In this day and age, it’s more difficult than ever to get children interested in reading books. While people of all ages have shorter attention spans due to the rise of short video clips, this issue can be particularly problematic for kids who never knew the world before the internet. Fortunately, if you want your 8-year-old to read more books, there are plenty of options available online, especially for those who are keen on football.
Even if your child dislikes reading, there is a good chance they might be tempted to pick up a book if the topic revolves around one of their favourite hobbies. For example, I never had a big interest in reading as a kid, but that changed whenever a teacher made the class read something related to football. Cool! by Michael Morpurgo was one of my personal favourites as a child simply because it featured Gianfranco Zola.
In this article, I’ll recommend 10 of the best football books for 8-year-olds. As an Amazon Associate First Print Football earns from qualifying purchases. When you buy something through links in our articles, we may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
1. Frankie’s Magic Football by Frank Lampard
Chelsea and England legend Frank Lampard wrote Frankie’s Magic Football: Top of The League towards the end of his playing days. The books revolve around a young Frank joining forces with a team of players to face a wide range of wacky opponents, from aliens and cowboys to knights and pirates. The stories are aimed at children aged 6 to 11, making this one of the best football books for 8-year-olds.
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2. The Breakfast Club Adventures by Marcus Rashford
Aimed at children aged 7 and above, The Breakfast Club Adventures tells the story of a 12-year-old Marcus kicking his favourite football over a school fence. He embarks upon an exciting adventure alongside his friends after receiving an invitation to join The Breakfast Club Investigators. The item contains four books by the striker, totalling 896 pages.
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3. Unbelievable Football: The Most Incredible True Football Stories
Bestselling author Matt Oldfield provides plenty of interesting stories for young fans to delve into in his Unbelievable Football book. From a psychic octopus to a dog detective, the topics are fun, humorous, and perfect for children aged 8 to 11. Unbelievable Football was crowned The Telegraph Children’s Sports Book of the Year in 2020.
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4. The Fantastic Football Activity Book For Kids
Harry Kaye is a bestselling author of children’s sports books. The Fantastic Football Activity Book For Kids is one of his most popular books, as shown by the huge amount of reviews on Amazon (1,000 and counting). This book includes a variety of activities to keep kids entertained, including mazes, puzzles and word searches.
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5. The Football Boy Wonder
Martin Smith’s The Football Boy Wonder tells the story of a football-mad child named Charlie Fry who wears his team’s kit to bed and dreams of scoring the winner in the FA Cup final. A lung condition prevents Charlie from fulfilling his dreams until a freak accident gives him a chance to become a hero. The book explores themes including bullying, friendship and loyalty.
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6. Football Colouring Books For Kids
Created by The Future Teacher Foundation, this colouring book is aimed at boys and girls aged between 4 and 8. The designs are suitable for supporters of any team, so you won’t have any issues with kids skipping pages due to their own club preferences. The book contains 64 pages and is a bestseller in the Football Skills & Coaching category on Amazon.
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7. The Football Encyclopedia
Clive Gifford’s The Football Encyclopedia educates young fans on all the facts and stats they need to know about world football. The reference book features information about both the men’s and women’s games, from Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe to Alexia Putellas and Lucy Bronze. Kids are also likely to enjoy the full-spread photos and artwork throughout the book.
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8. Ultimate Football Heroes Series 1
The first series of Matt and Tom Oldfield’s popular collection includes 10 books about some of football’s most well-known names: Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Jack Grealish, Jadon Sancho, Lionel Messi, Marcus Rashford, Neymar and Son Heung-min. Each book tells the story of the players’ journeys from young fans to world stars. The books are aimed at children aged 8 to 12.
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9. Classic Football Heroes Legend Series
If your child has a keen interest in top players from yesteryear, this Classic Football Heroes collection might be more suitable. In another 10-book set, Matt and Tom Oldfield tell the stories of the following legends: Brazilian Ronaldo, David Beckham, Diego Maradona, Jamie Carragher, Jurgen Klinsmann, Luis Figo, Ryan Giggs, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Zinedine Zidane.
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10. Three Lionesses
Young fans can learn all about the stories of legendary England women’s players Ella Toone, Georgia Stanway and Nikita Parris in Three Lionesses. The book encourages readers to feel comfortable in their own skin and chase their dreams. It also includes practical tips on how youngsters can embrace their inner Lioness.
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If you enjoyed First Print Football’s guide on the best football books for 8-year-olds, check out the rest of our recommended products. You can also find a top 10 countdown of the best football gifts for 8-year-olds.
