Slugger
By Regan McMahon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Slug makes the team in esteem-building baseball story.
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What's the Story?
Ollie is a baseball-loving slug who wants to be on the Creepy Crawler team (full of different kinds of insects), even though by all appearances he has no chance. But he gets a specially designed helmet that lets him bat with his head, practices hard, and begs Coach Roach for a tryout. Then he must prove himself in a game against the Stingers.
Is It Any Good?
SLUGGER is an uplifting tale of an underdog who makes good. The outcome is a bit predictable, and the story has some holes. (Why does Ollie only have to bat and not field?) But the upbeat picture book's positive message to try hard and go after your dream despite all obstacles and physical limitations is a good one for underdogs everywhere. And David Slonim's watercolor-and-pencil illustrations of insect and slug characters are cute, funny, and loaded with personality.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about slugs. Do you see them come out in the rain? How are they different from snails?
Why are stories about insects so popular? What other ones have you read?
What's fun about sports stories? Why do you think the author chose to have the players be insects and a slug instead of humans?
Book Details
- Author: Susan Pearson
- Illustrator: David Slonim
- Genre: Sports
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing
- Publication date: March 19, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Available on: Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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