PINKNEY, Brian. On the Ball. illus. by Brian Pinkney. 40p. Disney-Hyperion. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781484723296. PreS-Gr 2–Owen is a young boy who loves playing ball, but “playing ball didn’t always love Owen.” When he is benched at a soccer game, the ball takes on a life of its own. Owen follows it into a fantasy world—a down-the-rabbit-hole adventure—where he becomes a sea creature, a tiger, and a bird before returning back to the field. With these newly acquired abilities to float, pounce, and fly, his soccer skills are supreme, and the last page features a martial arts–style spinning air kick into the goal. The illustrations, with their loose and fluid watercolors with India ink outlines, recall Chris Raschka’s work and perfectly reflect the fast-paced nature of a soccer game. The brown-skinned soccer-playing boy is a wonderful addition to the genre of sports picture books, as the title celebrates the triumph of a playful mind and its connection to the body. VERDICT A joyful selection for all collections.–Lisa Nowlain, Darien Library, CT This review was published in School Library Journal's October 2015 issue.