Soccer Hour

K-Gr 2—As in Karate Hour (2004) and Baseball Hour (2008, both Marshall Cavendish), this book offers a winning combination of rhyming couplets and striking artwork to describe an hour of practice among boys and girls. While the text reads in bursts of active statements—"We jump small hurdles, bending knees;/weave through cones in groups of threes"—the extraordinary illustrations are the essence of the book. Thomson uses acrylics and colored pencils to create realistic paintings that almost resemble sepia photographs. Readers' eyes are drawn to the spot of color (red for a shirt or green or blue for soccer balls) on each spread. Children will find the variety of perspectives, such as a ball sent into a goal or a head shot, memorable, and adults will be pleased that the book lends itself well for use with groups.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA