¡Goooooool!

What did the soccer announcer say when he got to the drive-through?

"I'll have a burger, fries, and a Coooooooooooooooooooooooooooooke!"

Seriously, folks - are you ready for some great stories about soccer? Take a look at Colorin Colorado's new bilingual booklist, Time for Soccer, to get some excellent recommendations!

One of my favorites on the list is Pelé: King of Soccer/El rey del fútbol, by Monica Brown. Monica tells Pelé's inspirational story in a way that children will love, from his humble beginnings playing soccer with a grapefruit in bare feet to his rise as one of the world's most beloved soccer stars. Rudy Gutiérrez's illustrations are so vibrant and phenomenal that they practically jump off the page as Pelé makes magic on the field.

The Spanish version of the booklist includes some baseball titles thrown in as well -- surprisingly, there weren't as many kids' books about soccer in Spanish as you might think, and even fewer about female athletes! Something to keep in mind when talking with author/publisher friends! :)

And just in time for Father's Day, don't forget our these great resources:

• Reading with Dads Booklist
• Fabulous Fathers Booklist (Reading Rockets)
• The Role of Fathers in Their Child's Literacy Development: Pre-K Version (also available in Spanish)
• The Role of Fathers in Their Child's Literacy Development: K-3 Version (also available in Spanish
• Dads Who Are Making a Difference (also available in Spanish).

The last article features interview excerpts from the National Institute for Literacy's Dad's Playbook: Coaching Kids to Read, a fantastic guide profiling dads who have made literacy a priority, and offering lots of literacy ideas to help dads become their kids' #1 literacy coach!

Enjoy the World Cup and Happy Father's Day!