In poetic bilingual prose, the text encapsulates the Brazilian soccer star's life in a way that goes straight to the essence of Pele's enormous appeal. The story's climax is the scoring of his thousandth goal. Energetic color- and pattern-filled illustrations flow like the arc of a soccer ball cutting through the air. An author's note tells more about Pele's later life.

Twisting multiple perspectives, adding swirls of color, and limning distorted figures with loose auras of yellow and blue, Gutiérrez creates high-energy, full-bleed illustrations that kick up the unexceptional English-over-Spanish text of this tribute to Pelé, still soccer's O Rei (The King). "Every evening, no matter how tired they were, Pelé and his father, Dondinho, would play soccer in the streets. Whoops! Sometimes Pelé accidentally broke a window or kicked a ball over a fence." Brown retraces Pelé's youth and swift rise to fame, closing with a dramatic account of his 1,000th goal. He went on to score 280 more, and has remained active since his retirement, but readers will find that sort of information only in the fine-print author's note at the end. Nonetheless, at least visually, this makes a stirring alternative to Lesa Cline-Ransome's Young Pelé: Soccer's First Star (2007), illustrated by James Ransome.

Gr 2-5 This bilingual account of the Brazilian superstar's life opens by sweeping readers up in a big game. Brisk sentences and well-chosen similes vividly capture the scenes in English and in Spanish: "Watch as the famous number 10 flips the soccer ball. Pelé runs across the field like a cheetah, dribbling like a dancer." The page turns, el rey scores the goal, and the next page flashes back to his impoverished childhood, describing how he and his friends used whatever materials were at hand to play "the beautiful game." Brown also imagines dialogue between young Pelé and his father to illustrate how the player's love of family and country drove him to excel on the field. The direct prose effectively tells the soccer hero's story, but Gutiérrez's illustrations give the book an exciting burst of energy. Bold, wavy lines across the pages convey the vigor and panache of World Cup soccer. Text and pictures collaborate seamlessly on the final spread, which marks one of Pelé's greatest achievements. The bright, energetic illustrations and subject matter will make this a popular choice with children. Mary Landrum, Lexington Public Library, KY

<p>This beautifully designed story of soccer's best athlete begins in the midst of a game with the star about to score. "Pel! Pel! O Rei! Pel! The King!" shouts the roaring crowd. Brown's exuberant introduction transitions to a more sedate narrative that depicts the poor but hopeful upbringing of a boy in a small Brazilian town, playing soccer with nothing but a grapefruit or a newspaper-filled sock. When ten-year-old Pel sees his father's disappointment after Brazil's World Cup loss, his promise to win one for his dad foreshadows his hard work and escalating talent. Gutirrez's alluring multi-style gouache paintings swoop and swirl with energy and color. An abstract Pel in a sweeping, action-filled kick appears against more realistic portraits of a boy and his father, all superimposed over backgrounds and borders that reflect indigenous patterns. The stunning images place Pel's achievements within the context of his native country. Told in a dual English/Spanish text, this inspiring blend of art and story scores a winning goal. (Picture book/biography. 5-8)</p>