Review by Booklist Review
A wide range of football facts are packed into every double-page spread of this picture-book overview of the sport. The covered topics include the history of the game, the changing turf of the NFL, equipment, and some of the most memorable clashes and players. Each short chapter is laid out with boxes containing a few paragraphs of information, along with color photos and illustrations. Young readers are bound to enjoy this browser-friendly approach, which presents an array of facts that can be absorbed quickly. One section details the differences between Canadian and NFL football rules, but a similar section should have presented the differences between the NFL and the college game. On the whole, though, this book scores a touchdown and a two-point conversion. Also suggest James Buckley Jr's The Ultimate Guide to Football (2010), which takes a similar approach.--Morning, Todd Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-7-One would be hard-pressed to think of an aspect of the game not addressed in these jam-packed pages. The bright, inviting layout is immensely appealing with a mix of colorful cartoon drawings and photos. The lively text is often humorous. Talking about the ball itself, "The official NFL ball sports a brown leather jacket. It's a funny shape. Talk about a total oddball!" The book has lots of "inside" information, e.g., Super Bowl balls are marked with a synthetic DNA that glows under laser light. The chapter titles give specific glimpses into contents and organization, such as "The Complete Athlete" (training, injuries, mental preparation), "Preparing for Battle" (equipment, practice), "The Science of Explosive Moves" (kicking, tackling, passing), and "Game Time" (action, formations, rules, regulations, terms). Each chapter includes a "Legends of the Game" segment that highlights players and specific games, such as the 1967 Ice Bowl, Drew Brees and the Saints helping to revitalize New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, how passing changed the game, etc. Not your average "How to Play the Game" book, this title really lives up to its blurb claim-"How Football Works covers football from every exciting angle." A super addition to most library collections.-Kate Kohlbeck, Randall School, Waukesha, WI (c) Copyright 2011. 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.
