Kingfisher Soccer Encyclopedia, The [Hardcover]

Clive Gifford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 11, 2010 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Soccer is the definitive guide to the world's most popular sport. From the sublime skills of Pele to the lifestyle of a professional soccer player, this gloriously illustrated book explores every aspect of the game. State-of-the-art digital illustrations and stunning photographs bring to life all the key rules, tactics, set plays, and skills. As well as offering practical advice, this informative book also provides an insider's view of the history of the game, profiles of the great clubs, and facts about women's soccer teams and players. The great players, from Pele and Eusebio to Zidane, Maradona, and Mia Hamm, make an appearance, and a section on the great games relives the excitement of the most memorable encounters. A reference section includes a glossary, key statistics, and a guide to the best soccer websites. Comprehensive and visually thrilling, Soccer captures all the drama and the passion of a game that unites billions of people across the globe. Special Features: The definitive guide to all areas of the game, including rules, skills, tactics, great games, and famous players. Unique, state-of-the-art digital diagrams and illustrations. Stunning photographs throughout. A world soccer book for the 2010 World Cup and beyond. Cross-references, glossary, and web resources.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up Gifford updates his 2006 encyclopedia. The changes are minimal beyond updating the stats. Chapters and page numbers are almost identical to the previous version. There is a slight change in the colorful, action photographs, some to-be-expected website adjustments, and new statistics added to charts such as The Longest Unbeaten League Runs. For the most part, the same superstars are highlighted with the identical biographical paragraphs from the previous edition. The author added only one sentence to update David Beckham's profile to include him joining the LA Galaxy in 2007. Compared to the World Soccer Books series (Rosen), this guide more clearly delineates the teams that play in various competitions such as the World Cup, the European Championships, the Olympics, and Regional Competitions, such as the Asian Cup, Soccer Leagues, and Club Cups. In a year with strong competition in soccer books, this single volume still stands out. But refresh a worn, older copy knowing that there were few revisions made to the earlier edition. Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 6 and up. This deceptively slim volume packs a considerable amount of information. The introduction traces the genesis of kicking games through rudimentary forms of soccer into current professional and Olympic competitions. Subsequent chapters address basic rules, physical tactics and skills, brief biographies of legendary players, profiles of well-known coaches and coaching strategies, summaries and win-loss records of national and club teams, and descriptions of major international competitions. The chapter "Soccer Fortunes" looks at public and commercial aspects of the game, such as the typical career path and subsequent demands of becoming a professional athlete, technical aspects of playing fields and stadiums, club politics and salaries, and fans as well as cheating scandals, stadium riots, and other "soccer nightmares." A final reference section provides facts and figures on soccer in the U.S. as well as recommended Web sites, books, and magazines; a glossary; and an index. Information is current through 2004.

Articles are divided into subsections that span two-page spreads. Subtitles, brief paragraphs, and fact boxes offering trivia, tables of statistics, diagrams, and more accompany numerous photos, primarily in color. Images spill across pages in a graphic-intense, dynamic presentation. An additional appealing feature is that coverage of women's teams and players is integrated throughout and not relegated to separate chapters or footnote status.

Keir Radnedge has authored two recent resources intended for adults: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Soccer (Carleton Books, 2002) and The Complete Encyclopedia of Soccer (Carleton Books, 2004). This current offering is aimed at a younger audience but will appeal to fans of all ages. The glossy cover will attract browsers, and the international coverage will appeal to a wide audience. Public libraries, middle schools, and high schools may want to consider offering both circulating and reference copies of this reasonably priced, accessible overview. Kathleen McBroom
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 164 pages
• Publisher: Kingfisher; New Edition edition (May 11, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753463970
• ISBN-13: 978-0753463970
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,195,132 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #97 in Books > Children's Books > Sports & Games > Sports > Soccer

More About the Author

Clive Gifford is an award-winning author of over 120 books for children and adults. These range from the serious (Refugees, Robots, Planet Under Pressure: Pollution, Spies and Spying) and sporty (with books on the Olympics, football and tennis) to the downright silly (Pants Attack, Kelly's Smelly Wellies, The Huge Rude Duke).

Clive has travelled through 70 countries, run a computer games company and taken part in all manner of sports from parachuting and gliding to Ultimate Frisbee (he was top scorer at the European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg back in the nineties).

His books have been shortlisted for the TES Information Book of the Year and the British Book Awards as well as winning Smithsonian, Children's Choice, NAPPA and PBS awards. Sir Ranulph Fiennes called his latest book on Explorers, "An inspiration to all adventurers." whilst The Guardian declared that his Kingfisher Book Of Football "was worth a season's training" and the Manchester Evening News labelled it "The classiest football book around."

Clive's official website can be found at www.clivegifford.co.uk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AWSOME!!!, January 20, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Kingfisher Soccer Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

this is an awsome soccer book and it has absolutly everything you would ever want to know!

amazing picturs and superb info, you just got to read it!!! because i am a tremendous soccer fan, i must say that this is a must and has alot of fun interesting info!!

from the book: did you know that India withdrew from the 1950 world cup when FIFA refused to allow players to be barefoot!!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars i'm 34 and i enjoyed the book, May 21, 2009

By 

Jerry So.Cal. (San Pedro, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Kingfisher Soccer Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

So this book is designed to entertain the minds of young kids. I didn't know that until after i read the book. This book lacks a lot of the details about the game of soccer, but it gives a decent overview of the rules and strategies. The pictures are really great and in full color. Throughout the book, websites are mentioned which will lead you to all kinds of detailed info on soccer. The book also describes records for numerous categories, like goals in a game, most red cards in a game, most own goals in a game(139!), etc.
The second half of the book highlights individual players as well as great teams over the history of the sport.
In conclusion, this book is not designed to teach you how to play soccer, it's not going to help you improve your game, it's not going to show you how to kick a ball properly, or how to properly play defense. It's some cozy reading material to give you an overview of the history of soccer. 4 stars instead of 5 because i like details!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Kingfisher Soccer Encyclopedia, October 17, 2007

By 

Sandra Penney "bibliophile" (Anchorage, AK United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Kingfisher Soccer Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

This book was a perfect birthday gift for my tweener daughter. She picks it up again and again.