Maisy Plays Soccer

Excited about her soccer game, Maisy the mouse ties the laces on her sneakers and joins her friends for a warm-up. After the referee's whistle starts the game, players on both teams kick, pass, defend the goal, and score. The match ends in a tie, and the book affirms that the fun of playing soccer beats winning any day. Young soccer players will enjoy the brief action scenes as well as the camaraderie on and off the field. With a short text and Cousins' colorful, distinctive gouache paintings, this picture book will appeal to sports enthusiasts as well as fans of the Maisy series.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2014 Booklist

PreS-Gr 2-A sweet and charmingly simple series entry with a message about friendship and enjoying the game more than the competition. Maisy greets a new day with excitement because she and her friends are going to play soccer. Maisy, Cyril, and Eddie are on the red team, and Dotty, Tallulah and Charley are on the blue. They play a friendly game, encouraging and complimenting one another's moves no matter which team they are on. The game ends in a tie-a little pat, but considering the audience, it keeps the message clear. The best thing about these books is the distinctive, colorful illustrations. Drenched in primary and secondary colors, the animal characters all display personality and humor. These books continue to be popular with young children, and this one will not disappoint.-Mary Hazelton, formerly at Warren & Waldoboro Elementary Schools, ME (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In these very basic books, Maisy and her cadre of animal pals (all rendered in Cousins's distinctive style) see Hero in the Jungle at a movie theater and play a friendly game that ends in a tie and a message: "It doesn't matter who wins." A number of spreads are too cluttered, but Maisy's fans will nevertheless enjoy her latest, always lively outings. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

As she did for fairy tales in Yummy (2009), Cousins distills the world's most popular sport down to its most essential elements for the small fry. The Maisy First Experiences series continues with this entry into the world of toddler sports. Maisy and her cadre of faithful friends (Cyril, Eddie, Talullah, etc.) are ready to play a soccer game. Dividing themselves up into two teams of three, they have a lot of fun stretching, kicking and passing the ball to teammates. Halftime involves healthy snacks and swigs from water bottles, and then it's back onto the field. Naturally, the game ends in a tie, with spectators cheering both sides on in turn. Cousins does a good job of explaining potentially difficult facts, such as the concept of opposing teams or the role of the goalie. The good-natured tenor of the book emphasizes the fun to be had in a sport rather than the competitive drive. Further appealing to younger kids is her use of onomatopoeia (a kicked ball makes a "FOUMPHHH!" noise while a sharp "BOUF!" indicates a goal). This is not the only introductory book on soccer for very young children, but it is one kids will actually want to read on their own. Goooooooooal! (Picture book. 2-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Excited about her soccer game, Maisy the mouse ties the laces on her sneakers and joins her friends for a warm-up. After the referee's whistle starts the game, players on both teams kick, pass, defend the goal, and score. The match ends in a tie, and the book affirms that the fun of playing soccer beats winning any day. Young soccer players will enjoy the brief action scenes as well as the camaraderie on and off the field. With a short text and Cousins' colorful, distinctive gouache paintings, this picture book will appeal to sports enthusiasts as well as fans of the Maisy series. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.

PreS-Gr 2—A sweet and charmingly simple series entry with a message about friendship and enjoying the game more than the competition. Maisy greets a new day with excitement because she and her friends are going to play soccer. Maisy, Cyril, and Eddie are on the red team, and Dotty, Tallulah and Charley are on the blue. They play a friendly game, encouraging and complimenting one another's moves no matter which team they are on. The game ends in a tie—a little pat, but considering the audience, it keeps the message clear. The best thing about these books is the distinctive, colorful illustrations. Drenched in primary and secondary colors, the animal characters all display personality and humor. These books continue to be popular with young children, and this one will not disappoint.—Mary Hazelton, formerly at Warren & Waldoboro Elementary Schools, ME