What You Need to Know:
• Prelutsky brings sports and poetry together in this clever, dynamic book.
• In 1996, Prelutsky was the first winner of the Children’s Poet Laureate award.
• A variety of sports are covered from baseball to swimming, roller skating and frisbee.
• These poems will inspire readers to feel good about their game regardless of how they play.
• They will also encourage readers to think about how they feel when they’re playing their own sports and maybe
even write their own story.
• The illustrations are an important element and kids will enjoy seeing them as much as they will like hearing the
entertaining rhymes. |
Sweet Book Summary:
My son absolutely loves books that involve sports so I’m always looking for really good ones. I scour the bookstores for anything to break up the monotony of the “play by play” that is so often the formula in this genre, so when I saw this book by Jack Prelutsky, I thought, “what a find.” I was thrilled to be able to offer my son a book that combined sports AND poetry – and in a fun and accessible format. Each two-page spread depicts a short poem and zippy illustration to highlight another sport. Sometimes the players strike out or a game is lost but there is always a positive thought before you turn the page. There’s a feeling of hope and promise throughout, as readers are left thinking that they’ll get them the next time, score for a comeback, hit better, reach further and run faster.
This book will appeal to all ages and all interests, as Prelutsky covers a nice variety of sports including gymnastics, swimming and running. There are not a lot of words on each page, but a few, like epitome and zephyr, may be challenging to some readers. The rhymes are thoughtful, engaging and lively and will definitely hold yours and your reader’s interests. The illustrations, done in watercolor and ink, perfectly complement the mini story told in each spread. The players are somewhat abstract but still expressive and meaningful. I think that their stories portray the beauty of trying out different activities to see what works best for each individual. |
Author: Jack Prelutsky Illustrator: Chris Raschka Published: 2007, 40 pages
Themes: Determination, Excellent Read-Aloud, Poetry, Rhyming Language, Sports |
Sweet Discussion Questions:
• Do you have a favorite sport?
• Are there any sports that you don't play that you'd like to try?
• If you don't feel that you're doing well at a sport, what can you do to get better?
• Do sports play an important part in your relationships with your friends?
• Did this book make you want to try a new sport?
• Did these poems inspire you to write one about yourself?
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| This recommendation was written by: Melissa G. |
| Support Independent Book Shops: Click Here to Buy this Book on IndieBound |
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