Parents' Guide to On Your Mark, Get Set, Gold!: An Irreverent Guide to the Sports of the Summer Games

Book Scott Allen Sports 2020
On Your Mark, Get Set, Gold! book cover: Small images show athletes competing in 12 sports, including 1 Paralympic cyclist

Common Sense Media Review

Susan Faust By Susan Faust , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 10+

Funny, factual intro to 40+ Olympic and Paralympic sports.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 10+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GOLD! AN IRREVERENT GUIDE TO THE SPORTS OF THE SUMMER GAMES covers over 40 events in the summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. An introduction gives a brief history and timeline and invites kids to try out different events themselves to discover a "hidden talent," get fit and healthy, be part of a team, or just have fun. Sports are grouped under broad headings for racket, water, fighting, riding, track and field, and gymnastic events, for example. Karate, skate-boarding, sport climbing, and surfing, new in 2020, get their due. For each, coverage includes a brief description (past and present), rules, needed skills and equipment, possible injuries, vocabulary, chances of becoming a champion, some epic fails, upsides and downsides, basic training, and best ever competitors. Two sports (goalball and boccia) are exclusive to the Paralympics. A final section of the book discusses the future, highlighting 19 sports that might someday join the Games. Back matter includes a glossary and index.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

With over 40 different events in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, there is so much to know, and this introduction is both informative and entertaining. With lots of labeled visuals and colored boxes of information, the dynamic layout maximizes the accessibility and attractiveness of On Your Mark, Get Set, Gold!: An Irreverent Guide to the Sports of the Summer Games. Sports fans can read the whole book straight-through or dip into different events, both familiar and unfamiliar. Two events, exclusive to the Paralympics, are covered as are accommodations of Olympic sports for those with different impairments. This funny and factual guide is notable for its breadth, depth, humor, and balance.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about On Your Mark, Get Set, Gold! and think about different sports. What sports do you like to do? What sports do you like to follow, for example, on TV?

  • Have you watched Olympic or Paralympic events on TV? What do you think the purposes of international sporting competition are?

  • Competitors in the Olympics and Paralympics often demonstrate courage, perseverance, and teamwork. Do you ever show those traits yourself? If so, when and how?

  • This book uses colored fact boxes and labeled pictures to tell about each event. How do you feel about the way information is presented here? Does it work for you?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

On Your Mark, Get Set, Gold! book cover: Small images show athletes competing in 12 sports, including 1 Paralympic cyclist

What to Read Next

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate