The Origins of Sports - by Tom Velcovsky & Stepanka Sekaninova (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The Origins of Sports: How Today's Favorite Games Began

Ever wonder who invented basketball, where hockey was first played, or how the idea of a goal came about? The Origins of Sports takes young readers on a fascinating journey through time to uncover the surprising beginnings of the world's most popular games.

Perfect for ages 6-9, this beautifully illustrated book explores 10 major sports from athletics and football to tennis and ice hockey and reveals how they evolved from ancient traditions to modern competitions. Learn about the first tennis racket, the origin of the ball, and even which sport was played in Ancient Egypt. Packed with fun facts, historical insights, and colorful artwork, this book makes sports history exciting and accessible.

Step into the past and see how today's favorite games began and how they shaped the world of sports we know today.

• Explore 10 Popular Sports: Athletics, skating, ice hockey, golf, football, tennis, basketball, swimming, skiing, and baseball.


• Fascinating Origins: Discover how rules, equipment, and playing styles developed over the years.


• Engaging Illustrations: Vivid artwork brings ancient arenas and early games to life.


• Fun Facts and Surprises: Did you know hockey was played in Ancient Egypt? Find out more inside.


• Perfect for Curious Kids: Ideal for classrooms, sports fans, and anyone who loves learning about history in a fun way.

For over 75 years, Albatros Media has been crafting original and innovative children's books that are both playful and educational, fostering curiosity and a thirst for knowledge in young minds. We deliver the highest quality children's books from novelty, picture, pop-up, and how-to books, to non-fiction, and fairy tale books.

Review Quotes

Selected for the Spring 2023 Showcase: Spring Into a New You by The Children's Book Council.

"The vocabulary and print are for older children, but would be a good book to sit together and read and enjoy. The history is very impressive, and adults will certainly learn a lot, too, about how each sport evolved. This was a nice comprehensive large book with sections about athletics, skating, ice hockey, golf, football, tennis, basketball, swimming, skiing, and baseball. Sports books are always a nice addition to a collection, and this covers an area that most will not have for the younger set." --Lynne Wright, Oregon Coast Youth Book Review

"Not your typical book about sports, this delightful non-fiction picture book is packed with research that most will not have seen before. I consider myself a sports nut, and I learned a bunch from this book, including that volleyball was created in Massachusetts!" --The Silver Unicorn Bookstore

"What kind of books do you get the sporty kids? The ones who would rather be out running around than sitting and reading? Well, how about this one for starters? I love that this gets into the origin of sports, not only as a whole, but also individual sports - everything from skiing to tennis, football to baseball. While I see a good number of books about athletes, I feel like I don't see as many in the nonfiction space talking about sports, so this was a welcome addition to our shelf." --Picturebook Playdate, IG

"Have you ever thought about the origin of your favorite sport? Here is a phenomenonal book to help young sports enthusiasts discover the history behind their favorite activities! I loved sharing this story with my kids today. I couldn't get enough of the illustrations. Tennis is big in my house, so seeing the tennis rackets of the past was just so neat. The kids have done history projects on gymnastics and dance in recent years. I see another sports history project in their future! They've definitively been inspired!" --Fun Reads for Kids, IG

"With its modern graphic design and engaging storytelling, this book not only educates but also entertains. It's a fantastic resource for sports enthusiasts and curious minds alike, presenting an entertaining blend of information and humor." --Read with a Rescue, IG

About the Author

Tom Velcovsky is a graduate of Audiovisual Production from the Silesian University in Opava, Czech Republic, where he specialized in screenwriting and storyboards. Before switching to children's books and the making of comic strips, he worked in advertising.

Stepanka Sekaninova used to work as a TV reporter and in the production of children's programs. Now she is a writer and an editor-in-chief, living in the Czech Republic.

Although Matej Ilcik has been keen on drawing and art from a young age, he did not attend courses in art as a child. He studied Political Science, rather than creative subjects, pursuing his interests in painting and art history in his free time. He acquired the basic techniques for his work as an artist on a two-year adult education course in painting. Having briefly considered his options, he started out as a freelance graphic designer.