Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2004)

From A to Z, a playful though stiff rhyming text introduces the history, rules, and notable players of soccer. Lengthy, detailed sidebars offer additional information geared toward more sophisticated readers. Bold, action-filled illustrations accompany the mismatched texts in this unremarkable but adequate title for the hardcore soccer fan.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

What Z Is for Zamboni did for hockey, K Is for Kick: A Soccer Alphabet by Brad Herzog, illus. by Melanie Rose-Popp, does for soccer, explaining its rudiments from A as in """"Argentina to Australia,"""" where the game is played, to Z for """"Zinedine Zidane, a French star named world's best, and athletes of all ages who play the game with zest."""" (Sept.)

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4-This alphabet book is loaded with informational tidbits about the sport but its audience is unclear. Young children may enjoy searching for specific letters within verses, such as, "-B is for brave boys and girls/who try with all their might/to boot that bouncing soccer ball/colored black and white," but they are not likely to understand, "C is for clubs everywhere/that give the fans their fill,/like Italy's A.C. Milan/and Santos in Brazil." Difficult letters Q, U, V, Y, and Z are imaginatively represented, but X merely "marks the spot." On each page or spread, letters are shown in both upper- and lowercase. The alphabetical organization predominates; otherwise, there is no apparent arrangementof the material. Older readers may peruse the substantial sidebars, which are set in a rather small font. They flesh out information presented in the related verse and/or provide additional associations with the letter. Acrylic paintings depict action-filled scenes and zoom in to show the emotion on the players' faces, but do little to support the many historical facts. A supplemental purchase.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.