For the love of soccer!

Pelé, 1940-

Book - 2010

The three-time World Cup champion celebrates the kick and thrill of his favorite sport, recounting his inspiring rise to fame as illustrations depict his life and the story of a young athlete's efforts to follow in his hero's speedy footsteps.

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jE/Pele
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Subjects
Genres
Picture books
Published
New York : Disney/Hyperion Books c2010.
Language
English
Main Author
Pelé, 1940- (-)
Other Authors
Frank Morrison, 1971- (illustrator)
Edition
1st ed
Physical Description
unpaged : col. ill. ; 28 cm
ISBN
9781423115380
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

You know what's better than scoring in a big game? Nothing! In his first book for children, Pelé offers a pithy recap of his illustrious career in terms that are general enough to give artist Morrison latitude to tell two stories at once. Facing pages simultaneously track the renowned Brazilian from childhood to superstardom while following an androgynous young soccer enthusiast through practice sessions and games on an urban pitch. Both figures explode with infectious, winning enthusiasm and are usually posed in midair, arms and legs flung wide to propel a ball past opponents and into the goal. Both also look entirely delighted to be doing what they're doing. A more detailed version of Pelé's accomplishments caps this exuberant double introduction to the world's most popular sport and to one of its most enduringly popular figures.--Peters, John Copyright 2010 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

In a spare narrative enlivened by typography of various sizes and colors, soccer legend Pele underscores his lifelong passion for soccer, starting in childhood when "I would play with anyone, anytime, anywhere!" As the book moves forward in time, he describes the excitement of playing on a professional team: "The second the starting whistle blasted, every player exploded into action." Following two time lines simultaneously, Morrison's (The Hat That Wore Clara B.) energetic, fluid paintings spotlight Pele's soccer moves beside those of a young player today, always appearing on the right side of each spread, whose speed and resolve similarly spring from the page. In the scenes featuring Pele, the athlete is the sole focus, painted in bright colors against a sepia backdrop. The present-day scenarios are played out against a vibrant urban setting that reveals family members cheering on the players. Though the narrative links the two players throughout, a warmhearted ending ties their stories together visually, as Pele signs a ball for the boy on the field of a packed stadium. A biographical sketch of Pele provides a final kick. Ages 3-7. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review

K-Gr 2-In this picture-book autobiography, readers see a young Pele playing soccer alongside a boy who has the same love and enthusiasm for the sport. Morrison's illustrations are filled with dynamic action shots, showing the boys' legs stretching to incredible angles in order to execute a perfect shot. Readers witness dramatic scenes such as one painted with a soccer ball sailing high in the air against the backdrop of a vast blue sky, as Pele, now appearing as a teenager, and the young boy look on. A spread near the end shows an adult Pele autographing the child's soccer ball. The pinnacle of the short text is represented with a vibrant spread showing a ball reaching the net-"GOOAALL!" The book is more general in nature than Lesa Cline-Ransome's Young Pele: Soccer's First Star (Random, 2007). Only the back notes provide some detailed facts about the athlete's life, his family, and the origins of his nickname leading up to his big break on a professional team and the World Cup. Nonetheless, new soccer fans will welcome this addition.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review

Celebrating his "love of the game," Peli's brief, first-person text occasionally slides into didacticism ("Being a good sport is what really counts"). Throughout Morrison's lively illustrations, left-hand pages with sepia-toned backgrounds track Peli from childhood to superstardom, while right-hand pages show a young boy learning the sport in a modern city. A brief biography of the Brazilian soccer phenom is included. Copyright 2010 of The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

The legendary soccer player composes a stirring ode to his beloved sport. In first-person narration, Pel describes his lifetime passion for the game, which began in childhood. In succinct yet eloquent prose he evokes the essence of soccer, making it accessible to a very young audience. Readers vicariously experience the thrill of a well-played game, culminating in the exhilaration of scoring a goal. Particular emphasis is placed on the value of teamwork and good sportsmanship. Morrison's vibrant, energetic illustrations depict a dual story. Each two-page spread features vignettes from Pel's career on one page (subtly aging their subject over the course of the book), while the facing page reveals a parallel story line of a modern-day child learning to love the game. The vivid pictures, featuring slightly elongated figures and tilted perspectives, convey all the energy of this universal sport. A two-page addendum follows the story, describing the author's life and soccer career. A must-share for soccer enthusiasts of any age. (Picture book. 3-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.