By: Maya Ajmera and Michael Regan

Hey, sports fans. . .name your game! Let the Games Begin takes readers around the world to discover kids playing all kinds of games. It brings the action to life, focusing on young athletes playing hard and dreaming big. Basketball in Turkey and Columbia. Swimming in the U.S. and the Philippines. No matter what language kids speak, or where they are from, the universal appeal of playing and competing is evident. Short chapters highlight teamwork, sportsmanship, competition, and other elements of playing sports that connect players all over the world.

Part of the proceeds from this book’s sales will be donated to Global Fund for Children, a nonprofit organization committed to advancing the dignity of young people around the world. Visit online.

Read more about Global Fund for Children.

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Look Inside

Author & Illustrator

Maya Ajmera, author

Maya Ajmera is the creator and spokesperson for Children from Australia to Zimbabwe: A Photographic Journey Around the World and co-author of the global education guide, Raising Children to Become Caring Contributors to the World. Maya is the founder and executive director of SHAKTI for Children. In the January 1999 issue of The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Maya was named among “A new guard of non-profit leaders…that will shape the charity world in the next century.”

Read more about Maya.

Michael Regan, author

Michael J. Regan is a writer and a leadership consultant who works with individuals and teams around the United States. He uses his experience as an athlete and a coach to help people reach their full potential in the workplace. Michael lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Read more about Michael.

Awards & Honors

• Early Childhood News Director’s Choice Award

Editorial Reviews

Booklist

Following an introduction by former senator Bill Bradley, Ajmera and Regan elaborate on the philosophy of sport, addressing one aspect (practice, sportsmanship, teamwork, competition, rules) on each two-page spread. The text, which assumes a budding interest in sport participation, directly addresses the reader, in a tone that is friendly, reassuring, and encouraging. Each spread is illustrated by five photographs of children from around the world who are involved in a sport. Each also features a highlighted quote from a child, which offers insightful advice to the reader on navigating the ups and downs of participation. The title and the picture of a gymnast on the cover are a bit misleading in suggesting that the book concerns the Olympics, but, in fact, the authors have accessibly depicted sport as a fundamental, unifying human endeavor that reflects the ideals the Olympic games embody.

Library Talk

With an introduction by Olympic gold medallist and former Senator Bill Bradley, this book discusses sports around the world. Each two-page layout in the book features a quote from a child about sports. The spread also includes five photographs of children playing sports in various countries. Young American readers may not realize that in-line skating is popular in Australia or that people play cricket in India. This book does not give descriptions of each sport but discusses the reasons why kids play sports and what players can get out of sports, such as meeting friends and facing obstacles. This is a great book to show students that they have many things in common with other students around the world.

Downloadables

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Details

Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-88106-067-6

Ages: 5-8
Page count: 32
11 x 8

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