Cool Careers for Girls in Sports

Pasternak, Ceel & Thornburg, Linda. Cool Careers for Girls in Sports. Impact Publications, 1999. ISBN 1-57023-107-9

Plot

Beginning with an encouraging message about broadening opportunities, this book of true stories and advice highlights women in sports careers. Professional basketball and golf players, a ski and snowboard instructor, an athletic director, and a sports psychologist are some of the women featured. An article about Robin Roberts' career in sports broadcasting is fun to read. It is especially nice to see her early start in sports broadcasting given her recent success as an anchor on Good Morning America. She attended the President Obama's first State Dinner on November 24, 2009. Go, Robin!

Critical Evaluation

While this book may appear out of date based on its 1999 publication, the advice given still makes sense. Girls who are interested in sports are encouraged to get involved when they are young and stay involved during high school and college. That is the best way for them to find out what they might like to do in a sports career as an adult. Girls are told, "Don't be afraid to ask people for guidance. They are not going to come to you. You have to ask." Career checklists are given for jobs so girls can compare their interests and abilities to the traits that are required for success in a sports career.

Annotations

Career opportunities in sports for girls are broadening as time goes on. Girls need to have a positive mindset and a passion for sports to succeed in these careers.

Author

Ceel Pasternak and Linda Thornburg have co-authored other books in this series. Two of their titles are Cool Careers for Girls in Food and Cool Careers for Girls in Law.

Genre

Non-fiction

Curriculum Ties

Physical education -- careers

Booktalk Ideas

Ask listeners to talk about the women in sports they know of. Ask them if they have considered a career in sports. Share highlights from Tammy Jackson's career as a professional basketball player given in the book.

Reading Level/Interest Age

Grade 4 to 6 (age 9 - 12).

Challenge Issues and Defense

None.

Why is it here?

Careers in sports for girls are cool!