The very first sports day after starting nursery school or kindergarten.
Many children may be wondering, “What do you do at a sports day?”
So this time, we’re introducing recommended picture books that we’d love children to read before sports day.
We’ve gathered many sports day–themed picture books—from ones that make it easy for kids to imagine what the event is like, to stories featuring unique events, to tales with hardworking protagonists you can’t help but root for.
Find a book that suits your child and read it together.
It’s sure to boost their excitement and motivation for sports day!
We hope you’ll enjoy sports day from a variety of perspectives.
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A picture book with the theme of Sports Day. Let’s read it together before the event! (1–10)
Run, beyond the finish line!
One book in the “A First Grader’s Year” series, which teaches us about the inner conflicts first graders face and the learning and joy they gain through school events.
The protagonist, a boy who isn’t good at running and feels anxious about his first sports day, is encouraged by an energetic principal who conveys the exhilarating feeling of dashing through the finish line.
There are surely many children who feel reluctant to run in front of a large crowd of parents.
By reading this aloud and conveying the message, “It’ll feel great if you run all the way to the finish! Give it a try!” it might help ease their anxiety, even just a little.
The Insects’ Sports Day
Mushitachi no Undokai portrays a sports festival where insects shine by making the most of their unique traits.
Pill bugs become the balls for a beanbag toss, butterflies and bees sip their favorite flowers and tree sap during breaks—while it’s a picture-book world, children can also learn about real insect behavior.
It even comes with a small foldout booklet explaining the insects’ names and characteristics! It’s a humorous work that insect-loving kids will adore—and even children who dislike bugs may gradually find themselves intrigued.
The Sports Day of Ten Frogs
One book from the “10 Frogs” series, which depicts frogs working together to overcome various mishaps during seasonal events.
When a tornado strikes in the middle of the sports day and blows away the oldest frog in the marsh, the ten frogs set out to find him.
They roll a big rock like a giant ball in a relay and cross a narrow log bridge as they search—just like the sports day itself! It’s a nail-biting, heart-pounding adventure, but in the end they find him safely and the sports day resumes.
The sports day has started.
One book from the series “Friends at Kurinoki Kindergarten,” which depicts the everyday lives of the animals who attend Kurinoki and their efforts during events.
It portrays Tsunekichi the fox acting selfishly so that his team can win, causing trouble for the other animals.
To enjoy the sports day, it’s also important to follow the rules.
Alongside trying hard to win the events, the story shows through the animals’ behavior the importance of being mindful of rules and cooperating with friends.
Burton the Piglet: Autumn Sports Day
One book in the “Little Pig Breton” series, in which the piglet Breton enjoys seasonal events.
This work depicts a fun sports day for the animals, starting with a beanbag toss.
The deadpan Breton and Mr.
Takasaki the Daruma have pitch-perfect banter that has captured the hearts of many children and caregivers.
Readers have said things like, “The slapstick antics are hilarious,” and “It even includes the kind of fart jokes kids love, and when you read it aloud they can’t stop laughing.” It’s a lively picture book that will surely make anyone think sports day is a blast!
Nezumi-kun’s Sports Day
A long-selling title from the “Nezumi-kun’s Picture Books” series that teaches, “Sports day is about competition, but having fun together is what matters most!” It’s an amusing concept that pits the grandchildren of the famous “The Tortoise and the Hare” against each other.
When a worried young tortoise asks for help saying, “I can’t win,” Nezumi-kun and Nemi-chan suggest running it as a relay.
An ostrich, a cheetah, and even rarer animals like a springbok and a lop-eared rabbit assemble, turning it into a lively race.
It might be fun to read it alongside “The Tortoise and the Hare” and compare the two.
Ready, set, go!
You can’t help but cheer for little Bear as he gives it his all! “Ready, Set, Go!” is one book in a picture book series for young children starring Bear as the main character.
The way Bear works hard at things that are difficult or he’s not good at really resonates with kids.
Many children imitate Bear as he tumbles and fall down together, burst into laughter during read-aloud time, and ask to hear the story again and again.
It’s a picture book that teaches, “Failure isn’t scary!” as children watch Bear get back up after a fall and try again.