THE WORLD GAME
Soccer Circles the Globe
by John Coy ; illustrated by Phùng Nguyên Quang
Children playing soccer everywhere from Mombasa to Shenzhen to Chicago suggest just how universal the game has become.
Choosing 12 locales that lead into an appended discussion of time zones worldwide, Coy and Quang capture roughly simultaneous moments of exciting game action. So, even as at 8:23 a.m., Chicago goalkeeper Gloria sends a kick to the left, at 8:27 a.m. on a beach in Mexico, Pablo flicks the ball to his twin sister, Sofia. At 5:33 p.m., Malik in Dubai artfully intercepts a pass, and at 1:41 p.m. Demba in Dakar launches a mighty shot on goal. Compressed sequential views of a slick bit of spinning footwork by Mariana in Campo Grande, Brazil (at 9:47 a.m.) highlight the illustrator’s depictions of young players, often in multiracial, multicultural squads, hustling exuberantly in settings ranging from big stadium pitches to streets, playgrounds, and sandy beaches. “The earth spins,” intones the refrain of the free verse narrative. “The ball rolls. The World Game goes on.” The author closes with a capsule history of the sport and a chart of what it’s called in 11 tongues and scripts.
Just the ticket to catch young fans’ interest in the beautiful game.
(map) (Picture book. 6-9)