This Week’s Football Library Books for Toddlers

This week’s toddler library books leaned into movement, excitement, and a word that’s popping up everywhere right now: football. This word has actually been a favorite in our home for quite some time... we have a football obsessed toddler. With the Super Bowl around the corner, these books felt like a natural way to include our toddler in the festivities.

As a former English teacher, early literacy has always been important to me. I love finding ways to share cultural moments, such as Super Bowl week, with my toddler at her level. When books connect to what children are seeing around them, vocabulary sticks, curiosity grows, and stories become part of real life.

Each week in The Laminated Library, I share toddler books we actually borrow, read, and live with plus one simple way to bring a favorite story from the list into real life through play.

Our Toddler’s Favorite Football Book This Week

There’s no doubt that my toddler’s favorite book from this week’s list was Let’s Play Football by Jo Parker.

The tactile element, simple language, and clear action made it easy for her to connect the book to what she was seeing during games and hearing adults talk about. She loved pointing out the ball, the players, and loudly announcing “football!” after squishing the touch-and-feel football on nearly every page.

This Week’s Toddler Book List

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Let's Play Football by Jo Parker

A simple, engaging introduction to football that feels especially timely during Super Bowl season. The pictures helped my toddler connect the book to what she was seeing around her.
Supports: vocabulary building, real-world connections, gross motor imitation
👉 Buy the book (link)

Football (Tadpole Books: Let's Play Sports!)

This one breaks football down into toddler-friendly concepts with short text and bright images. It was perfect for quick reads and one we reached for again and again.
Supports: listening skills, concept development, attention
👉 Buy the book (link)

Football: A First Look by Percy Leed

A gentle introduction to nonfiction that invites lots of pointing, labeling, and curiosity. A great option if your toddler loves “real” pictures.
Supports: early nonfiction exposure, descriptive language, visual discrimination
👉 Buy the book (link)

My First Football Book

An approachable pick for younger toddlers, with simple images and familiar objects that make independent browsing feel successful. I have some adorable pictures of my toddler reading this one to her stuffed bear in her bed before falling asleep.
Supports: early sports vocabulary, confidence with books, fine motor skills
👉 Buy the book (link)

Story-Led Play Idea (Super Bowl Week Edition)

After reading Let’s Play Football, we set up a super simple indoor football toss. This one was fun! Perfect for indoor winter fun and for burning energy before the game starts.

All you need is a soft ball (or rolled-up socks), a laundry basket or box, and a little open floor space. We talked about words we heard in the book and around the house: “throw,” “roll,” “catch,” and “goal!”

Toddlers can toss or roll the ball into the basket, retrieve it, and try again. This develops gross motor skills, turn-taking, and early counting as they go. We counted each “touchdown,” clapped, and cheered together. My favorite memory from this game was my toddler saying "missed" each time one of us missed a touchdown.

For older toddlers, you can make it even more Super Bowl–inspired by counting to ten plays, taking turns like a team, or setting up a “halftime” water/snack break. It’s active, simple, and a great way to include little ones in the excitement.

Free Story-Led Play Activity Pack For Your Toddler 🏈

Bring story time from these books off the page with a free, printable football activity pack designed for toddlers!

This Pack Includes:

🏈 Play-Doh Field Mat

Sensory play for strengthening little hands. Tip: Laminate for reuse and easy cleanup.

🎯 Dot Marker Pages

Practice coordination, counting, and creativity. Stickers work just as well.

👕 Design-a-Jersey Page

Open-ended creativity and highly adaptable for all ages.

Your little one can:

• Practice vocabulary like ball, goal, throw, and catch

• Build fine motor skills with dot markers, stickers, crayons, and Play-Doh

• Extend story-led play in a fun, simple way

💌 Sign up with your email to get instant access:

Want More Story-Led Play?

When a book becomes a repeat read around here, I love finding simple ways to bring it off the page and into our play.

I create story-led play packs designed specifically for toddlers. They are easy to prep, simple to use, and rooted in books little ones already love. You can explore them all here.

For Your Next Library Trip

Sharing these books is all about language, movement, and helping kids feel included in moments the whole family is enjoying (like the Super Bowl).

If you’re looking for toddler football books that work well for library trips, rereads, and simple story-based play, this list is a great place to start.

Save this post for your Super Bowl week prep, and I’ll see you back here next week in The Laminated Library 📚 🏈