This book has a very good lesson. It’s that a team is a team. It’s not a group of individuals all out for themselves. It also stresses that the idea of “girls can’t play soccer because their girls” is sexist. In team sports it’s important to be a team even if that means creating your own team. This book has the message that most child athletes need to hear now. They’re not hearing it from their parents and their coaches. So, they need to hear it from books. The illustrations are OK. The book is a tad cheesy, but it works and gets its point across.

*Martina the Soccer Star* by Susanna Isern is an inspiring and heartwarming story about a young girl with a passion for soccer. Martina loves the game so much that she decides to join her local team, only to find that the team is focused on one player and is much more competitive than she is. Martina believes that a team should work together and put the group’s success first, but her new team doesn’t share her values. They also give her a hard time for being a girl. Undeterred, Martina leaves the team and forms her own, made up of both boys and girls from the neighborhood, all of whom are interested in working together rather than seeking personal glory. Martina’s team ends up making it to the league championship, where she has the chance for redemption.

The illustrations in this book are vivid, colorful, and full of energy, perfectly capturing the excitement of the game and the emotions of the characters. The message of teamwork, inclusiveness, and standing up for what’s right is both lovely and important. I highly recommend this book to parents of sporty kids, as well as to PE teachers and coaches who want to encourage collaboration and sportsmanship. I would rate this 5 out of 5 stars. I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and NubeOcho.