0
    • Close Modal
    0 0
    Download high-resolution image Look inside

    World Soccer Kings

    Part of Sports Royalty

    Author Charles R. Smith Jr.
    Look inside
    Hardcover
    $16.99 US
    Candlewick
    8.5"W x 12.13"H x 0.47"D   | 16 oz | 18 per carton
    On sale Mar 24, 2026 | 48 Pages | 9781536234879
    Age 7-10 years | Grades 2-5
    Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies

    See Additional Formats
    additional book photo
    additional book photo
    additional book photo
    An exuberant collection of poems about soccer stars around the world crackles with Charles R. Smith’s indomitable wordplay, matched by graphic, dynamic photos of the players in action.

    Mercurial magician Lionel Messi is on a goal-scoring mission. Erling Haaland earns the nickname Striking Viking (Hat trick! / Off the head / GOAL!). Whether the poems in this book are cheering for the Pennsylvania Pelé, Christian Pulisic; Cristiano Ronaldo, with his record-breaking right; or “Blue Blur” Kylian Mbappé, who torches the net with his afterburn blast, Charles R. Smith Jr.’s high-energy verse, paired with stylized, kinetic photographs, celebrates the talents of an international roster of soccer superstars. End notes bring in more background on the subjects and delve into the way the author uses poetic forms to highlight each player’s unique gifts.
    The king of sports poetry returns to tackle the world’s most popular game. . . . Gives poetry a kick in the pants and definitely reaches its end GOOOOOOOOAL!
    —Kirkus Reviews

    [The poems] ring as energetically when read silently as they do when read aloud, offering budding poets a variety of motifs and techniques to experiment with.
    —Booklist

    [A] visually impressive work.
    —School Library Journal
    Charles R. Smith Jr. is the author of Hoop Queens and Hoop Queens 2 and the companion books Hoop Kings, Hoop Kings 2: New Royalty, Black Diamond Kings: Heroes of Negro League Baseball, and Soccer Queens. He is also the author of Major Taylor: World Cycling Champion, Chameleon, Pick-Up Game: A Full Day of Full Court with Marc Aronson, and the Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali, illustrated by Bryan Collier. He is the recipient of an National Council of Teachers of English Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children as well as a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for his photographs in My People, an adaptation of the Langston Hughes poem. Charles R. Smith Jr. lives in New York.
    Charles R. Smith Jr. View titles by Charles R. Smith Jr.

    Photos

    additional book photo
    additional book photo
    additional book photo

    About

    An exuberant collection of poems about soccer stars around the world crackles with Charles R. Smith’s indomitable wordplay, matched by graphic, dynamic photos of the players in action.

    Mercurial magician Lionel Messi is on a goal-scoring mission. Erling Haaland earns the nickname Striking Viking (Hat trick! / Off the head / GOAL!). Whether the poems in this book are cheering for the Pennsylvania Pelé, Christian Pulisic; Cristiano Ronaldo, with his record-breaking right; or “Blue Blur” Kylian Mbappé, who torches the net with his afterburn blast, Charles R. Smith Jr.’s high-energy verse, paired with stylized, kinetic photographs, celebrates the talents of an international roster of soccer superstars. End notes bring in more background on the subjects and delve into the way the author uses poetic forms to highlight each player’s unique gifts.

    Praise

    The king of sports poetry returns to tackle the world’s most popular game. . . . Gives poetry a kick in the pants and definitely reaches its end GOOOOOOOOAL!
    —Kirkus Reviews

    [The poems] ring as energetically when read silently as they do when read aloud, offering budding poets a variety of motifs and techniques to experiment with.
    —Booklist

    [A] visually impressive work.
    —School Library Journal

    Author

    Charles R. Smith Jr. is the author of Hoop Queens and Hoop Queens 2 and the companion books Hoop Kings, Hoop Kings 2: New Royalty, Black Diamond Kings: Heroes of Negro League Baseball, and Soccer Queens. He is also the author of Major Taylor: World Cycling Champion, Chameleon, Pick-Up Game: A Full Day of Full Court with Marc Aronson, and the Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali, illustrated by Bryan Collier. He is the recipient of an National Council of Teachers of English Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children as well as a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for his photographs in My People, an adaptation of the Langston Hughes poem. Charles R. Smith Jr. lives in New York.
    Charles R. Smith Jr. View titles by Charles R. Smith Jr.

    Additional formats

    Other books in this series

    Other Books by this Author

    Related Articles

    Adults Children's General All Gift Blog

    Live Inspired with Compendium: Now Available from PRH!

    Exciting news! Compendium has joined the Penguin Random House family, bringing a proven line of bestselling, sentiment-driven gifts to our extensive and ever-growing catalog. Since 1985, Compendium has been creating meaningful moments with beautiful, thoughtfully made gifts that center connection and celebrate occasions both big and small. From greeting cards to inspirational books to impulse-friendly add-ons, Compendium

    Read more

    Live Inspired with Compendium: Now Available from PRH!

    Adults Children's General All Gift Blog
    Children's General All Pop Culture Blog

    World Cup Showdown: Who’s the True Soccer GOAT?

    By Jaclyn Withers – Sales Coordinator, Candlewick There’s a wave of excitement as we get closer to the FIFA World Cup 2026! This year, sixteen cities in three countries across continental North America will be hosting the games, including eleven in the US. To prepare for this monumental occasion, Candlewick Press will be releasing two new

    Read more

    World Cup Showdown: Who’s the True Soccer GOAT?

    Children's General All Pop Culture Blog

    Penguin Random House Retail

    © 2026 Penguin Random House

    Back to Top
    0
    Wish List (0)