Soccer Cousins (Hello Reader! - Level 4, Grades 2 3)

David travels to Mexico to watch his cousin Miguel's soccer tournament, and when a player gets injured, David joins the team for the match of his life, in a story that also weaves in the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead. Original.

Grade 2-4AAlthough David has great soccer practices, in a game he chokes at all the important moments. He decides that he is a terrible player and never wants to play again. Meanwhile, in Mexico, his cousin's team has made it to the big tournament, and he wants David to come and visit. While there, he is recruited to play on Miguel's team and, encouraged by his grandfather's spirit, he scores an important goal. The plot centers on the family's celebration of the Day of the Dead. The story moves along briskly and the cultural information concerning the Day of the Dead is nicely interwoven into it. However, this book is more difficult than other readers in the series. Trivas's colorful illustrations are effective in capturing Mexican culture and festivities. George Ancona Pablo Remembers (Lothrop, 1993) is a more straightforward presentation of the holiday. Fans and players of the sport are sure to enjoy Soccer Cousins.AElaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 2^-4. A step up in plot, language, and character development from Football Friends, above, which Marzollo coauthored, this entry in the Hello Reader! series works some basic Spanish and information about Mexico's celebration of the Day of the Dead into the story. David's lack of success on the soccer field convinces him that he's not cut out to play. However, he's thrilled to be invited to Mexico to watch his cousin play. The visit turns out to be a great opportunity for David to learn about the holiday and to regain his confidence on the sports field. The story has a number of appealing elements, and Trivas' accompanying illustrations catch both the sports action and the homey details. An explanation of the celebration precedes the story. Stephanie Zvirin