My New Team

Gr 1–4—In this new chapter book series, third-grader Ryan, who prefers to be called Rhino, loves baseball. He plays catch and practices hitting as often as he can with his grandfather. While at school, he and his best friend, Cooper, join a new lunch table where they also get to talk about dinosaurs. Rhino loves learning facts and then sharing them with his friends. One day Grandpa James signs him up for a little league baseball team, and Rhino couldn't be more excited. Then, he finds out that the meanest boy in his class is on the same team. Dylan takes every opportunity to belittle Rhino at school, in the neighborhood, and at practice. Rhino has some tough decisions to make about how to respond to Dylan and his taunts as he and his teammates prepare for their first practice game. The final satisfying chapters play out Rhino's first exciting game with the Mustangs. The simple black-and-white illustrations support the text. Readers will be anxious for the second installment to see how Rhino's first season plays out and to find out what becomes of him and his bully teammate. A solid purchase for most libraries.—Nancy Jo Lambert, McSpedden Elementary Frisco, TX