Copyright Date:
2023
Edition Date:
2023
Release Date:
11/07/23
Pages:
1 volume (unpaged)
ISBN:
0-8234-5149-6
ISBN 13:
978-0-8234-5149-4
Dewey:
E
Dimensions:
24 cm.
Language:
English
Reviews:
School Library Journal
(Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2023)
PreS-Gr 1— A pig steps up to the plate in a friendly game of baseball. He feels confident, perhaps overly so, but finds himself unable to hit the ball, making two strikes and a series of fouls. In an unorthodox stroke of genius, or perhaps a moment of foolish desperation, he turns his bat upside down, swinging at the pitch with the handle end and hitting a home run. This comic for early readers is light on text with mostly expressions of frustrations and intent from Hoggy—"I will get a hit" and "Bring it on!"—with interspersed commentary from fellow players. However, the simple plot relies on a working knowledge of the rules of baseball, specifically how one may continue hitting foul balls indefinitely without striking out. Some readers will need an explanation. At the same time, it's a classically crafted baseball yarn where the tension of stepping up to bat—being by turns cheered on and discouraged—builds gradually to a familiar yet exuberant finale. Long's menagerie of animal athletes includes an elephant umpire, a feline catcher, and snakes, turtles, and wolves in the dugout; it's a cartoonish, expressive cast that provides an easy-to-understand setting in which Hoggy can play his best. VERDICT A brief, engaging story for young and eager sports fans, eminently effective without trying to do too much.— Emilia Packard
When baseball-newbie Hoggy can’t get his head in the game, he learns that having fun is the way to win in this early reader comic.
Now that this former ball hog has learned to be a team player, Hoggy’s friends think he’s a real catch. But Hoggy feels more at home on the basketball court than he does on the baseball diamond. He wants to hit the ball so flawlessly that it soars over the fence. Instead, it’s a swing and a miss.
When Hoggy strikes out, the pressure is on. Can he learn to relax and enjoy a fun game with his friends? Or will the pressure to win keep him from stepping up to the plate?
Geisel medalist Ethan Long hits a home run with his expressive art and encouraging messages about teamwork, perseverance, and the value of just having fun—perfect for early comics and social emotional learning collections.
Comics-lovers can now share the fun with their kids, students, siblings, and younger friends who are learning to read!
I Like to Read® Comics are perfect for kids who are challenged by or unengaged in reading, kids who love art, and the growing number of young comics fans. Filled with eye-catching art, humor, and terrific stories, these comics provide unique reading experiences for growing minds.
I Like to Read® Comics, like their award-winning I Like to Read® counterpart, are created by celebrated artists and support reading comprehension to transform children into lifelong readers.
We hope that all new readers will say, “I like to read comics!”
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
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