The holidays are typically a happy occasion to spend quality
time with family and friends. If you’re like my family – there’s always some
competitive activity going on whether it was ice skating on the Pine River while growing up in Michigan, running a Christmas Town Dash, or taking a brisk
walk after New Year’s dinner to “make room for dessert.” Participating in sports
always makes me happy. HAPPY LIKE SOCCER is a picture book with marvelous watercolor illustrations and is a story about more than just a love of playing soccer. Sierra, the main
character, doesn’t have family members able to come
cheer her on at soccer games since her team plays in the suburbs far from where
she lives in the city. Reading this made me recall my senior year in high
school when (due to my father’s illness) my parents were absent most of the swim
season. It was tough to glance at the bleachers from the starting block and see
other parents cheering for their daughters but no one able to be there for me. I
recall feeling very alone, and I had forgotten about that sad time until I read this
book. In this story, Sierra lives with her Auntie who works at Café Garcia on Saturdays
and can’t take time off to watch her games. One weekend, however, her boss allows her to switch shifts from Saturday
to Sunday so she can attend her niece’s game, but darn luck would bring a storm
that causes it to be canceled. What transpires after that, however, is an
uplifting solution that brings to light the impact sports have on inner city neighborhoods
and communities. Children of all backgrounds deserve to have an opportunity to
play where they live and have access to safe playing fields. They also deserve to be cheered on by family members and neighbors and to hear their name called out as they dribble down the
field, get a block on a shot, or score a goal. I highly recommend HAPPY LIKE
SOCCER for a holiday read or gift for sporty girls who like soccer or any other
sport.
