A 2024 Colorado Book Award Finalist!
An unforgettable tale of persistence and problem-solving, based on the amazing true story of a Thai soccer team who made their own place to play.
In Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay, atop a network of stilts, floats the village of Koh Panyee—where a group of boys loved soccer but had nowhere to practice. Where could they find space to dribble, juggle, shoot, and score? The boys looked out at the water and started gathering tools. Even while their neighbors laughed, they sawed wood, hammered nails, and tied barrels together. The team worked for weeks to build Koh Panyee’s first floating field—a place to practice, and a place to transform their community...
With engaging soccer scenes and atmospheric images of southern Thailand, this inspiring book follows a group of boys who became a team long before they had jerseys or even a field. Plank by plank, they built their dream.
An Activity Guide can be downloaded HERE.
Release date: September 12, 2023
Awards:
The Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) Show Me Award Final Nominee (2025-2026)
Diamond State Reading Association (DSRA) Delaware Diamonds Award Grades K-2 (2024-2025)
Children’s Book Committee of Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year List - Family/School/Community & Outstanding Merit
Children’s Book Council (CBC) Children's Favorites List 3rd-5th Grade
Children’s Book Council (CBC) Teacher Favorites List
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the Children’s Book Council (CBC) Best STEM Books Award List
Colorado Humanities Colorado Book Award in Children's Literature Finalist
Missouri Association of School Librarians Dogwood Readers Award in Kindergarten - 2nd Grade Finalist
Diamond State Reading Association (DSRA) Delaware Diamonds Award Grades K-2 (2024-2025)
Children’s Book Committee of Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year List - Family/School/Community & Outstanding Merit
Children’s Book Council (CBC) Children's Favorites List 3rd-5th Grade
Children’s Book Council (CBC) Teacher Favorites List
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the Children’s Book Council (CBC) Best STEM Books Award List
Colorado Humanities Colorado Book Award in Children's Literature Finalist
Missouri Association of School Librarians Dogwood Readers Award in Kindergarten - 2nd Grade Finalist