Families who loved Building a Dream: How the Boys of Koh Panyee Became Champions by Darshana Khiani often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child feels discouraged by a lack of resources or is ready to give up on a dream because they do not have the right equipment or space. It is a powerful tool for teaching that creativity is just as important as talent. The story follows a group of boys in a Thai fishing village who love soccer but have no land to play on, leading them to build their own floating pitch out of scraps and old wood. Through rhythmic prose and stunning visuals, the book explores themes of perseverance, community problem-solving, and the grit required to ignore doubters. It is perfectly suited for children ages 4 to 8, providing a real-world example of how a growth mindset can transform a community. Parents will appreciate how it models resourceful thinking and the value of hard work over instant gratification.
