A stirring mix of worthy values and (literally) heady achievement.
A celebration of soccer’s greatest, or maybe second greatest, player of all time.
Playing up the rivalry between his subject—Cristiano Ronaldo—and Lionel Messi for GOAT and fueling fan arguments, Fischer lines up many of the pair’s career achievements and statistics for easy comparison. More extras, including background overviews of the sport’s history and modern leagues, player responsibilities on the pitch, great rivalries in other sports, and plenty of large photos, also fill in this highlight-reel account of Ronaldo’s meteoric rise. Fischer takes readers from the first signs of talent at age 2 to Ronaldo’s current status as both the highest-paid and, with hundreds of goals with his feet and 152 headers, the highest-scoring pro player in the world. The author devotes more than perfunctory nods to the star’s family as well as his charitable and business ventures to go with the typical messages about the values of teamwork, a competitive spirit, and a strong work ethic; readers will even come away with such personal details as Ronaldo’s astrological sign, favorite food, and childhood idols, as well as an explanation of why he has no tattoos.
A stirring mix of worthy values and (literally) heady achievement. (glossary, quiz) (Biography. 8-11)Pub Date: June 10, 2025
ISBN: 9780760395394
Page Count: 128
Publisher: becker&mayer! kids
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025
“Bizarre” barely covers some of the wacky incidents Tocher gathers from baseball history. A trainer inserted a severed ear into “Sweet Lou” Johnson’s abdomen after a bus accident (for temporary safekeeping), and it was never removed. Mets outfielder Joe Christopher was able to move his cap around by wriggling his ears. Ineffective Giants hurler Cliff Melton tipped off batters to his pitches during his delivery because his ears were so big they blocked out the stands behind his head. And that’s just “All Ears,” the first of nine thematic “Innings,” each presented as a set of simply drawn cartoon panels threaded with terse commentary and the occasional punchline. Though a little knowledge of the game will make it easier to appreciate some of these feats and mishaps, even nonfans will wince at the account of a fan who was hit by a foul ball twice during the same at-bat, marvel at the achievements of one-handed pitcher Jim Abbott and laugh at the generally futile attempts to catch balls (or in one messy case, a grapefruit) dropped from the top of the Washington Monument, a passing stunt plane and other high points. An easy pitch, particularly to reluctant or inexpert readers. (Nonfiction browsing item. 9-11)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7614-5813-5
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
At its best when the emphasis is on the skill and artistry of Mime’s most accomplished practitioner—alas, too much of the...
The legendary mime is introduced to a new generation, though not entirely successfully.
As a child, Marceau loved to silently entertain his friends, like his idol, Charlie Chaplin. During the Nazi occupation of France, Marcel and his brother took on new identities in the French Underground, where they forged documents for Jewish children and helped many to escape to Switzerland. Spielman assumes that her young audience will understand references to deportation and concentration camps; unfortunately for those that don't, her matter-of-fact tone speaks more of adventure than deadly peril. Her tone subtly changes when she lovingly describes Marceau’s training and development as a mime and his stage persona of Bip the clown, admiring his skills in the “art of silence” that won him international renown. But here too, comparisons to the Little Tramp and Pierrot may be outside readers’ frame of reference. Though the illustrations carefully complement the textual content with period details, Gauthier’s cartoon faces are all nearly identical, with only the screen image of Chaplin and Marceau’s Bip having distinctive features. A double-page spread at the conclusion provides photographs of Bip in action and is the only clear indication of Marceau’s stagecraft.
At its best when the emphasis is on the skill and artistry of Mime’s most accomplished practitioner—alas, too much of the book looks elsewhere. (Picture book/biography. 8-10)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7613-3961-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
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