SHORTLISTED 2025

Children's Sports Book of the Year | Shortlisted

Bobby Bains Plays a Blinder

by Bali Rai, Illustrated by Daniel Duncan

Bobby Bains loves football. He also loves helping other people. As a Sikh, it’s part of his religion. While helping his mum at the community food bank, Bobby meets an old man called Trevor, who seems lonely.

Bobby thinks Trevor would get on well with his nana-ji, his grandad. Both love football and reggae music. But Nana-ji and Trevor have dodgy old knees and can’t run like they used to. So, Bobby hatches a plan to get them playing. They could use the exercise and perhaps Trevor won’t feel so lonely any more.

Will Bobby’s plan work? It’s a big ask, but, after all, if you don’t shoot, you don’t score!

Bobby Bains Plays a Blinder by Bali Rai, Illustrated by Daniel Duncan
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