Coming March 3, 2026

ISBN: 979-8765667996

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Poems selected by Irene Latham and Charles Waters

Carolrhoda Books

Twenty-one poets celebrate the achievements of 20 contemporary athletes.

The ten men and ten women spotlighted here excel across sports, from baseball, football, and soccer to basketball, tennis, gymnastics, and more. The poets each begin with a boldly declarative title, praising their subjects for their ability to triumph over childhood challenges and to withstand the intense pressures of competition, as well as for their humanitarian work. In “Naomi Osaka Takes a Breath,” Anita Yasuda threads the tennis star’s accomplishments with her boundary-breaking decision to temporarily step away to seek help for depression and practice self-care. “She is more / than chasing / racing after titles, / because she’s willing / to say, no more.” Accompanying each poem is a quote from the athlete, an action photograph, and a sidebar with a thumbnail biography. Athletes and poets alike represent a broad array of cultures, races, and backgrounds. Suni Lee is the first Hmong American Olympian gymnast. Chargers’ wide receiver Keenan Allen endured a litany of derailing injuries, bouncing back after rehabilitation. Some athletes are immigrants to the U.S.; others play for their home countries, like Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi. At 12, swimmer Jessica Long became the youngest Paralympic competitor. Sarah Grace Tuttle marvels, “Water welcomes you / to celebrate your strengths.” A theme that emerges throughout this wholly edifying and well-composed work: the support of parents for their youngsters’ dreams.

Successfully utilizes poetry to illuminate athletic excellence. (about the poets, source notes, about the poetry, photo credits) (Collective biography/poetry. 7-10)

This engaging collection celebrates 20 outstanding, current professional athletes. Each competitor is the main subject of a poem written by a different contributor, resulting in a variety of styles, voices, imagery, and themes. The athletes represent sports that range from basketball, baseball, and football to golf, tennis, gymnastics, karate, and even professional wrestling. All of the subjects are still actively pursuing their careers, and the lineup includes several stars born in the 2000s. The poems are supported by color photos and brief biographical profiles that help kids interpret language choices and poetic allusions. There are also very brief one-paragraph introductions to each of the contributing poets, unfortunately relegated to the closing pages of the book, that emphasize how many of the writers were middle-school, high-school, or college athletes and remain fans and spectators today. Emphasizing these connections can inspire fledgling poets to write about their own passions, awakening creative possibilities. This makes a handsome collection for most middle-grade poetry collections.

—Kathleen McBroom