Review by Booklist Review
This collection of 17 sports-related poems speaks to a wide range of readers: winners ("A Magic Place") and losers ("Here's the Idea"); those lacking confidence ("Stretch a Rope Tight") and those who persevere no matter what ("I'll Root for You"); and those who use their differences to great advantage ("Frogs Win"). Some recount stories of caution ("Grandma, Knitting" convinces her young charge not to go skiing), whimsy (heavyweight animals like rhinos and hippos break the mold in The Bottemmest), and humor ("Zis Little Piggy," who becomes a gymnast). Erlbruch's colorful, anthropomorphic illustrations are gems, adding humor and details to the verses and depicting a great variety of sports high jump, boxing, badminton, diving, and so on. In "I Did Warn You," for example, a bed-bound cat with a broken leg hungrily eyes some just-out-of-reach cheese, while a mouse taunts him about the perils of skateboarding. Translated from the Dutch, the verses read remarkably smoothly and sweep the categories for sportsmanship and spirit: They're convinced that you'll do great. / Breathe in deep and concentrate. --Kay Weisman Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This collection of 17 poems by van de Vendel riffs on sports of every stripe, from skateboarding, sprinting, and tennis to the lesser-known, theoretical "tree sports." Both meditative and dryly humorous, certain selections, including "Poem" and "I'll Root for You," may resonate most strongly with young readers, while others offer more mature language and tone. In "Stretch a Rope Tight," the reader is encouraged to persist over demoralizing commentary ("Stretch a rope tight over it./ Over/ the things they said that got stuck in your head."). "A Magic Place" describes the moment when an athlete enters the zone: "You've trained your body year on year,/ but only when your mind is clear/ and blank-when you're not there-/ can your body cleave the air." The subtly introspective selections are accompanied by Erlbruch's distinctive illustrations of eccentric animal underdogs. Erlbruch is especially adept at communicating the mood of each poem through the subjects' expressions and body language. With gumption and wit, the duo urges readers to try and beat the odds, while reminding them that there's also nothing wrong with coming in last. Ages 7-up. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3 Up-Are you ready to run, shout, and stretch? Van de Vendel's rhyming poems encourage children to do their best as they join a frog, a cat, a pig, and a few dogs in a variety of sports. They can win the race in "A Magic Place" or play with Cat in "Impossible Things." The illustrations are quirky and fun with animals wearing sportswear, including a duck in a blue tracksuit, a pig in a swimsuit, and a frog in running shorts. Erlbruch's humorous depictions of lively and exhausted animals pushing through to the finish line will have readers chuckling. However, while some rhymes work, others seem strained. Also, some poems contain content or jokes that seem directed toward a more mature audience. VERDICT Have students pick and choose their favorites and then get moving with this collection of sporty poems.-Paige Bentley-Flannery, -Deschutes Public Library, Bend, OR © Copyright 2018. 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
This is a unique collection of poems covering all aspects of sports and sportsmanship, including winning and losing and believing in yourself. With poems on running, cycling, tennis, and swimming as well as tree sports and playing in the snow, this Dutch import has far-reaching appeal. Each poem is illustrated with a silly animal-athlete caricature. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Lighthearted poems extol sport and human achievementand the importance of losing.Originally published in the Netherlands in 2013, van de Vendel's 17 offbeat inspirational poems are handily translated into rhymed English verse by Australian children's writer Colmer and accompanied by German illustrator Erlbruch's expressively detailed digital renderings of familiar animals engaged in various human sports. Children will love Erlbruch's zany depictions of dogs and pigs in swimsuits or a goose and a cat in racing and tennis togs, but what makes this collaboration shine is van de Vendel's intense focus on the psychological effort central to playing sports and developing the resolve to accomplish goals in general. The delightful title poem talks about rooting for "you when you suddenly shine" as well as the "time you're beaten"not only "because this is my place, and I'm here to stay, / behind every finish and on every day," but "because you must wait if you want to get great." In "Here's the Idea," the speaker announces, "Today we'll root for the losers. / Today we'll cheer the other way round. / Today we'll love everybody / whose somersault / never got off the ground," promoting a similar message of steadfast support alongside a reality check.Motivational and kind, these light poems and illustrations will embolden readers to take risks and "walk your own tightrope." (Picture book/poetry. 5-11) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
