PreS-Gr 2—Owen is a young boy who loves playing ball, but "playing ball didn't always love Owen." When he is benched at a soccer game, the ball takes on a life of its own. Owen follows it into a fantasy world—a down-the-rabbit-hole adventure—where he becomes a sea creature, a tiger, and a bird before returning back to the field. With these newly acquired abilities to float, pounce, and fly, his soccer skills are supreme, and the last page features a martial arts-style spinning air kick into the goal. The illustrations, with their loose and fluid watercolors with India ink outlines, recall Chris Raschka's work and perfectly reflect the fast-paced nature of a soccer game. The brown-skinned soccer-playing boy is a wonderful addition to the genre of sports picture books, as the title celebrates the triumph of a playful mind and its connection to the body.
VERDICT A joyful selection for all collections.
Be the first reader to comment.
Comment Policy:
Comment should not be empty !!!