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Sports

Chunky

April 8, 2022 by Tess Leave a Comment

Chunky by Yehudi Mercado
Format: Graphic Novel
Who it’s for: Kids

Young Hudi is overweight. He’s been plagued by health issues, and his family’s doctor encourages him to lose some weight. His parents decide he should try out for a sport, so he’ll get more exercise. Hudi would rather tell jokes or draw, but his parents insist, so he chooses baseball. After all, Babe Ruth was overweight, and he was one of the greats! But he’s still really nervous about it. In pops Chunky to the rescue! Chunky is a red furry monster, who introduces himself as Hudi’s imaginary mascot. He will always be there to cheer Hudi on, as long as he’s trying his best. He just wants Hudi to be happy!

It turns out Hudi is going to need a lot of cheering on, as he moves from baseball, to soccer, to swimming, to tennis, to football, leaving a string of minor disasters in his wake. Hudi doesn’t seem to be cut out for sports, and struggles to make friends. In addition, his family is going through some stuff, as his dad has lost his job, and they don’t have a lot of money for Hudi’s sister’s bat mitzvah. Chunky has his work cut out for him, helping Hudi to be himself, and make good choices.

This fun, colorful, semi-autobiographical graphic novel should appeal to fans of books like Smile by Raina Telgemeier, New Kid by Jerry Craft, or El Deafo by Cece Bell. It handles some tough issues, like body image, and bullying, in a light-hearted way, and any reader will wish they had their own Chunky to believe in them when they really need it.

Find Chunky in our catalog.

Filed Under: Recommended for Kids Tagged With: Comedy, Graphic Novel, Memoir, Sports

Bunny Slopes

February 25, 2017 by Sara Leave a Comment

Submitted by Ms. Sam!

Bunny Slopes written and illustrated by Claudia Rueda is an interactive book all about a bunny hitting the slopes. This very innovative book is sure to please the crowds looking for a little twisting and turning. When we meet Bunny, he is ready to ski. Well, there isn’t any snow, but with a little shake the reader creates snow! Tilt the book to help Bunny down the slopes and turn the book to help bunny avoid the cliff! Each turn of the page allows the reader to help bunny in his skiing endeavors. See this book listed in our catalog

Filed Under: Recommended for Kids Tagged With: Animals, Interactive, Picture Book, Sports

Game Changer

June 10, 2016 by Sara Leave a Comment

Submitted by Ms. Cassie!

Game Changer: John McLendon and the Secret Game by John Coy. In 1944 there was a secret basketball game played. Why was it a secret? Because in North Carolina, 19 years before Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, segregation was the norm. In fact this game, featuring white and black players, was illegal at the time. But courageous coach John McLendon and this group of players were willing to defy the law to break down prejudice and racism. This is a story of bravery and strength. It is a great introduction to a difficult portion of American history, told through the lens of basketball, the American-invented sport. See this book listed in our catalog

Filed Under: Recommended for Kids Tagged With: African American, Biography, History, Picture Book, Sports, Tough Stuff, True Stories

Who’s on First?

October 10, 2013 by Sara Leave a Comment

Submitted by Ms. Tess!

Who’s on first. What’s on second. I don’t know’s on third. The famous comedy routine by Abbott and Costello comes to life for a new generation in Who’s on First the picture book! Abbott, the rabbit, is the newest player on Costello, the bear’s, baseball team, and he’s about to be introduced to some players with very interesting, and confusing, names! This hilarious story, with fun, colorful illustrations by John Martz, is sure to be a hit with kids who love to laugh, love animals, or love baseball (or all three)! See this book listed in our catalog

Filed Under: Recommended for Kids Tagged With: Classic, Humour, Picture Book, Sports

Maisy Learns to Swim

June 26, 2013 by Sara Leave a Comment

Submitted by Ms. Janis!

In Maisy Learns to Swim by Lucy Cousins, Maisy is going swimming for the first time, and she is a little nervous, but her two friends Eddie and Tallulah are going too. Eddie is a natural in the water, but Maisy and Tallulah are slower getting into the pool. Soon all three of them are kicking and floating and even blowing bubbles. In this child-friendly book, the words explain the pictures, and the illustrations are bright, colorful, and cute. Whether water-shy or raring-to-go, young readers will find it easy to relate to Maisy as she experiences swimming for the first time. See this book listed in our catalog

Filed Under: Recommended for Kids Tagged With: Friendship, Mice, Picture Book, Sports

Players in Pigtails

May 1, 2013 by Sara Leave a Comment

Submitted by Ms. Brenda!

Girls can do anything! We know this, but in 1942 girls weren’t allowed to do some things. Players in Pigtails by Shana Corey, tells the story of Katie Casey. Katie wasn’t cut out for cooking, sewing, and dancing like most other girls her age. She was good at baseball, though. She could catch a ball with her eyes closed. She could hit any ball with one hand behind her back. She loved baseball! Each spring she’d show up for her high school baseball team’s tryouts. Each spring she was sent away without even getting a chance to try. During World War II, lots of young men were away, and more and more baseball fields were becoming empty. It was time to let some girls “PLAY BALL!” With Rebecca Gibbon’s beautiful illustrations, we are taken back to the 1940’s. Find out just what young ladies went through to become players in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). See this book listed in our catalog

Filed Under: Recommended for Kids Tagged With: Picture Book, Sports, True Stories

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