Are You Ready for Some Football?

Fall is my favorite season. I can't get enough of fall.  Fauquier County and the surrounding areas are lovely year round, but it's fantastic in the fall! Apple orchards, fall festivals, Shenandoah Park/Skyline Drive when the leaves change, cooler weather, Halloween, Thanksgiving....I love it all. (Hint: One of the BEST places to visit in Fauquier County is Sky Meadows State Park; it's wonderful year round, but it's gorgeous in the fall.)

Two more reasons why I love fall:

• Baseball season starts to get super real.
• FOOTBALL

Let's talk about football books. There's too many awesome books about both baseball and football to fit into one post, so I'll concentrate on football for today's post. (Baseball books will be covered in October, hopefully during a very special super-awesome playoff season.)  This Sunday is the first Sunday for NFL football, so football frenzy will be in full force this weekend. Are you ready for some football? If you are, check out these books (fun for reading during the commercials!):

Want to explain the rules of football to children, but don't want to overwhelm them with the finer points? Starting out with some basic books will help, such as this neat little guide to the rules of the game and important dates and people in the sport. Of course, if you need a refresher on the difference between a complete pass and a forward pass, there's always Football for Dummies. (Don't laugh--those Dummies books are great!)

Recently, there's been some important studies and findings about the impact of concussions suffered by football players. Fourth Down and Inches: Concussions and Football's Make-or-Break Moment's comprehensive, preteen/teen reader-friendly, and honest account is a must read for fans and players alike. League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions, And the Battle for Truth is an eye-opening study by ESPN investigative reporters. Any Given Monday: Sports Injuries and How to Prevent Them for Athletes, Parents, And Coaches is also a great guide for further information (and not just for football players).

This 2013 biography of the famed Redskins quarterback is ideal for young fans. For an overview of the team, check out The Story of the Washington Redskins, also published in 2013. For older fans (teen and up), there's RG3: The Promise (published in 2013).

The Ultimate Guide to Pro Football Teams is a must for fans of multiple teams, or for those who want to learn more about their team's main rivals.

In the mood for football fiction? Or sports fiction in general? You need to get familiar with authors Mike Lupica, Tim Green (he also writes fiction for adults), and John Feinstein (his young adult sports books are also mysteries). Gordon Korman's No More Dead Dogs is a funny and touching novel about a young football player whose detention sentence consists of attending rehearsals for the school play.

If your looking for more football-related literature, check out the book display at the Warrenton library coming next week - or watch for Book Notes, another Fauquier County Public Library blog with highlights on books, movies and more. The next installment of Book Notes will feature football-related titles great for adults! 

Here's to a great season!

Jennifer Schultz, Youth Services Librarian, Fauquier County Public Library

To learn more about Fauquier County Public Library's collection, events, and programs, visit us on Facebook, Twitter (Kiddosphere's feed is here), or on our website.