Our team spirit and passion for soccer can inspire action for a more sustainable future on — and off — the pitch.
Publishing in advance of the 2026 World Cup, One Goal is a timely look at how soccer players, organizations, clubs and fans are taking action to do better for the planet.
A college pitch in Nigeria uses the kinetic energy of players running over special tiles to power the field’s floodlights. South Africa uses local soccer fields to collect, store and clean rainwater for drinking. China built a high-speed bullet train to run between cities during the Asian Games, side-stepping high-emission air travel. Thousands of Belgian fans cycle to games instead of driving. New regulations about water breaks and game cancellations have been put into play to protect players from extreme heat.
From “drag and drop” stadiums, to seats made from recycled fish nets, to plant-based game-day food, soccer has an opportunity to lead by example and convince the global community that, by working together, we can create a better future. Includes a game plan of how readers can help, too.
Key Text Features
illustrations
author’s note
bibliography
definitions
explanation
facts
further reading
glossary
introduction
Correlates to the Common Core States Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.7
Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.3
Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.6
Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.
Our team spirit and passion for soccer can inspire action for a more sustainable future on — and off — the pitch.
Publishing in advance of the 2026 World Cup, One Goal is a timely look at how soccer players, organizations, clubs and fans are taking action to do better for the planet.
A college pitch in Nigeria uses the kinetic energy of players running over special tiles to power the field’s floodlights. South Africa uses local soccer fields to collect, store and clean rainwater for drinking. China built a high-speed bullet train to run between cities during the Asian Games, side-stepping high-emission air travel. Thousands of Belgian fans cycle to games instead of driving. New regulations about water breaks and game cancellations have been put into play to protect players from extreme heat.
From “drag and drop” stadiums, to seats made from recycled fish nets, to plant-based game-day food, soccer has an opportunity to lead by example and convince the global community that, by working together, we can create a better future. Includes a game plan of how readers can help, too.
Key Text Features
illustrations
author’s note
bibliography
definitions
explanation
facts
further reading
glossary
introduction
Correlates to the Common Core States Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.7
Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.3
Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.6
Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Apr 7, 2026 |
| Specifications | 36 pages | 8.75 in x 10 in |
| Keywords | books to save the planet; sustainability; eco-friendly; climate change; greenhouse gases; environmental activism; plant-based food; entrepreneurial cows; composting toilets; wet-bulb temperature (WBT); cooperation; participation; competition; leadership; action; gift book; read-aloud; read-along; educational book; Canada; United States; United Kingdom; Belgium; |
| Written By |
HEATHER CAMLOT is the award-winning author of multiple books for young people, including the nonfiction The Prisoner and the Writer and the novels The Other Side and Clutch, the latter of which was named among Kirkus’s Best Middle-Grade Historical Fiction. A journalist for more than twenty years, she has written, edited and translated for Quill & Quire, Owl, TV Guide Canada and Style at Home, among others. Originally from Montreal, she lives in Toronto, Ontario, with her family. |
| Illustrated by |
DREW SHANNON has illustrated many books, including Are We There Yet? by Maria Birmingham, the Montague Twins graphic novel series written by Nathan Page and This Is Your Brain on Stereotypes by Tanya Lloyd Kyi. He has also illustrated for the New York Times, Vox, NPR, the Globe and Mail and the Washington Post, among others. He lives in Toronto, Ontario, with his cat, Ripley. |
| Written By |
|
HEATHER CAMLOT is the award-winning author of multiple books for young people, including the nonfiction The Prisoner and the Writer and the novels The Other Side and Clutch, the latter of which was named among Kirkus’s Best Middle-Grade Historical Fiction. A journalist for more than twenty years, she has written, edited and translated for Quill & Quire, Owl, TV Guide Canada and Style at Home, among others. Originally from Montreal, she lives in Toronto, Ontario, with her family. |
| Illustrated by |
|
DREW SHANNON has illustrated many books, including Are We There Yet? by Maria Birmingham, the Montague Twins graphic novel series written by Nathan Page and This Is Your Brain on Stereotypes by Tanya Lloyd Kyi. He has also illustrated for the New York Times, Vox, NPR, the Globe and Mail and the Washington Post, among others. He lives in Toronto, Ontario, with his cat, Ripley. |
| Audience | ages 9 to 12 / grades 4 to 7 |
| Key Text Features | illustrations; author’s note; bibliography; definitions; explanation; facts; further reading; glossary; introduction |
| Common Core |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.7
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.3 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.6 |
“Unique, multidisciplinary, and visually engaging… [One Goal] successfully bridges the gap between STEM and sports, making it a vital tool for engaging diverse audiences in the climate conversation.” — School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
“A hopeful playbook that demonstrates how the beautiful game can help protect our beautiful planet.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Informative [and] thought-provoking. ... This resounding call for action is especially pertinent as preparations ramp up for the 2026 World Cup.” — Booklist
“Heather Camlot scores with One Goal! This inspiring and accessible book shows young readers how the world’s most popular sport can become a powerful force for positive environmental change. With clear explanations, engaging examples, and an upbeat tone, Camlot connects the excitement of soccer to real-world sustainability efforts in a way that feels both empowering and achievable. Kids will love discovering how stadiums, teams, players, and fans are finding creative ways to reduce waste, conserve energy, and protect the planet. The book makes big environmental ideas feel understandable and action-oriented, encouraging readers to think about how their own passions — on and off the field — can make a difference. Perfect for classrooms, libraries, and soccer-loving families, One Goal is an inspiring reminder that teamwork doesn’t just win games, it can help change the world.” — Lydia Lukidis, award-winning author of Deep, Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench
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