World Cup: Big Universe Has Soccer Books for Kids

I was on a crowded train in Spain when I was introduced to the World Cup. I was backpacking across Europe with a friend after college graduation and had just commented on how tightly we were packed in the train.

“I wonder if it’s always this crowded?” I mused. A British guy sitting on the floor near me said it was because of the World Cup.

“World Cup?” I asked, naively.

After the guy and his buddy picked their chins up off the floor, the cheekier of the two said, “Foo-ball! You know, A-mer-i-can sack-ur,” he said, giving a poor imitation of a cross between J.R. Ewing and a Boston fireman. “You gaw eh be kitten me,” he added, shaking his head. Or, at least that’s what I thought he said.

After thoroughly roasting us, the two English “blokes” invited us two American “birds” to see a game with them in Seville, Spain. (They were rabid soccer fans and were following the Copa del Mundo de Fútbol – España 82 competition until their money ran out.) We agreed.

I’m not sure how they swung the tickets, since the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium was wall-to-wall people. Don’t ask; don’t tell.

Once inside, the adrenaline rush was overwhelming, or that might have been my fear of being crushed by 68,000 exuberant fans or impaled by one of their waving flags. Once I secured a safe perch up on a wall, I found out that the actual soccer game was exciting too. Brazil beat the Soviet Union 2 to 1, and afterward the fans hit the streets of Seville, parading into the middle of the night.

A chance encounter in Spain? Nah! The four of us all kept in touch, and six years later my friend married her soul mate – one of guys on the train. They are raising a brood of soccer players now here in the States. He coaches and refs, and I’m sure she has done her share of soccer mom duties. Eventually, my husband and I got involved in the sport too and coached Under 8 Girls soccer in the local recreation league for six or seven seasons.

The sport that no one believed would ever catch on in the United States, has in fact ignited a generation! Here are a few soccer books for kids offered at Big Universe to fuel the flame…both for soccer and reading.

• “Soccer”  or “Fútbol” by Holly Karapetkova. English or Spanish. Beginners. (Rourke Publishing)
• “Soccer” by Anne Wendorff. Blastoff! Readers: Level 4. (Bellwether Publishing)
• “Soccer Sabotage: A Graphic Guide Adventure” by author Liam O’Donnell and illustrator Michael Deas. (Orca Book Publishers)
• “The Funny Soccer Game” authored by Big Universe member Wcs2er.
• “The Soccer Rivals” authored by Big Universe student member Westbrj.