Sam is not a loser

Book Cover
Average Rating
Publisher
Clarion Books
Publication Date
2008.
Language
English

Description

Sam loves to play games—but he doesn’t like to lose. So when his soccer team is playing against a team of bigger kids, Sam decides not to play. But if he doesn’t even play, how can he ever win?Given the popularity of children’s sports, especially soccer, this is a timely topic. It’s handled here with the gentle humor, fresh feel, and relatable characters that this author/illustrator team has become known for, and the adorable art and bright colors are right on target for the very young audience.

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ISBN
9780618992102

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Published Reviews

Booklist Review

Sam enjoys playing games as long as he is winning, but he takes it hard when his mother, his friend, and even his little brother beat him at cards. After Sam bows out of a soccer game because he thinks his team will lose, his grandmother offers him a different perspective and a chance to change his mind. Oil paintings with bold lines and colors clearly show the character's emotions, while simple words tell the story sympathetically from Sam's point of view. Like Sam Is Never Scared (2006) and Sam's New Friend (2008), this picture book was first published in Belgium.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2008 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
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School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 1-This latest offering about the little wolf focuses on good sportsmanship. Sam loves to play games, but only if he wins. When his friend Ray wins too often, Sam sulks and refuses to talk to him, and when their soccer team is scheduled to play "the big kids," Sam decides to skip the game because he's afraid they'll lose. Instead, he visits his grandma, who reminds him how much he loves soccer. In the end, she drives him to the game, which results in a tie, and he realizes that he loves to play games, even if he doesn't win every time. The story's obvious message is hammered home, and the unrealistically tied game undercuts its effectiveness. Despite Sam's authentically childlike voice, the translated text is somewhat choppy. Nevertheless, the young wolf is a believable character dealing with issues many children face. The full-bleed, color-saturated oil illustrations reflect his moods, and the characters are appealingly drawn with dots for eyes and lines for mouths. Libraries where the earlier books are popular, or those looking for more titles on good sportsmanship, may want to add this one, but most can pass.-Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Booklist Reviews

Sam enjoys playing games as long as he is winning, but he takes it hard when his mother, his friend, and even his little brother beat him at cards. After Sam bows out of a soccer game because he thinks his team will lose, his grandmother offers him a different perspective and a chance to change his mind. Oil paintings with bold lines and colors clearly show the character's emotions, while simple words tell the story sympathetically from Sam's point of view. Like Sam Is Never Scared (2006) and Sam's New Friend (2008), this picture book was first published in Belgium. Copyright 2008 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2008 Booklist Reviews.
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School Library Journal Reviews

PreS-Gr 1— This latest offering about the little wolf focuses on good sportsmanship. Sam loves to play games, but only if he wins. When his friend Ray wins too often, Sam sulks and refuses to talk to him, and when their soccer team is scheduled to play "the big kids," Sam decides to skip the game because he's afraid they'll lose. Instead, he visits his grandma, who reminds him how much he loves soccer. In the end, she drives him to the game, which results in a tie, and he realizes that he loves to play games, even if he doesn't win every time. The story's obvious message is hammered home, and the unrealistically tied game undercuts its effectiveness. Despite Sam's authentically childlike voice, the translated text is somewhat choppy. Nevertheless, the young wolf is a believable character dealing with issues many children face. The full-bleed, color-saturated oil illustrations reflect his moods, and the characters are appealingly drawn with dots for eyes and lines for mouths. Libraries where the earlier books are popular, or those looking for more titles on good sportsmanship, may want to add this one, but most can pass.—Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

[Page 107]. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
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