Booklist September 2010—After the exciting 2010 World Cup in South Africa, young sports fans will grab this title in the Explore the World through Soccer series to follow up on the game and to learn more about the country. In a semi-fictionalized narrative, real-life professional soccer star Zohn tells how he meets Tawela, eight, a young Xhosa soccer player in Cape Town, and she serves as Zohn’s guide to both the game of soccer and her country as she discusses South Africa’s geography, history, crafts, language, and culture. . Readers will be caught by the diversity, even as they read specific facts about the physics of surfing, the wonder of ancient cave paintings, and the biology of migrating whales. . . open design and line-and-watercolor artwork will encourage browsing, and colored sidebars featuring science projects, crafts, and recipes add additional opportunities for interactive learning.

Children's Literature Review June 2010 — Ethan Zohn, a real-life professional soccer player, invites the reader to take a trip with him to South Africa. He meets a new friend there, an eight-year-old girl named Tawela, who shows him how they play “street soccer” in her country. The two of them later travel to Johannesburg, where they watch a soccer match played in front of tens of thousands of people. Along the way, they visit unusual places and learn about the geography, customs, and cultures of South Africa. They also discover a wealth of information about physics, geology, and other sciences. This is that rare book that successfully combines history and science with human interest. Told in first person by Mr. Zohn, the story immediately captures and holds the attention of the reader. Mr. Zohn often addresses the reader with thought-provoking comments intended to get his audience to picture what life is like in other countries. The scientific information is reinforced by the inclusion in the book of simple experiments that children can perform with the aid of grown-ups. The book stresses the idea of soccer as a means to bring people together to build cooperation and understanding. Mr. Zohn and his co-author, David Rosenberg, emphasize that they “want to make a difference for those who need our help,” and at the back of the book they provide suggestions for readers on ways to support charitable groups benefiting South Africa. Mr. Zohn has proved himself to be an able ambassador for soccer and for people around the globe in this book.

 Tonic.com May 2010 — Ethan Zohn's children's book is simply the best .

 Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France winner—“Ethan demonstrates the culturally empowering aspect of sports in a way that kids will embrace and enjoy. Parents everywhere will enjoy reading these books with their kids and will find them both educational and fun.”  

Jack Bell, The New York Times soccer columnist — “Fantastic! Soccer World blends history, culture, and the excitement of soccer all rolled into one. Kids are sure to love these.” 

Mia Hamm, two-time FIFA World Player of the Year—“These books are terrific and any parent should be excited to share them with their children . . . it's the perfect mix of education and soccer!” 

Brandi Chastain, FIFA World Cup Winner—“With Ethan’s Soccer World books I can share with my son not only the fun of soccer, but also the cultural and geographical importance of the world's greatest game! Soccer World is a kick that I will pass on to my son.”  

Cobi Jones, former L.A. Galaxy player and current assistant coach— “Ethan’s books provide a passport around the world to soccer-playing and soccer-loving kids everywhere!”

Kate Boutilier, executive producer, “Rugrats” and “The Wild Thornberrys” — “The Soccer World series is an inventive way to instruct and entertain children, all through the lively eyes of soccer star Ethan Zohn. The books speak to kids on their level, engaging them with fascinating facts about the host countries and include supplemental fun activities to try at home. In each book, Ethan will meet a young friend who serves as a wonderful entry point for a child's understanding as well as that region's culture. I heartily endorse this book series—and learned quite a few things myself!”