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MORGAN PLAYS SOCCER by Anne Rockwell

MORGAN PLAYS SOCCER

by Anne Rockwell & illustrated by Paul Meisel

Pub Date: Aug. 1st, 2001
ISBN: 0-06-028440-4
Publisher: HarperCollins

Aspiring sportsters can take a lesson from Morgan, Rockwell’s (Bugs Are Insects, p. 665, etc.) frustrated soccer player who, with the help of a friend and a patient coach, learns how to play this game of the feet with his hands. Morgan Brownbear is anxious to learn soccer, but he just can’t overcome his tendency to catch the ball. His pal, Nina Jane Monkey, puts him through drills, which Morgan loves, but again when it comes game time, he gets so excited he reverts to using his hands. Morgan’s first response is to give up, but his coach, Mr. Monkey, has a brainstorm: Why not put Morgan in the goal where he can turn a liability into an asset? Why not indeed. Morgan becomes a stellar performer as a goalie, stopping even the kicks from his ace pal, Nina Jane. Rockwell’s tale is obvious, but also highly appropriate, building on Morgan’s strengths without resorting to an improbable circumstance for him to blossom. Meisel’s (Cool, Crazy Crickets to the Rescue, p. 658, etc.) lively artwork captures the fun of being out on a great lawn and kicking a ball around, but the best scene is indoors, where every reader will fall in love with Nina Jane’s alligator bed. (Picture book. 4-6)