From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2-In picture-book format, Gibbons provides the basic facts about two popular sports. Using short, clear sentences, she defines terms, explains the rules, and describes scoring. One line in each book mentions the equipment necessary for each game, but the information is well augmented by clearly labeled, colorful drawings showing additional gear, such as shin guards for soccer players or protective covering for the baseball catcher. Both books contain diagrams of the game fields. However, the words selected for the brief glossaries seem arbitrary; for example, "cleat" is defined in Soccer, but not in Baseball. These informative books will be enjoyed by new players or spectators of older siblings' events.Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
Soccer is fun - let's play!Find all the basics in this lively guide.The markings on a soccer fieldWhat soccer players wearThe positions, from forward to goalkeeperThe excitement of pasing a ballThe thrill of making a goalAll these and more are included, with a useful glossary at the end.


Card catalog description
Briefly describes the equipment, terminology, rules, positions, and plays of one of the world's most popular games.


About the Author
Gail Gibbons, "a master of children's non-fiction" (ALA Booklist), has created over one hundred entertaining, eye-catching books that explain how things work.She lives in Corinth, Vermont. In Her Own Words..."I was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1944. Even as a little child, I was always busy putting books together. Sometimes I would bind them with yarn to hold the pages together I've always loved drawing and painting. I was also a very curious child. My parents tell me that I was always asking lots and lots of questions."Later, I went to the University of Illinois, where I studied graphic design. Then I moved to New York City, where I got a job doing artwork for television shows. Eventually I was asked to do the artwork for a children's show. While doing that show, some of the children asked me if I had ever thought of doing children's books. My mind immediately recalled how much I enjoyed doing that type of thing when I was a child d. So I put an idea for a book together and right away a publisher bought it. That book was called Willy and His Wheel Wagon."Since then, over seventy books that I have written and illustrated have been published. The type of books I write are nonfiction books. This is because I love researching so much. I get to ask lots of questions, just like when I was a kid. I also get to travel and meet lots of interesting people. While doing research for my book Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests, I traveled to two islands where there are tropical rain forests, Saba and Dominica. I also had a great time writing and illustrating the book. I get a lot of pleasure from doing the type of work I do."Most of the time I live in Corinth, Vermont, in the middle of three hundred acres. I live with my husband, Kent Ancliffe, and our dog, Wilton. We also have three cats. My life in Vermont is very secluded. There are lots of wild animals that live on our property. We also spend a lot of time on an island off the coast of Maine where we have a little farmhouse. In fact, my book Christmas on an Island is about Christmas on this island."I have many hobbies, like swimming and boating, but my favorites are reading and creating books."

ANNOTATION

Briefly describes the equipment, terminology, rules, positions, and plays of one of the world's most popular games.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Soccer is fun - let's play!

Find all the basics in this lively guide.The markings on a soccer fieldWhat soccer players wearThe positions, from forward to goalkeeperThe excitement of pasing a ballThe thrill of making a goal

All these and more are included, with a useful glossary at the end.

Author Biography:

Gail Gibbons, "a master of children's non-fiction" (ALA Booklist), has created over one hundred entertaining, eye-catching books that explain how things work. She lives in Corinth, Vermont.In Her Own Words...

"I was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1944. Even as a little child, I was always busy putting books together. Sometimes I would bind them with yarn to hold the pages together I've always loved drawing and painting. I was also a very curious child. My parents tell me that I was always asking lots and lots of questions.

"Later, I went to the University of Illinois, where I studied graphic design. Then I moved to New York City, where I got a job doing artwork for television shows. Eventually I was asked to do the artwork for a children's show. While doing that show, some of the children asked me if I had ever thought of doing children's books. My mind immediately recalled how much I enjoyed doing that type of thing when I was a child d. So I put an idea for a book together and right away a publisher bought it. That book was called Willy and His Wheel Wagon.

"Since then, over seventy books that I have written and illustrated have been published. The type of books I write are nonfiction books. This is because I love researching so much. I get to ask lots of questions, just like when I was a kid. I also get to travel and meet lots of interestingpeople. While doing research for my book Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests, I traveled to two islands where there are tropical rain forests, Saba and Dominica. I also had a great time writing and illustrating the book. I get a lot of pleasure from doing the type of work I do.

"Most of the time I live in Corinth, Vermont, in the middle of three hundred acres. I live with my husband, Kent Ancliffe, and our dog, Wilton. We also have three cats. My life in Vermont is very secluded. There are lots of wild animals that live on our property. We also spend a lot of time on an island off the coast of Maine where we have a little farmhouse. In fact, my book Christmas on an Island is about Christmas on this island.

"I have many hobbies, like swimming and boating, but my favorites are reading and creating books."

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Children's Literture

Gail Gibbons has written numerous nonfiction books for kids. This little square book introduces the basics about soccer. She begins with the equipment, a layout of the playing area and the number of players on a team. The basic principles of the game and the positions are described and illustrated. Kids are walked through a typical game to help them understand what the players do and how one scores points. It is simple and clear and very helpful for kids in the preschool and early elementary grades. There is a glossary and boys and girls are equally involved in playing the game. It could also be used by adults and older kids who may not want to reveal their ignorance about this great American pastime. A companion book is entitled My Baseball Book. 2000, HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 7, $5.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

School Library Journal