouraging. It’s particularly good if your child is asking questions like “What’s a goalkeeper allowed to do?” or “Why does the referee blow the whistle?”.

If your child enjoys interactive non-fiction, Look Inside Football adds lift-the-flap curiosity to the mix, exploring the world of football with behind-the-scenes detail, from how clubs run to training grounds and skills tips, all in a fun, informative way. 

For newly confident readers and story-lovers (age 5-7)

Sometimes football enthusiasm really takes off when it’s wrapped inside a story, especially for children who are building reading stamina.

Billy and the Mini Monsters: Monsters Play Football is a warm, funny chapter book for newly independent readers, with Billy’s love of football (and a match that doesn’t go to plan) at the centre of the adventure. 

For children who like facts and narrative, The Story of Football tells the history of the sport in a lively, accessible way, from early origins right up to the modern game, with humorous illustrations. This can be a lovely companion to big tournaments, or simply a way to broaden a football fan’s interest beyond their own team.

For kids who dream big (age 10+)

If your child dares to dream big, Kick by Mitch Johnson is a brilliant, award winning novel which follows a young boy named Budi who wishes to play for the greatest football team on earth. Kick is ultimately a story about hope, heroes and never letting anything stand in your way, making it great for inspiring young readers to follow their own dreams.

A quick way to choose the right one

If you’re deciding fast, match the book to the kind of football joy you see at home:

• If they love doing: start with Wipe-Clean Football Activities or Football Sticker Book.

• If they love knowing: try First Football Book or Look Inside Football.

• If they love reading stories: pick Billy and the Mini Monsters: Monsters Play Football or The Story of Football.

• If they dream big, try Kick. 

If you’d like to keep your football fan stocked with screen-free inspiration, you can explore these Usborne football favourites below and choose the one that best fits your child’s age and interests.