Get a Kick Out of Reading

FC Dallas has teamed up with Idearc Media to bring Dallas area schools the Second Annual Idearc Media Get a Kick Out of Reading program. This tremendous initiative teaches young students the joys of reading, while also improving their reading skills and rewarding students for their successful completion of reading assignments.

In the program's inaugural year, Get a Kick Out of Reading reached over 4,000 elementary aged students in five area schools. Now in its second year, the Foundation's goal is to more than double the number of participants and schools and increase literacy levels around the Dallas area.

With the support of Idearc Media, special prizes and incentives will be awarded to the children as they achieve reading goals set forth by their teachers. Those students who complete the reading program will be invited to enjoy an FC Dallas match compliments of FC Dallas and Idearc Media.

Get a Kick out of Reading is a free program and open to all elementary schools, libraries and home school programs. If you are interested in finding out more about this program and how your school can be involved contact Mara Simon-Meyer at (214) 705-8728 or foundation@fcdallas.net.

Congratulations to Andrews Elementary The 2007 Idearc Media Get a Kick Out of Reading Champions! • Read official press release »

Photo Galleries Check out photos from the FC Dallas players' visits to the schools: GAKOOR Photos: Launch >

Recommended Reading Need some great book suggestions? Check out: Tex Hooper's Favorite Books » Soccer-Related Books

2007 Participating Schools:

2007 Participating Libraries:

Soccer-Related Books

Here are some soccer-themed books we've discovered. Like the book? Hate it? Let us know!! Or if you would like to recommend titles of any other soccer-related books (or magazines), please email: foundation@fcdallas.net

Ages 4-8:

• Andrew's Bright Blue T-Shirt by Jessica Wollman
• Arthur and the Best Coach Ever (Arthur Good Sports #4) by Marc Brown
• The Berenstain Bears Get Their Kicks by Stan and Jan Berenstain
• The Berenstain Bears Soccer Star by Stan and Jan Berenstain
• Game Time! by Stuart J. Murphy
• Goal by Robert Burleigh
• Franklin Plays the Game by Paulette Bourgeois
• Froggy Plays Soccer by Jonathan London
• Morgan Plays Soccer by Anne Rockwell
• My Soccer Mom from Mars (All Aboard Reading. Level 2) by Rita Book
• Preston's Goal! By Colin McNaughton
• Soccer Sam by Jean Marzollo
• Too Small for the Team by Stan and Jan Berenstain
• Wendy's Big Game by Diane Redmond
• Who Play Soccer by Julie Mammano
• Willy the Wizard by Anthony Browne
• Wonder Goal! by Michael Foreman
• World Team by Tim Vyner

Ages 9-12:

• Breakaway by Kimberley Little
• The Comeback Challenge by Matt Christopher
• The Composition by Antonio Skarmeta
• Goalkeeper in Charge by Matt Christopher
• Haunted Cleats (Screammates , No 1) by Keiran Flynn
• Louise, Soccer Star? by Stephen Krensky
• Meg Mackintosh and the Mystery at the Soccer Match: A Solve-It-Yourself Mystery (Meg Mackintosh Mystery, Vol. 6) by Lucinda Landon
• The Million Dollar Kick by Dan Gutman
• Never Say Quit by Bill Wallace
• Owen Foote, Soccer Star by Martha Weston
• Red Card: A Zeke Armstrong Mystery (The Zeke Armstrong Mysteries, 1) by Daniel J. Hale and Matthew LaBrot
• Shelley Shock by Donna Jo Napoli
• Slump by Dave Jarzyna
• Soccer Cousins by Jean Marzollo
• Soccer Duel by Matt Christopher
• Soccer Halfback by Matt Christopher
• The Soccer Mystery (Boxcar Children) by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Soccer Scoop by Matt Christopher
• Soccer Shock by Donna Jo Napoli
• S.O.R. Losers by Avi
• Tangerine by Edward Bloor
• Top Wing by Matt Christopher
• Zombies Don't Play Soccer by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones

• Angel Park Soccer Stars by Dean Hughes
• Soccer Cats by Matt Christopher
• Soccer Stars by Emily Costello

Ages 12 & Up:

• Brilliant Orange by David Winner
• Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby
• Futebol: The Brazilian Way by Alex Bellos
• Keeper by Holly Goldberg Sloan
• The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro by Joe McGinniss
• A Season with Verona: Travels Around Italy in Search of Illusion, National Character, and...Goals! by Tim Parks
• Shots on Goal by Rich Wallace
• Twelve days in August by Liza Murrow

• Attacking (Soccer School Series) by Richard Dungworth
• Ball Control (Soccer School Series) by Gill Harvey
• Cobi Jones Soccer Games by Cobi Jones
• The Everything Kids' Soccer Book: Rules, Techniques, and More
• About Your Favorite Sport! (Everything Kids Series) by Deborah W. Crisfield
• Futbol-Las Reglas Del Juego/Soccer-Rules of the Game (Juega Como UN Professional) by Barbara Bonney and Bryant Lloyd
• Goalkeeping (Soccer School Series) by Jonathan Miller
• The Illustrated Laws of Soccer by George Fischer
• Kids' Book of Soccer: Skills, Strategies, and the Rules of the Game by Brooks Clark
• The Official American Youth Soccer Organization Handbook: Rules, Regulations, Skills, and Everything Else Kids, Parents, and Coaches Need to Partcipate in Youth Soccer by American Youth Soccer Organization
• Passing and Shooting by Gill Harvey, Clive Gifford
• Soccer: A History of the World's Most Popular Game (The Watts History of Sports) by Mark Stewart
• Soccer Practice Games by Joe Luxbacher
• Tactics (Soccer School Series) by Cilve Gifford
• This Is Soccer by Margaret Blackstone
• We Love Soccer! by Peggy Harrison
• Winning Ways in Soccer by Janet Grosshandler

• Alexi Lalas: Soccer Sensation (Reading Power) by Rob Kirkpatrick
• Beckham by Ellis Cashmore
• Captain for Life: And Other Temporary Assignments by John Harkes
• Cobi Jones Soccer Star/Estrella Del Futbol Soccer (Hot Shots / Grandes Idolos) by Rob Kirkpatrick
• The Education of An American Soccer Player by Shep Messing
• Girls of Summer: The U.S Womens Soccer Team and How They Changed the World by Jere Longman
• Go For the Goal: A Champion's Guide To Winning In Soccer And Life by Mia Hamm
• Hand of God: Life of Diego Maradona: Soccer's Fallen Star by Jimmy Burns
• In the Goal with Brianna Scurry by Matt Christopher
• Julie Foudy: Soccer Superstar by Jeff Savage
• Kyle Rote, Jr., American-Born Soccer Star by Edward F. Dolan, Jr., and Richard B. Lyttle
• Managing My Life: My Autobiography by Alex Ferguson
• Maradona (Champion Sport Biographies) by Joseph Romain
• My Life and the Beautiful Game: The Autobiography of Pele by Pele with Robert L. Fish
• On the Field With...Mia Hamm by Matt Christopher
• Pele: The King of Soccer by Susan Canizares
• Pele: His Life and Times by Harry Harris
• Puskas on Puskas: The Life & Times of a Footballing Legend by Taylor Rogan (Editor), Klara Jamrich (Editor), Rogan Taylor (Editor), Ferenc Puskas
• Ronaldo (Champion Sport Biographies) by Joseph Romain
• Schmeichel: The Autobiography by Peter Schmeichel
• Superstars of Men's Soccer (Male Sports Stars Series) by Tim Ungs
• Yo soy el Diego by Diego Armando Maradona

Tex Hooper's Picks:

Age 4-8:

• Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak)
• Dr. Seuss's ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book (Dr. Seuss)
• Green Eggs and Ham (Dr. Seuss)
• Giving Tree (Shel Silverstein)
• If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (Laura Numeroff)
• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (Bill Martin, Jr.)
• Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People (Dav Pilkey)
• Oh, the Places You'll Go! (Dr. Seuss)
• Junie B. Jones's First Boxed Set Ever! (Barbara Park)
• Love You Forever (Robert N. Munsch)
• Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? (Bill Martin, Jr.)
• Harold and the Purple Crayon (Crockett Johnson)
• Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Judith Barrett)
• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (Judith Viorst)
• Amelia Bedelia (I Can Read Books Series: A Level 2 Book) (Peggy Parish)
• Frog and Toad Are Friends: (I Can Read Book Series: Level 2) (Arnold Lobel)
• A Light in the Attic (Shel Silverstein)
• James and the Giant Peach (Roald Dahl)
• Paper Bag Princess (Robert N. Munsch)
• Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (Beverly Cleary)
• Just Like Home/Como en Mi Tierra (Miller, E)
• All the Colors We Are / Todos los Colores de Nuestra Piel (Kissinger, K.)

• Magic Tree House
• Junie B. Jones
• Captain Underpants
• Eloise
• Ramona Quimby
• Amelia Bedelia

Age 9-12:

• American Girls
• Harry Potter
• A Series of Unfortunate Events
• Star Wars
• Captain Underpants
• Boxcar Children
• Nancy Drew
• Ramona Quimby
• Goosebumps

• J. K. Rowling
• Lemony Snicket
• Roald Dahl
• Judy Blume
• Gary Paulsen
• Madeleine L'Engle
• C.S. Lewis

• Charlotte's Web (E. B. White)
• From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (E. L. Konigsburg)
• The Phantom Tollbooth (Norton Juster)
• Tuck Everlasting (Natalie Babbitt)
• Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
• The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)
• The Indian in the Cupboard (Lynne Reid Banks)
• A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L'Engle)
• Bridge to Terabithia (Katherine Paterson)
• Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (Judy Blume)
• Hatchet (Gary Paulsen)
• James and the Giant Peach (Roald Dahl)
• Maniac Magee (Jerry Spinelli)
• Where the Red Fern Grows (Wilson Rawls)