Let the Games Begin: Books for the Winter Olympics (Feb 5)

Personally, Summer Olympics > Winter Olympics. I find that Summer has a greater variety of interesting events than Winter. When it comes to Winter, the only events that I really follow are the figure skating competitions. However, I'll still have the Games on every night, whether it's ski jump, snowboarding, or the bobsled/luge competitions.

Buzz Beaker and the Speed Secret finds Buzz entering a skiing competition, using his own invention! Will it work--and will he overcome his nerves?

If you're planning to watch the ladies' figure skating competition, you'll definitely want to read Karen Chen's Finding the Edge: My Life on the Ice. Written especially for middle grade readers, this is her memoir of her early childhood and skating career.

Want to get into the scientific nitty-gritty of the competitions? Pick up the Full-Speed Sports and learn about the physics of skiiing, figure skating, and hockey.

Kate Messner is a reliable and strong crowd pleaser, and  Sugar and Ice is no exception. Claire's natural skating talents catches the eye of an influential coach. When she receives a scholarship to an exclusive training facility, she soon has to deal with the competitiveness and snobbery from some of the other skaters. Middle school readers might enjoy Gold Medal Winter, which also features a competitive skater.

Finally, if you want a quick rundown on some major events (including curling!), the Winter Olympic Sports series is for you. These quick high-interest titles will explain the rules and techniques of the events, as well as high-profile athletes competing in South Korea!


Jennifer Schultz, Youth Services Librarian, Fauquier County Public Library