NONFICTION

I'll Root for You

by Edward VAN DE VENDEL
illus. by Wolf Erlbruch. 44p. Eerdmans. Aug. 2018. Tr $17. ISBN 9780802855015.
COPY ISBN
Gr 3 Up—Are you ready to run, shout, and stretch? Van de Vendel's rhyming poems encourage children to do their best as they join a frog, a cat, a pig, and a few dogs in a variety of sports. They can win the race in "A Magic Place" or play with Cat in "Impossible Things." The illustrations are quirky and fun with animals wearing sportswear, including a duck in a blue tracksuit, a pig in a swimsuit, and a frog in running shorts. Erlbruch's humorous depictions of lively and exhausted animals pushing through to the finish line will have readers chuckling. However, while some rhymes work, others seem strained. Also, some poems contain content or jokes that seem directed toward a more mature audience.
VERDICT Have students pick and choose their favorites and then get moving with this collection of sporty poems.
Reviewed by Paige Bentley-Flannery, Deschutes Public Library, Bend, OR , Oct 01, 2018

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BLOGS

Making Science Fun and Accessible for Teens and Kids, a guest post by Jorge Cham
by Amanda MacGregor
NONFICTION

Tiny Floating Coral
by Auld, Mary
NONFICTION

Little Seasons: Autumn Leaves
by Hokkanen, Mirka
NONFICTION

The Heartbeat Drum: The Story of Carol Powder, Cree Drummer and Activist
by Havrelock, Deidre
NONFICTION

How Sweet the Sound
by Alexander, Kwame
NONFICTION

The One and Only Googoosh: Iran’s Beloved Superstar
by Westergaard, Azadeh
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?