Product Review: Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Sportsmanship [Hardcover] (Ages 4+)

Winning Isn’t Everything: Sportsmanship

If there is a way to classify one as a ‘tomboy’ with no athletic ability whatsoever that may be a good way to describe me throughout my childhood. My one serious yet feeble attempt at joining a sport was being part of the rowing (‘crew’) team which began the summer before my freshman year of high school. I don’t think the coach had the heart to tell me that he thought my petite and weak body was not cut out for rowing since he let me train all season (we are talking running up the massive hills where I lived, weight lifting and being timed on everything from sprints to ergometers ‘ergs’) with all my other buff teammates before telling me before the start of rowing season that the best place for me was to be the coxswain of the Boy’s Varsity (yes, there were many other girls boats other than the boy’s junior and senior boat) 8 person boat. In fact, that was the only place for me on the team. For those who do not know, the coxswain is the person who sits on the stern of the boat who is in charge of navigation and steering by barking orders at the rest of the rowers. Considering this person needs no other athletic ability other than a good set of lungs and basic understanding of navigation and vocabulary; the real reason I was chosen was because I was small and light and without much effort I could help the already-talented Varsity team win just by not adding much weight in the boat. I was very disappointed and slightly appalled the first time I sat at the front of the stern pretending to lead an already capable (and slightly perverted) force down the Muskingum River when I realized that perhaps being in sports was not for me. But I have learned in life that you don’t need to be in sports in order to be a good team player and I think that the latest Wigglebottom book on Sportsmanship will translate well in so many areas of your child’s life including athletics.

The Howard B. Wigglebottom series has just introduced their latest addition on the subject of Sportsmanship to their fantastic Wigglebottom series focused on child empowerment. Geared toward the ages of the 4-8 crowd, Learns About Sportsmanship talks in a kid-friendly yet direct way on such important concepts as respecting others, being a good teammate, the pleasure of playing games and sports just because it is fun and having good camaraderie. Howard, the usual loveable bunny, has a problem of always wanting to win and be first instead of being the best by doing his best. Howard would yell at his teammates that he thought weren’t keeping up and he would not share the ball with others because he thought he was the best player. It was not until Howard’s coach benched him that he began to see his teammates having fun and playing well together that he realized the importance of being a good team player. When benched, Howard could hear one of the other parents yelling and saying bad things to the kids on the other team and Howard did not want to behave that way. Howard learns it is important to be a good winner and good loser and always do your best.

The Wigglebottom books are wonderful because they always add suggestions for lessons and reflections at the end of the book to help facilitate learning with your child. Learns About Sportsmanship lessons are broken down into three great areas of Be Your Best, Be a Good Team Player and Be a Good Sport. For example, in the area of Be Your Best, it gives such great sportsmanship insights for kids to aspire like ‘we play games and sports to have fun, to make friends, to learn new things, and to grow stronger and smarter’. Howard realizes that doing his best, being a good team player and having fun are more important than winning which is a wonderful lesson for any child (and adult!).

Extra! Check out the Free Sources Page for Learns about Sportsmanship through the We Do Listen website includes the Winning Isn’t Everything song, a printable Sportsmanship tips poster (including the tips below), lessons & discussion questions

Howard B Wigglebottom’s Tips on How to Be a Good Team Player: