The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan
Jasmine Warga
Recommended for fans of Juvenile Fiction
Better Than a Touchdown
by Jalen Hurts
A warm, upbeat picture book from an NFL quarterback that turns a kid's big disappointment into a lesson about leaning on friends and solving problems together.
What It's About
Better Than a Touchdown is a picture book written by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and illustrated by Nneka Myers. Its young hero, also named Jalen, has been counting down to the year he can finally join his school's football team, only to learn on arrival that the program has been eliminated. The story follows how he and his friends handle that letdown and whether they can find a way forward with help from people around them.
The book is less about football than about what happens when something you care about is taken away. It focuses on resilience, asking for advice, and working as a group rather than going it alone. The sport supplies the stakes and gives sports-loving kids an easy way in, but the message about community is meant to reach children who have never held a football.
As a read-aloud, expect a short, encouraging story with bright illustrations and a clear moral, the kind adults can use to start conversations about handling setbacks. Fans of Hurts may enjoy the connection to a real athlete, though the book stands on its own as a story about a kid and his friends. It suits a bedtime or classroom read rather than an independent chapter-book experience. I don't know this title in close detail, so this description leans on its stated premise and the usual shape of athlete-authored picture books.
Read this if you…
- have a young child who loves football or follows the Eagles
- want a simple read-aloud about bouncing back from disappointment
- are looking for a picture book that models teamwork and asking for help
Skip it if you…
- want a picture book with subtle storytelling rather than a clearly stated message
- are looking for a biography of Jalen Hurts or a book about football skills
Key Ideas
- 1
Disappointment is a starting point
The story opens with a real letdown: the thing Jalen has been waiting for is suddenly gone. Rather than skipping past those feelings, the book lets the characters be upset first. That gives young readers permission to feel sad or frustrated before moving toward action, a useful model for kids facing their own small and large setbacks.
- 2
Teamwork beyond the playing field
The book uses football's emphasis on teamwork as a metaphor for life off the field. Jalen and his friends have to cooperate and pool their ideas to respond to the problem. The point is that being a good teammate means showing up for one another, not just winning games, which is where the title's comparison comes from.
- 3
Good advice can change things
A key turn in the story comes from listening to others. Jalen doesn't solve everything through sheer determination; he takes counsel from friends. That's a gentle lesson for children that asking for help and hearing other people out is a strength, and that a single helpful suggestion can shift how a whole day goes.
- 4
Community as a source of strength
The book frames the school and neighborhood as a network of people who can support each other. It celebrates collective effort over individual heroics, which makes it a good fit for classrooms and families who want to emphasize belonging, kindness, and shared responsibility alongside personal goals.
Limitations
Like many picture books by celebrity athletes, this one wears its message openly, and some adults may find the moral more prominent than the storytelling. Its appeal is partly tied to Hurts's fame, which will matter more to families who follow the NFL. It is not a biography and offers little about the real Jalen Hurts's life or career. Children looking for an exciting game-day story may be surprised that the focus is on school and friendship rather than on-field action.
Questions Readers Ask
- What age is Better Than a Touchdown for?
- It is a picture book, so it best suits preschool and early elementary children, roughly the years when kids are read to or are just starting to read on their own. Older kids who love football may still enjoy it, but the length and simplicity are pitched at young listeners.
- Do you need to like football to enjoy this book?
- Not really. Football provides the setup, since the school team is cut, but the heart of the story is about friendship, handling disappointment, and working together. Children with no interest in sports can still connect with wanting something badly and learning to cope when plans fall apart.
- Is this book about Jalen Hurts's real life?
- The main character shares the author's name, but the book is presented as a story with a message rather than a biography. Families wanting facts about Hurts's career or childhood should look elsewhere; this is an encouraging tale about teamwork inspired by his values.
- Published
- 2026
- ISBN
- 9798217040308
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Category
- Children's Books
Book details and cover from Google Books.
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