Mighty Casey - Hardcover

Preller, James

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312367643 ISBN 13: 9780312367640

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends, 2009

Synopsis

The epic poem “Casey at the Bat” is recast for the T-ball set with much hilarity; this time, Casey comes out a winner!

About this title

About the Author

James Preller is the author of the popular Jigsaw Jones mystery books, which have sold more than 10 million copies since 1998. He is also the author of Bystander, named a 2009 Junior Library Guild Selection and Six Innings, an ALA Notable Book. In addition to writing full-time, Preller plays in a men’s hardball league and coaches Little League. He compares coaching kids to “trying to hold the attention of a herd of earthworms.” He lives in Delmar, New York, with his wife, three children, cats and dog.

 

Matthew Cordell is the illustrator of Toby and the Snowflakes, written by his wife, Julie Halpern, and Righty and Lefty, written by Rachel Vail.

Reviews

Kindergarten-Grade 3—Casey Jenkins plays for the Delmar Dogs. They are the worst team in the league, and Casey is their worst player. Nonetheless, these kids try hard, and are supported by their parents. "For the loyal moms and dads,/the games were not easily enjoyed;/it was tough to watch their eager pups/so mercilessly destroyed." One game starts off so badly that the Dogs are down 5-0 in the first inning. There's a scraped knee, spilled juice, and the guy in left field has to pee. One player falls asleep in the dugout, one climbs a tree, another is stung by a bee. Things are looking bad. Then the action picks up and actual plays start to happen. When the score is tied, and bases are loaded, Casey comes up to bat. Does this sound familiar? The ink and watercolor drawings vary in size and are full of energy and movement as the players engage in different activities. The faces are expressive and fun to look at. This is a great baseball book for all those T-ball and Little League players out there. (Spoiler alert: it does have a happy, self-esteem-building ending.)—Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Reworking Ernest Thayer's poem Casey at the Bat for Little Leaguers, Preller (Along Came Spider) and Cordell (Righty & Lefty) knock out a spirited celebration of a team with the right attitude, if not skills. The Delmar Dogs have not had a good season: Yes, it's true, the Dogs had guts,/ and the Dogs had heart;/ but catching the baseball, well/ that was the hardest part. Even on a team of misfits one player stood out: Casey Jenkins (the worst by far, no doubt). But it's Casey who proclaims, during a game that seems as doomed as the rest, The game is not yet done! spurring his team on to their first victory. Preller's couplets are full of clever wordplay and humor (When Jinn Lee clubbed a homer,/ the fans stood and cheered./ The Dogs scored at last./ Said Lee, 'That's, like, sooo weird' ). Set against ample white space, Cordell's endearingly geeky kids take center stage (mid-game distractions include tree-climbing, a bee sting and a bathroom break on the left field fence). It's hard to envision a reader who won't take to these underdogs. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Inspired by Ernest Thayer’s poem “Casey at the Bat,” Preller takes readers out to the ball game—in this case, a Little League ball game. As the Delmar Dogs enter the field, the expectations of the crowd (mostly parents) are low. While “The Dogs had guts / and the Dogs had heart /. . . catching the baseball, well, / that was the hardest part.” Of all the players, one, Casey Jenkins, is the worst. Various mishaps occur as the game gets underway: “Omar scraped a knee / Ronald the runt had to pee” (and does so in the outfield). Cordell’s cartoon-style illustrations add comic punch as players climb trees, fall asleep, are stung by bees, and refuse to run the bases. Witnessing this mess, Casey finds the motivation to inspire his teammates, and when the dust settles on the diamond, he’s saved the day. With engaging read-aloud rhythms and a misfit cast young children will cheer for, this story is assured a place in (Little League) baseball lore. Preschool-Grade 3. --Ernie Cox

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The outlook wasn’t brilliant
For the Delmar Dogs that day.
All summer long the Dogs
Lost every game they played.

Yes, it’s true the Dogs had guts,
And the Dogs had heart;
But catching the baseball, well,
That was the hardest part.

Edition details

• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0312367643
• ISBN 13: 9780312367640
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Cordell Matthew
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32