I'll Root for You - Hardcover

Van De Vendel, Edward

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0802855016 ISBN 13: 9780802855015

Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2018

Synopsis

A collection of poems that’s sure to be a winner 

This delightful poetry collection is the perfect cheerleader for young athletes . . . especially ones who may not be the most athletic. Edward van de Vendel introduces readers to a world where elephants figure skate, frogs win the Diversity Olympics, and a pig quits the football team for gymnastics, even though everyone laughs at his leotard. Paired with winsome illustra­tions, the poems—sometimes silly, sometimes sincere—encourage young readers to pursue their goals, try their best, and take pride in themselves, whether they win or lose.

This irrepressibly joyful book from an award-winning team will have readers cheering for more.

About this title

About the Author

David Colmer is an Australian writer and translator of Dutch and Flemish literature. He has translated over eighty books throughout his career, including I’ll Root for You, A Pond Full of Ink, and Fast Cheetah, Slow Tortoise (all Eerdmans). His work has been honored with many awards, including the PEN Translation Prize and the Dutch Foundation for Literature's James Brockway Prize, which recognizes a translator's body of Dutch-language poetry. David lives in Amsterdam.

Reviews

Gr 3 Up-Are you ready to run, shout, and stretch? Van de Vendel's rhyming poems encourage children to do their best as they join a frog, a cat, a pig, and a few dogs in a variety of sports. They can win the race in "A Magic Place" or play with Cat in "Impossible Things." The illustrations are quirky and fun with animals wearing sportswear, including a duck in a blue tracksuit, a pig in a swimsuit, and a frog in running shorts. Erlbruch's humorous depictions of lively and exhausted animals pushing through to the finish line will have readers chuckling. However, while some rhymes work, others seem strained. Also, some poems contain content or jokes that seem directed toward a more mature audience. VERDICT Have students pick and choose their favorites and then get moving with this collection of sporty poems.-Paige Bentley-Flannery, ­Deschutes Public Library, Bend, ORα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0802855016
• ISBN 13: 9780802855015
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Erlbruch Wolf
• Number of pages: 44