Winners Never Quit!

i like this book because it tells you to never give up and have fun even if you are losing.

I purchased this book for my eight year old daughter. Not only is she a fan of playing soccer but loves Mia Hamm. Although the story was below her reading level, it made no difference to her or me! The story teaches how to be a good sport and still be competitive at the same time. I think this is an important lesson for children and adults to learn. The illustrations were adorable! The autographed photograph at the end was a bonus surprise! I didn't know that was part of the book.

Winners Never Quit is the delightful tale of a young girl, Mia, who loves to play soccer with her brothers and sisters. She's good at it, too. But one part of the game she hasn't mastered: losing. And when she quits in a temper, she discovers that her negative attitude may cause her to miss out on playing the game she loves. Forced to choose what is most important to her, Mia realizes that winning isn't everything; it's staying in the game that counts. If anyone could tell this message convincingly, it's author Mia Hamm, star of the U.S. National Soccer Team, an Olympic Gold Medalist, World Cup champion, and five-time U.S. Soccer Player of the Year. In an afterword, Ms. Hamm says, "There is no 'me' in Mia because, in soccer and in life, I could never do it alone." Children seem to blossom when they realize that others have the same feelings, doubts, desires - the same good and bad traits. It's learning what to do with them that makes them "grow up." Readers will feel they have found a friend in Mia Hamm, someone who was once a child too, and probably had to deal with her own dislike of losing in order to become a champion athlete. Soccer fans will appreciate Mia's removable, autographed color photo in the back of the book. Carol Thompson's bold, action-filled illustrations are perfect. [...]

this is a great book to teach perserverance and doing your personal best. these two concepts started my daughter's kindergarten school year. her teacher loved the book and said she was going out to buy it immediately for her collection. i bought it for my daughter as she was beginning soccer because i knew she would have similar frustrating moments that might lead to her wanting to quit. The only possible negative part is that her sister yells to her that she is a quitter because she always quits. of course, she overcomes her need to win and score goals and is just happy to play and have fun. as she plays, more things go wrong, but she doesn't quit. in the end she scores. kids learn that Mia Hamm had tough days on the soccer field but kept trying because she loved to play the game. great illustrations too.

This book tells the story of a young soccer player named Mia who quits the game when things don't go her way. It's through her friends, her brother (sweetly named for the author's late brother), and ultimately herself that she realizes that it's not about winning, but rather about just being in the game. In fact, on the last page, she's going for a goal, but the book doesn't say whether or not she scored, just that she was there playing, and that's what counts. There's no better message for a young person that that, as it pertains not just to sports but to life itself. I bought this for my young daughter who is just starting soccer. She doesn't know who Mia Hamm is, but I certainly do, and can't wait to read it to her. Even if she doesn't stick with soccer, the lessons in this book will be ones we talk about for a long time. Mia doesn't disappoint in this book - she proves yet again what a role model she is for all of us. I highly recommend this book!