by Ryan Howard ; Krystle Howard ; illustrated by Erwin Madrid ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 27, 2015
Well-intentioned but not quite a home run.
Rhino loves everything about the game of baseball except the bully on his team.
Grandpa James practices with him every day after homework to help him hone his hitting and fielding skills. He imagines himself a hero in the major leagues, making spectacular plays and hitting huge home runs. He joins his first team in a beginners’ league, where he will learn how to be a team player in real games. The problem is that Dylan, an intimidating bully, is on the same team. Rhino must use his “thinker” to find a way to deal with Dylan. He receives support from Grandpa James, big brother C.J. and Coach Ray. He patiently defuses the situation, surprising Dylan with acceptance and a degree of kindness. Rhino is an endearing little boy who is eager to learn and improve and cheer on his friends’ accomplishments. Written by major league baseball player Howard and his wife, this is a detailed, insider’s account of baseball action. Clever use of italics to differentiate Rhino’s thoughts from his speech reinforces the reassuring message about coming to terms with bullying. But stilted syntax, especially in dialogue, and a side serving of distracting dinosaur information, along with mostly one-dimensional characterization, weaken the effect. The conclusion is saved from oversimplification by Rhino’s recognition that Dylan will be a teammate but not a friend.
Well-intentioned but not quite a home run. (Fiction. 7-9)Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-545-67491-1
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2014
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by Kwame Alexander & illustrated by Tim Bowers ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2011
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look...
Winning actually isn’t everything, as jazz-happy Rooster learns when he goes up against the legendary likes of Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald at the barnyard talent show.
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look good—particularly after his “ ‘Hen from Ipanema’ [makes] / the barnyard chickies swoon.”—but in the end the competition is just too stiff. No matter: A compliment from cool Mules and the conviction that he still has the world’s best band soon puts the strut back in his stride. Alexander’s versifying isn’t always in tune (“So, he went to see his cousin, / a pianist of great fame…”), and despite his moniker Rooster plays an electric bass in Bower’s canted country scenes. Children are unlikely to get most of the jokes liberally sprinkled through the text, of course, so the adults sharing it with them should be ready to consult the backmatter, which consists of closing notes on jazz’s instruments, history and best-known musicians.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-688-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
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by Kwame Alexander & Deanna Nikaido ; illustrated by Melissa Sweet
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by Kwame Alexander ; illustrated by Dare Coulter
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by Emily Calandrelli & Tamson Weston ; illustrated by Renée Kurilla ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 29, 2017
The story feels a bit contrived, but Ada will be a welcome addition to the small circle of science-loving girls in the...
Using science and technology, third-grader Ada Lace kicks off her new series by solving a mystery even with her leg in a cast.
Temporarily housebound after a badly executed bungee jump, Ada uses binoculars to document the ecosystem of her new neighborhood in San Francisco. She records her observations in a field journal, a project that intrigues new friend Nina, who lives nearby. When they see that Ms. Reed’s dog, Marguerite, is missing, they leap to the conclusion that it has been stolen. Nina does the legwork and Ada provides the technology for their search for the dognapper. Story-crafting takes a back seat to scene-setting in this series kickoff that introduces the major players. As part of the series formula, science topics and gadgetry are integrated into the stories and further explained in a “Behind the Science” afterword. This installment incorporates drones, a wireless camera, gecko gloves, and the Turing test as well as the concept of an ecosystem. There are no ethnic indicators in the text, but the illustrations reveal that Ada, her family, and bratty neighbor Milton are white; Nina appears to be Southeast Asian; and Mr. Peebles, an inventor who lives nearby, is black.
The story feels a bit contrived, but Ada will be a welcome addition to the small circle of science-loving girls in the chapter-book world. (Fiction. 7-9)Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4814-8599-9
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
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by Emily Calandrelli with Tamson Weston ; illustrated by Renée Kurilla
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