Quacky Baseball

by Peter Abrahams, Frank Morrison (Illustrator)

Overview

It′s opening day at the ballpark and the Webbies are looking to pull off an impressive win against the Quackers!

When the game comes down to one player in the bottom of the ninth, everyone′s wondering: Can new teammate Thumby Duckling pull through and give the Webbies the run they need to seal the game?

From New York Times bestselling author Peter Abrahams, and Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award-winning illustrator Frank Morrison, comes this playful picture book about a team of baseball-loving ducks hoping for that big homerun.

Ages 3 - 8

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062184429
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	11/15/2011
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	8 MB
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Peter Abrahams is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five books, including the Edgar Award-winning Reality Check, Bullet Point, and the Echo Falls series for middle graders. Writing as Spencer Quinn, he is also the author of the Chet and Bernie series—Dog on It, Thereby Hangs a Tail, and To Fetch a Thief. He and his wife live in Massachusetts with their dog, Audrey.

Frank Morrison is the award-winning illustrator of many books for young readers, including Jazzy Miz Mozetta by Brenda C. Roberts, winner of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent; Katheryn Russell-Brown's Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor book; and Gene Barretta's Muhammad Ali. Before becoming a children's book illustrator and fine artist, Morrison toured the globe as a break-dancer. He lives in Georgia with his family. You can visit him online at www.morrisongraphics.com.

Editorial Reviews

It's Opening Day and Thumby, a Butterfinger-orange duckling, is nervous about playing with his team, the Webbies. Abrahams wastes no time, fast-forwarding to the top of the ninth. An unseen announcer offers play-by-play commentary ("Two on, two out for the Quackers. The Webbies need an out!") while onlookers contribute local color. Morrison's charismatic action paintings feature the tenacious ducklings in mid-catch, slide, and pitch. Readers will recognize Thumby by his anxious expression and thumb-sucking, but when "the little rookie from the wrong side of the marsh" swings the bat, he brings it on home. Despite the hasty pace, Morrison's striking visuals, occasional baseball tips, and lively patter dish up a quirky twist on the game. Ages 3–8. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

PreS-K—Thumby, the smallest duckling on the team, is starting in his first opening-day baseball game for the Webbies. The story begins at the top of the ninth, with the opposing team at bat. The artwork is stronger than the text. Morrison provides painterly renditions of the action and draws some scenes with a unique perspective to show how it feels to be a rookie at the plate waiting for the pitch or a novice fielder hoping to catch a ball to make the third out. Readers will sense Thumby's anxiety as he is often portrayed with his thumb in his mouth. Humorous batting tips are sprinkled throughout. New players will enjoy the traditional happy ending with the bons mots on the final page.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

School Library Journal