Goal!!!
by
Lydia Williams
Illustrated by Lucinda Gifford
A joyous and triumphant picture book from international soccer superstar Lydia Williams, goalkeeper for the Australian Matildas and for Arsenal in the UK.
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication date: 1st June 2021
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Pages: 32
RRP: $19.99AUD
Format read: Hardcover
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
About the book
Little Lydia moves from the desert to start a new adventure in a big city.
Leaving her desert animal friends behind is hard - but soon she makes some new friends at the zoo.
It takes her time to find her feet and has to practice new skills to improve her game.
She learns from the zoo animals that being different is not such a scary thing and that everyone can teach you something new!
Leaving her desert animal friends behind is hard - but soon she makes some new friends at the zoo.
It takes her time to find her feet and has to practice new skills to improve her game.
She learns from the zoo animals that being different is not such a scary thing and that everyone can teach you something new!
My review
Firstly, the cover of Goal instantly attracts your attention and I think it would have wide appeal to both sport loving and animal loving children.
In her first book Saved Lydia learns that she is good at Soccer and especially the position of goalkeeper. Now she has moved from the country to the city she is missing her friends and wonders how she will learn new goalkeeping skills.
A visit to the zoo brings her face to face with animals she has never met before. These animals were fast, fierce and loud. Lydia didn't think she would ever be able to keep up with them.
Lydia soon learns that each animal had their own special skill and if she paid attention and practiced day after day she too would learn these skills.
I loved that Lydia is a goalkeeper! I know when my children played soccer no-one wanted to be goalkeeper. It's a position that requires great skill and I think needs more praise.
Goal!!! is a fun, heartwarming story that promotes friendship, teamwork, determination and being prepared to learn from others. The bold and bright full spread illustrations throughout the book are sure to engage younger children whilst listening to the story.
Join Lydia as she runs, dives, whooshes, roars and laughs her way to soccer stardom.
Dot loves playing soccer and she loved that Lydia is a young soccer enthusiast just like her.
5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
About the author
Lydia Williams is an Indigenous Australian soccer player. She grew up on
the red dirt of Western Australia. During her childhood, she travelled
with her family to many Aboriginal communities where she learnt how to
play sport with bare feet. Her family taught her how to live off the
land and the values of Indigenous culture; they even had two pet
kangaroos. When her family moved to Canberra, Lydia started playing
soccer competitively as a way to make friends. Having played soccer for
nearly twenty years, she currently plays for Arsenal in the WSL in
England and is the first-choice goalkeeper for the Australian Matildas.
About the illustrator
Lucinda Gifford is the author and illustrator of many well-loved books
for kids. Many years ago, Lucinda studied architecture in Scotland,
where she learned to draw fancy buildings and moody scenery. She also
likes to draw dragons, cats and magical frogs - despite never having
studied witchcraft. Now based in Melbourne, Lucinda works from a small
home studio full of books, plants, dragons' blood and newts' tongues.
Australian Women Writers Challenge #AWW2021
Aussie Author Challenge #AussieAuthor21
I need to add this to my list of recommendations on my Art Therapy website when it's up and running.
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