The Perfect Match

A joyful, high-energy twist on Cinderella, this story swaps glass slippers for soccer cleats and offers far more than a fun read - it's a fantastic resource for a Key Stage 1 classroom.

Framed as a bedtime story, Jack's favourite tale follows Leo, a determined young player navigating challenges from his unkind stepbrothers, with help from a whimsical fairy 'squad father' and a magical journey to the big match.

The lively soccer scenes and clear narrative structure of The Perfect Match make it ideal for supporting early reading skills. Teachers can use the story to explore sequencing (beginning, middle, end), character roles (hero, helpers, villains) and key story features of traditional tales - while encouraging children to compare it with the classic Cinderella story. The familiar pattern, combined with playful twists, helps build comprehension and prediction skills.

Beyond literacy, the book opens up valuable opportunities for discussion around PSHE themes such as kindness, resilience, teamwork and different types of families. The inclusive portrayal of a royal family with two dads provides a gentle, age-appropriate way to celebrate diversity and belonging in the classroom. The soccer element adds further cross-curricular potential, linking to PE through teamwork and coordination, or even simple maths activities like counting goals or tracking scores.

Role-play, retelling, and creative writing tasks-such as inventing new magical helpers or designing a team kit can extend learning in an engaging way. Warm, inclusive and full of energy, this story is not only entertaining but also a versatile teaching tool that supports literacy development, social understanding, and imaginative play in Key Stage 1.

Picture book / Reviewed by Louise Gahan, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 5+

The Perfect Match is a joyful and imaginative retelling of Cinderella with a modern football twist. We really enjoyed this story - it feels fresh, engaging and perfect for younger readers.

The familiar fairy tale elements are cleverly reworked in a way that keeps the story fun and easy to follow, while adding plenty of excitement. The illustrations are especially vivid and eye-catching, with lots of colour and movement that kept my three-year-old interested throughout. I also love how the pages are split and designed in different ways, which makes the book feel dynamic and adds to the storytelling.

I particularly appreciate that the main character has two dads, which sparked a lovely and natural discussion with my three-year-old about different family set-ups. A warm, inclusive and entertaining picture book that we'll happily read again.

Picture book / Reviewed by Linda Canning, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 3+